2025-26
Degree of Master of Arts
RESOLUTION
The Degree of Master of Arts is governed by Resolutions of the University Court. The provisions of Resolution No. 582 supporting the Generic Undergraduate Regulations are set out with those Regulations. The provisions of Resolution No. 583 are as follows:
- The Degree of Master of Arts (MA) may be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow in the College of Arts & Humanities (the College) as a Degree in such designations as may be prescribed by Regulations.
- The award of the Degree shall be governed by Resolution No. 582 - “Generic Regulations for the award of Degrees gained by the successful completion of Undergraduate Programmes” together with such Supplementary Regulations as are contained in this Resolution No. 583 - “Degree of Master of Arts”. The Supplementary Regulations are set out in the Schedule of Regulations attached to this Resolution.
- The Degree may be awarded either as a Degree of Master of Arts (General Humanities), or as a General Degree, or as a Degree with Honours in such single subjects or pairs of subjects, or with Gaelic Immersion as may be prescribed by Regulation. The early exit award of Diploma of Higher Education is also included in the Regulations. The early exit award of Certificate of Higher Education (General Humanities) shall be governed by the Generic Undergraduate Regulations.
REGULATIONS
1. Maximum Period of Study
1.1 The maximum period normally permitted for a full-time candidate for the Degree of Master of Arts with Honours is six academic sessions from the date of first registration.
1.2 The maximum period normally permitted for a full-time candidate for the Degree of Master of Arts (General Humanities or Designated Degree) is five academic sessions from the date of first registration.
1.3 The maximum period normally permitted for a part-time candidate for the Degree of Master of Arts, with or without Honours, is 10 academic sessions from the date of first registration.
1.4 Where a programme includes a Modern Languages Year Abroad or Gaelic Immersion year, the maximum period of study will include an additional year.
2. Progress
Further to Generic Undergraduate Regulations §10 and §11, the following applies:
2.1 The minimum requirements for progress to a succeeding year of study for a full-time candidate are as follows:
| After one session: | The candidate must have obtained at least 100 credits, of which at least 80 must be at grade D3 or above and achieved a grade point average[1] of at least 9.0. |
| After two sessions: | The candidate must have obtained at least 180 credits of which at least 100 must be at grade D3 or above and achieved a grade point average of at least 9.0. At least 40 credits must be at level 2. |
| After three sessions: |
The candidate must have obtained: 240 credits with a minimum grade point average of 9.0; 160 credits at grade D3 or above; 80 credits at level 2 or above. |
2.2 Modern Languages Year Abroad
Modern Languages Degree Language Year Abroad: a candidate will not normally be permitted to undertake a Modern Languages Language Year Abroad before they have met the Subject and University requirements for Honours entry given in Generic Undergraduate Regulation §15.1, and §3.3.1.
2.3 Entry to Honours
The following requirements apply in addition to those set out in Generic Undergraduate Regulation §15.1
2.3.1 Completion of at least 80 credits from qualifying courses at level 2, representing at least two subjects.
2.3.2 Completion of at least 120 credits from courses offered within the College of Arts & Humanities and Curriculum for Life Courses, regardless of hosting School/College. For candidates on a Single or Joint Honours degree programme including Geography, Mathematics or Psychology, level 1 credits in the subject of the degree will be accepted toward this requirement.
2.3.3 In the case of a candidate who transfers to the Degree of Master of Arts from another College at Honours level, qualifying courses will normally include at least 80 credits from courses offered within the College of Arts & Humanities, of which at least 40 credits should be at level 2. This includes Curriculum for Life Courses, regardless of the hosting School/College. For programmes including Geography, Mathematics or Psychology, §2.3.2 applies.
2.3.4 Any candidate admitted to Honours in accordance with section §15.3 in the Generic Undergraduate Regulation may be required by the Head of School to complete the missing requirements before proceeding to Senior Honours.
2.3.5 Entry into the Modern Languages Honours programme is normally conditional on satisfactory completion of a Language Year Abroad. In exceptional circumstances, a candidate may be granted exemption from this requirement by the Head of the School of Modern Languages & Cultures.
2.3.6 Entry into an Honours programme '(with Gaelic Immersion)' is normally conditional on completion of at least 120 credits of Gaelic Immersion with a grade C3 or above in each course contributing to the total.
2.4 Progress within Honours
A full-time candidate must complete the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §10.2. In addition to Generic Undergraduate §10.5, a part-time Honours candidate must complete a minimum of 40 credits of assessment in each of the part-time Honours years of study to be allowed to progress.
3. Recognised Qualifying Courses
Subject to the approval of Senate, the College of Arts & Humanities shall approve and recognise courses qualifying towards Master of Arts degree programmes, and courses qualifying as core courses for specifically designated General Humanities Master of Arts degrees.
4. Programme Requirements for the Award of the Degree
4.1 Diplomas of Higher Education and designated Master of Arts General Humanities degrees shall carry a designation reflecting the broad subject area in which a minimum number of the required credits have been gained, in accordance with stated schemes for specifically designated awards as set out in §4.3 and §4.4.
