Seven years after matriculation, BA and BFA graduates may apply to the title of Master of Arts, which is an academic rank at the university and not a postgraduate degree.
Contrary to common UK practice,[2] Oxford does not award bachelor's degrees with honours.
However, a student whose degree is classified third class or higher is considered "to have achieved honours status".
Usually, these students are candidates for the ordained ministry of one of the mainstream Christian denominations, but may be drawn from any faith background (Unitarian ordinands study at HMC) or none at the discretion of the College or Hall.
Beginning in the 1990s, the following degrees were introduced to increase public recognition of the four-year undergraduate science programmes in these subjects: The holders of these degrees have the academic precedence and standing of BAs until the twenty-first term from matriculation, when they rank as MAs.
From 2014 graduates with these degrees wear the same academic gown as a Master of Studies, with a black silk hood lined with sand fabric.
The degree of Master of Arts is awarded to BAs and BFAs seven years after matriculation, without further examination, upon the payment of a nominal fee.
Recipients of undergraduate master's degrees are not eligible to incept as MA, but are afforded the same privileges after the statutory twenty-one terms.
Undergraduate medicine students will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Sciences degree at the end of the third year of the six-year programme.
Graduates with an existing bachelor's degree may apply to a four-year version of the medicine course, which confers only the BM BCh.
The MSt is a one-year hybrid research/taught course which is the equivalent of the taught master's degree in most other UK universities.
The degree of Master of Education was formerly awarded to students at Westminster College, when that course was validated by the university.