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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Jackie Lawrence (Labour), on Tuesday, 6 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 58 members in total.

OXBRIDGE MA DEGREES

That this House expresses concern at the process whereby, unlike at other universities in the UK, Bachelor of Arts graduates from Oxford and Cambridge can apply for the automatic granting of an MA degree; notes that this practice enables graduates from Oxford and Cambridge to claim an apparent advantage in the jobs market over graduates attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from other universities and devalues and undermines the efforts and achievements of those students earning an MA after a period of further study and assessment by examination or dissertation; and calls for either the phasing out of the 'free of effort' MA Oxbridge degree or alternatively the provision of automatic MA degrees for all graduates in a spirit of equality and fairness regardless of their universities.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received 2 amendments.

806A2
at end add "and further notes that St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee Universities confer such masters degrees immediately whereas BAs at Oxford and Cambridge have to wait three and a half years before being able to flaunt their 'free of effort' promotion and asserts that this situation is just as unacceptable as the other.".
806A1
leave out from 'dissertation' to end and add 'urges Oxford and Cambridge to award its MA degrees on that basis but insists that all those still living who have paid for MAs shall have their payment refunded provided they stop using their title, including the honourable Member for Grimsby who paid ??30 for his MA degree from Oxford University.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
806 
806A2 
806A1 
Session
1999-00
Subjects
University of Cambridge Degrees University of Oxford Postgraduate education
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk