Associate of Arts
Foundation or associate · United StatesA two-year undergraduate degree, usually 60 semester credits, often designed to transfer into a bachelor’s.
Degree title decoder
BSc or BA? MBA or MSc? DBA or PhD? Search any degree title to see what it means, where it’s used, and what level it sits at.
36 degree titles
Degree titles
Associate of Science
Foundation or associate · United StatesA two-year degree with a science or technical focus, usually 60 credits.
Associate of Applied Science
Foundation or associate · United StatesA career-focused two-year degree. Some universities accept fewer of its credits toward a bachelor’s.
Foundation degree
Foundation or associate · United KingdomA two-year, work-related degree at level 5 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, often topped up to a bachelor’s with one more year.
Higher National Diploma
Foundation or associate · United KingdomA vocational qualification at level 5. Not a degree, but often accepted for entry into the final year of a bachelor’s.
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor’s · WorldwideAn undergraduate degree, often in the humanities, social sciences or business. Usually three years in England and Australia, four in Scotland and the US.
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor’s · WorldwideAn undergraduate degree in science, technology, health or business subjects. Called BS in the US and BSc in the UK and Australia.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor’s · WorldwideAn undergraduate business degree covering management, finance, marketing and operations.
Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor’s · UK, AustraliaAn undergraduate engineering degree. Professional engineering registration has its own requirements.
Bachelor of Education
Bachelor’s · WorldwideAn undergraduate degree for teaching and education. Teaching licences are set by each country or state.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing · Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor’s · WorldwideAn undergraduate nursing degree. Nursing registration has its own rules in each country.
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor’s · UK, AustraliaThe usual undergraduate law degree in the UK and Australia.
Bachelor of Applied Science
Bachelor’s · United StatesOften designed for people with technical or career credits, such as an AAS, who want to finish a bachelor’s.
Bachelor of General Studies · Bachelor of Liberal Studies
Bachelor’s · United StatesFlexible degrees that combine credits from several subjects, popular with adult learners who have credits from different places.
Honours
Bachelor’s · UK, AustraliaIn the UK, an honours degree (BA Hons, BSc Hons) is the standard bachelor’s. In Australia, honours is usually an extra year after a three-year bachelor’s.
Master of Arts
Master’s · WorldwideA postgraduate degree in the arts, humanities, social sciences or education. One year full-time in the UK, often one to two in the US and Australia.
Master of Science
Master’s · WorldwideA postgraduate degree in science, technology, health or business subjects.
Master of Business Administration
Master’s · WorldwideA general management degree for people with work experience. Many programs weigh professional experience heavily in admission.
Executive MBA
Master’s · WorldwideAn MBA for senior professionals, usually studied part-time alongside work.
Master of Education
Master’s · WorldwideA postgraduate degree for teachers, trainers and education leaders.
Master of Public Administration
Master’s · WorldwideA postgraduate degree in public management and policy, often for public-sector professionals.
Master of Public Health
Master’s · WorldwideA postgraduate degree in population health, health policy and epidemiology.
Master of Social Work
Master’s · US, AustraliaA professional degree for social workers. Social work registration has its own rules.
Master of Laws
Master’s · WorldwideA postgraduate law degree, usually specialising in one area of law.
Master of Research
Master’s · United KingdomA research-focused master’s, often a step toward a PhD.
Master of Philosophy
Master’s · UK, AustraliaA research master’s based mainly on a thesis. At some UK universities, doctoral students first register for an MPhil.
Master of Engineering
Master’s · United KingdomIn the UK, usually a four-year integrated degree combining bachelor’s and master’s level study.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctorate · WorldwideThe research doctorate, awarded for an original thesis. DPhil is the name used at Oxford and a few other universities.
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctorate · WorldwideA professional doctorate for experienced managers, applying research to real business problems.
Doctor of Education
Doctorate · WorldwideA professional doctorate for education professionals and leaders.
Professional Doctorate
Doctorate · United KingdomA doctorate based on professional practice, offered by some UK universities.
Doctor of Psychology
Doctorate · United StatesA practice-focused doctorate for clinical psychologists.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Doctorate · United StatesA practice doctorate for advanced nursing roles.
PhD by published work
Doctorate · United KingdomAwarded by some UK universities for a substantial body of published research plus a critical commentary. Entry rules are strict.
Juris Doctor
Doctorate · US, AustraliaThe US professional law degree. In Australia, the JD is a graduate law degree at master’s level.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctorate · US, AustraliaThe US medical degree. In Australia, often a graduate-entry medical degree at master’s level.
How degree levels compare
The UK and Australia publish national qualification frameworks with numbered levels. The US doesn’t have one, so degrees are usually described by credits instead.
| Degree | England, Wales, N. Ireland | Scotland | Australia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation, associate | Level 5 | Level 8 | Level 6 | About 60 credits |
| Bachelor’s | Level 6 | Levels 9 to 10 | Level 7 (honours: 8) | About 120 credits |
| Master’s | Level 7 | Level 11 | Level 9 | Usually 30 to 60 credits |
| Doctorate | Level 8 | Level 12 | Level 10 | Varies |
Frameworks: FHEQ (England, Wales, Northern Ireland), SCQF (Scotland), AQF (Australia).
Which title is right for you?
For experienced professionals, the subject usually matters more than BA or BSc. What counts is how closely the program matches your work, because that’s where credit for prior learning is most likely. Ask us for a free review and we’ll suggest titles that fit your experience.