4.2 Degree of Master of Arts (Honours)
4.2.1 The degree with Honours can be awarded as follows:
a) Honours in a Single Subject: A programme comprising at least 240 credits including a minimum of 180 credits from courses offered within the College of Arts & Humanities.
b) Honours in a Combination of two Subjects: Available as set out in the Appendix to these regulations.
4.2.2 To be eligible for the award of an Honours degree including a Modern Language, in addition to satisfying the University generic undergraduate regulations for award of an Honours degree, the candidate must normally have obtained a total of at least 600 credits, including at least 120 credits obtained from an approved Language Year Abroad, usually completed as Year 3 of study. Candidates must also obtain a grade of D3 or above in both the Senior Honours core Written and core Spoken language courses of their named degree. If they do not obtain a D3, but meet all other requirements for the award of an Honours degree, they will be awarded the MA with Honours in Culture Studies ['Modern Language(s)'].
4.2.3 To be eligible for the award of an Honours degree '(with Gaelic Immersion)', in addition to satisfying the University generic regulations for an Honours degree, the candidate must have obtained a total of at least 600 credits, including at least 120 credits of Gaelic Immersion at grade C3 or above, usually completed as Year 3 of study.
4.2.4 The calculation of the final Honours classification in a single subject and in a combination of two subjects is normally based on a contribution of 50% from Junior Honours courses and 50% from Senior Honours courses where these courses are of equal credit rating. Exceptions are listed in the programme specifications. A Joint Honours degree with subjects outside the College of Arts & Humanities may also be subject to differential percentage contributions.
4.3 Designated Master of Arts General Humanities Degrees
4.3.1 In accordance with Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14, the Master of Arts designated degree requires a total of 360 credits. At least 180 of these credits must come from core subjects relevant to the degree designation.
4.3.2 The curriculum must include at least three subjects, with a minimum of 40 credits from each. At least two of these subjects, including one core subject, must each have 80 credits in total, with at least 40 at level 2 or above. Of the 60 credits required by §14 at level 3, at least 20 must be from the core subject.
4.3.3 Credits from a Modern Languages Year Abroad do not count towards these requirements.
4.3.4 In addition to Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14.2, the award of Merit shall require a grade point average of at least 12.0 in the core and Distinction shall require a grade point average of at least 15.0 in the core.
4.4 Diploma of Higher Education
4.4.1 Further to Generic Undergraduate Regulation §13.1, where at least 160 credits have been gained at grade D3 or above from courses belonging to the group of core subjects for a designated MA degree, the candidate shall be eligible to receive the Diploma of Higher Education bearing the designation of that degree. Otherwise the candidate shall be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education with the designation ‘General Humanities’.
4.4.2 Further to Generic Undergraduate Regulation §13.2, where the Diploma of Higher Education is being awarded with a designation corresponding to the designation of a particular MA degree, it shall be awarded with Merit where the grade point average is 12.0 both overall and in the courses governing the particular designation, and with Distinction where the grade point average is 15.0 both overall and in the courses governing the particular designation.
Appendix: Honours Subjects
The recognised single subjects and pairs of subjects of study for Honours are given in the following lists:
i) Single Honours
Single Honours may currently be taken in the subjects listed below. Other subjects available at Honours level in the College, for example, Celtic Civilisation, must be combined with another subject for Joint Honours.
| Ancient History | German |
| Archaeology | Greek |
| Celtic Studies | History |
| Celtic Studies with Gaelic Immersion | History of Art |
| Classics | Italian |
| Comparative Literature | Latin |
| Creative Arts & Industries | Mathematics |
| Digital Media & Information Studies | Music |
| English Language & Linguistics | Philosophy |
| English Literature | Psychology |
| Film & Television Studies | Scottish Literature |
| French | Spanish |
| Gaelic | Theatre Studies |
| Gaelic with Immersion | Theology & Religious Studies |
| Geography |
ii) Joint Honours
Permitted combinations for Joint Honours are published on the University Website.
However, it may be possible for Joint Honours to be taken in a combination of subjects which is not advertised, provided the timetable permits this. Enquiries from current students should be addressed to coah-advising-wellbeing@glasgow.ac.uk
iii) Part-time
Part-time study at Honours level may not be available in all subjects. Any candidate wishing to undertake a part-time Honours degree should establish from the relevant Head(s) of School whether part-time provision is available and shall submit to the relevant Head(s) of School an outline of the entire proposed Honours curriculum and timescale for provisional approval.
[1] The grade point average is determined with reference to the schedule of grades and grade points contained in Schedule A and Schedule B of the University’s Code of Assessment. The grade point average is calculated by taking the product of each course’s weight and the candidate’s grade points and dividing the sum of these products by the sum of the courses’ weights. The weights shall correspond to the courses’ credit ratings unless specified otherwise in the relevant programme documentation. The grade point average is expressed to one decimal place (§16.34(a) of the Code of Assessment). In determining whether a candidate has achieved a required grade point average, no further rounding is permitted. For example, a candidate achieving a grade point average of 8.9 would not satisfy a requirement for a grade point average of 9.0.