Quick Brit Speak Question: 2:1 in his MA

[dungrollin]

Steve wrote:
> Read a recent article about Prince William who is about to graduate
> from St. Andrew's University in Scotland.
> 
> The article said something to the effect that he (William) is 
expected
> to get '2:1 in his MA'.
> 
> I assume 'MA' is Master of Arts, but could someone explain 
the '2:1'
> part? 

2:1 refers to the grade of a bachelor's degree. You can get a first, 
a second (2:1 is an upper second, 2:2 is a lower second) a third, a 
pass or a fail. In normal conversation you would say "I got a two-
one" or "I got an upper second".

I assume that he's doing an BA/MA combined, three years for the BA, 
and one extra for the MA, so when he graduates he'll have both. 
Don't know whether the 2:1 mark is just for the bachelors, or 
includes the masters. As far as I recall, you can only get a fail, 
pass or distinction for a master's, but these things are changing...

Dungrollin