In which I celebrate my new MA

[stormwreath]

This post is pure self-indulgence to celebrate that I'm now a Master of Arts. \o/ And it was the easiest academic qualification I've ever attained. :) A few weeks ago I just sent off an application form and some money, and today I picked up from the post office an official certificate entitling me to put the letters MA after my name. And yes, it's

Comments

[immortality]

Hey, congrats! :)

[stormwreath]

Thanks! (Even though I'm not sure how much it's deserved...)

[novin_ha]

The who in the what now?

[stormwreath]

In the original mediaeval universities, to become a member of the University Corporation (and thus entitled to teach there and to vote in its governing body) you had to both pass an academic test and also prove you were a decent, mature and honourable individual - which was formalised into passing the BA exam, then going at least another four years while proving you were of good character etc. At the end of that time you were made into a Master of Arts, in much the same way a craftsman was made a Master Craftsman by his guild.

Other universities later on turned the MA into a proper degree with exams and tests and so on, but Oxford and Cambridge kept the old system where you can convert a BA into an MA simply by letting time elapse, and then formally requesting it. Which I just did, mostly because a few friends were planning on doing the same and I'm a sheep. :)

[novin_ha]

Whoa. And I had to study for five years to get my MA (I was in a straight-to-MA-without a BA programme) ;_;

(But congratulations nonetheless! :D)

[stormwreath]

Well, your MA will probably be much more valuable than mine when it comes to applying for actual jobs or academic posts and such. At least among employers who understand the difference. But thanks! :)

[beer_good_foamy]

Congrats!

Does this mean we get to call you The Master?

[stormwreath]

Are we talking about the vampire Master or the Time Lord Master here? But yes, you may address me as Master if you wish. :)

Thanks!

[stormwreath]

Thanks!

[eowyn_315]

NO FAIR!

...I mean, congratulations!

[stormwreath]

Well, I got my original BA degree fair and square the more usual way! (I would have said "more traditional way", but since Oxford's been doing it that way for about 800 years, I think it counts as equally traditional. ;))

And thanks. :)

[eowyn_315]

But I got my BA degree fair and square, and I still had to spend two years (and an unpleasant amount of money) on getting my master's! :(

[stormwreath]

Sorry! :-(

(The glib answer would be that a BA from the University of Oxford is equal to an MA from many other universities, but I realise that's not actually true... Though it might be in the case of some universities...)