MA vs MSc vs MRes – What’s the Real Difference?

MA vs MSc vs MRes. . . sounds a bit like some academic ‘rumble in the jungle’, doesn’t it?

If you’re expecting this blog to pit three university qualifications against one another, locked in brutal combat, you might be disappointed, however. Instead, we’re going to go back to basics and look at three of the most common kinds of Masters, addressing the key areas in which they differ (and where they share common ground) – and give you an idea of which is the best fit for your postgrad plans.

Degree type

The first thing to know is that MA (Master of Arts) and MSc (Master of Science) degrees are largely taught courses, while an MRes (Master of Research) has more of an emphasis on independent study.

All three types of degree will involve a some taught elements, but an MRes will be far more research-heavy (the general requirement is for courses to be at least 70% research). This will impact how many contact hours you have, and how long your dissertation will be (more on this below).

The first (and probably the most obvious) difference between the first two of these qualifications is the subject they allow you to study. The clue is in the name(s): Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc).

So, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find an MSc in English Literature at any university. If you did, it would probably involve studying the actual science behind Dr Frankenstein’s monster. Or something. Similarly, an MA in Polymer Chemistry wouldn’t really work.

But things aren’t always as simple as that. There are quite a few disciplines (mainly in the Social Sciences) where you can choose to study an MA or an MSc. Psychology, Economics and Geography are some of the most common subjects in which MAs and MScs are available. In general, you can expect an MSc in one of these areas to be more theoretical and research-oriented, while an MA will focus more on social aspects. Try comparing some courses in these subjects to see the differences for yourself. For more information on the difference between an MA and an MSc, check out our in-depth comparison guide.

Masters in Research, meanwhile, can be found across the spectrum of Arts, Social Sciences and Science subjects. It’s the how that differs here, rather than the what.

All three kinds of Masters qualification share something in common: the mighty dissertation, which will account for a large chunk of your final grade.

If you’re studying an MA or MSc, the dissertation will typically be between 10,000 and 20,000 words long (MA dissertations are usually at the upper end of this scale).

An extended MRes project could be up to 35,000 words, with a larger research scope than other postgraduate dissertations. By the time you complete this work, you’ll be extremely well-prepared for PhD-level study or a career in research.

In addition to the dissertation, you could be assessed through written coursework, presentations and examinations – this largely depends on the subject rather than the type of qualification.

There’s very little to separate the MA, MSc and MRes in terms of their duration and the number of CATS points they’re worth. Each usually takes one year of full-time study to complete and is worth 180 CATS.*

*Note – we’re talking about the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme, not the critically-acclaimed musical featuring a CGI feline version of Dame Judi Dench. Sadly.

This depends on the subject you’re studying as well as the kind of qualification you’re taking. MA programmes will generally only involve about three to five hours of contact time a week, taking place through seminars, lectures and workshops. Of course, you’ll be expected to spend plenty of time in the library catching up on reading and completing assignments, too.

MSc courses in Social Science subjects like Psychology are likely to have more contact time with lecturers – 10 hours per week is a common figure.

If you’re studying an MSc in a ‘hard’ Science like Chemistry or Physics, you’ll often follow a 9 to 5 timetable, with a combination of lectures and laboratory work.

An MRes is often understood as a stepping stone towards a PhD, greatly emphasising the importance of self-directed study with a sizeable research project. The independent nature of an MRes means that you’ll usually have fewer contact hours than an equivalent MA or MSc in the same subject.

So, where exactly can you study one of these qualifications?

You probably won’t be too surprised to learn that the Master of Arts and the Master of Science are among the most widespread and popular postgraduate courses out there, provided by universities right across the world.

The Master of Research is primarily a British phenomenon, but many international universities do offer them (and similar programmes).

Editor's note: This blog was first published on 09/01/2020. We've checked and updated it for current readers.

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