Royal Education

[Somebody]

Kate would have done the best, getting an A in maths. There is nothing more or less about a combined degree. It’s just two or even three subjects. It makes no difference. No none of them did a masters. It wouldn’t be part of your degree and you would have to apply separately. Both Kate and William technically do have master degrees as that’s what it’s called in Scotland. However, that is just semantics.

Both Catherine and Eugenie clearly did well. However, Eugenie did not only do a combined degree but also an honours degree, which is considered slightly more difficult than a regular degree.

Thanks for the explanation about Scotland; looked into a little bit more. It's interesting that a Scottish MA would be a similar level to a Scottish BSc. I guess the 'ancient universities' didn't want to do away with the titles they traditionally awarded; even when the rest of Europe tried to create a somewhat shared Bachelor-Master structure when agreeing to the Bologna Declaration.

For about 20 years a Master's has been a separate degree in the rest of Europe as well; however, still the combination of a Bachelor and a Master is what is considered a complete university education (to enter the workforce). Having only a research university Bachelor's won't get you that far in countries with a binary higher education system; a Hogeschool/Hochschule Bachelor would be different as that is considered a 'final degree' and appropriate for entrance to the workforce but for other jobs than you would be qualified for with a university master's degree.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I'm not sure how to read these grades.
"William:

• A in Geography;
• B in Art;
• C in Biology

(12 GCSEs) - graduated from university with a 2:1 in Geography.
Graduated from university with a 2:1 in Geography"

The first part makes me think William only did his final exams in three subjects. But then what do the 12 GCSEs mean?
And what is a 2:1 in Geography? Is that like an A, or a B? Or a percentage, like he got 2/3 correct?

The first three - A in Geography, B in Art and C in Biology are his A level results from his last two years at school in which he only studied those subjects.

The 12 GCSEs relate to the 12 subjects he studied during the earlier years at school resulting in exams (James is due to receive his GCSE results this week and then decide whether to continue to the final years of school.)

If you read Harry Potter - A levels are the equivalent of the NEWTs or the final exams (the ones Harry etc didn't sit in the final book as they didn't go to school that year). GCSEs are the equivalent of OWLs with some compulsory subjects e.g. English, Maths and Science and some elective courses as well.

British degrees come in four levels - 1st, 2.1, 2.2 and 3rds. This is based on the results and not easy to define in terms of a percentage as it isn't a hard and fast rule with each uni being able to set their own standards. The higher levels - 1sts and 2.1s are preferable and many years ago were much harder to get than they are now.

 

[FigTree]

Both Catherine and Eugenie clearly did well. However, Eugenie did not only do a combined degree but also an honours degree, which is considered slightly more difficult than a regular degree.

Thanks for the explanation about Scotland; looked into a little bit more. It's interesting that a Scottish MA would be a similar level to a Scottish BSc. I guess the 'ancient universities' didn't want to do away with the titles they traditionally awarded; even when the rest of Europe tried to create a somewhat shared Bachelor-Master structure when agreeing to the Bologna Declaration.

For about 20 years a Master's has been a separate degree in the rest of Europe as well; however, still the combination of a Bachelor and a Master is what is considered a complete university education (to enter the workforce). Having only a research university Bachelor's won't get you that far in countries with a binary higher education system; a Hogeschool/Hochschule Bachelor would be different as that is considered a 'final degree' and appropriate for entrance to the workforce but for other jobs than you would be qualified for with a university master's degree.

They are all honours degrees. There is literally no difference what so ever. The Scottish degree is actually 4 years amd as such the MA is considered a masters. Which is related to the Scottish education system.

As explained by another poster less than 10% of people in the UK masters degrees.

 

[SLV]

Thank you all for the explanation about the grades.