QAA's paper for Scotland

The Quality Assurance Agency has backtracked on its bid to axe the MA title used by Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and St Andrews universities for some undergraduate degrees, writes Olga Wojtas.

It was accused of "creeping Anglicisation" when it proposed restricting the masters title to postgraduate qualifications. Norman Sharp, head of the QAA Scottish Office, said: "QAA is content that with the other parts of the framework in place there should be no confusion about the role of the MA."

The QAA's paper for Scotland underlines its distinctive education system and its independent evolution.

Higher education qualifications fit into the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, which embraces everything from basic literacy to doctorates and work-based qualifications.