BSc vs BA - is it random

[BatteredHonda]

Just noticed that some of DC’s choices for Business Management degrees are BA Hons and others are BSc Hons. Should she have been concerned about that (too late now - application gone in!)? The courses look pretty similar so I was wondering how unis decide whether to call it BA/BSc

I did a psychology degree and was allowed to choose whether I was awarded a BSc or a BA. I think for some degrees it isn't clear cut

I think it can depend on the modules taken. Some might have a stats or more mathematical component which could make it a BSc vs a BA. Please correct if I'm wrong, but that's what I was told with my masters degree

Unlike say, Economics, there is not a clear link between how quantitative the content is within a particular Business Management course and whether the degree will be designated a BSc or BA.

Some unis (U of Bath and U of Warwick, for example) have higher criteria for Maths GCSE grade and/or (in the case of U of Bath) a stated preference for at least one numerically-based A-level (as defined by them on the relevant website course page). A study of their modules shows a leaning towards and greater availability of more quantitative modules.

Universities like Lancaster and Loughborough designate their Business Management degrees as BSc; U of Manchester does also; but U of Leeds is, if I remember, designated BA. However, it is not necessarily true that any of these are more or less quantitative in nature.

When one of my DC looked at management courses as an option, post-course employability did not appear to be directly tied to whether a course of BSc or BA. A better (but not perfect) indicator was whether a course had higher typical entry requirements.

It varies. For geography which 2 of my children did the BSc tended to be better and harder and the BA was offered at places with lower entry requirements. Mine both did BSc. However may be once you start you can switch based on which modules you do?

perpetualOptimist is correct.
My DD is also applying for Business/Management. Although I think all hers just happen to be BSc. We were at York’s offer holder day yesterday where they offer both a BSc and a BA. With their courses the first year is very similar and students can switch if they wish. The BA is more qualitative analysis and people focus whereas the BSc more quants. So HR type modules in the BA and business analytics type modules in the BSc. Both courses offer options from the other. Both require the same grades as far as I know.

Oh and they listed the careers and there was considerable overlap. Also most graduate recruitment places for business management careers have their own tests and assessments so I’m not sure how relevant BA/BSc will be.

I did this as (in the ultimate vanity), the hood was a lovely purple silk for the BSc and like sheepy roadkill for the BA.

My department let me change at the very end so I hadn't had to take any different modules. Also thought it might be more helpful as I was going into finance. My husband wore the mangy dead sheep for his Economics graduation as his was a BA.

@dew141 Durham Palatinate for your B.Sc. by any chance, as opposed to the dull black ones for B.A. ?

Either way, the colour of your graduation hood is a fantastic reason for switching from B.A. to B.Sc.

Sprung! I know, it must be the worst reason ever to change to a BSc and when I'm subjected to my graduation photo at my parents' house, I should have been far more concerned about my 1990s hairstyle...

Hi there, my daughter is looking to do Geography and at Leeds (one of her favourites and she has an offer for the BA course) the entry requirements are higher for the BA

I studied geography and it’s not at all true that the BSc was harder/better than the BA. You had the option to do either in our course - all it meant was that the BA had a greater focus on human geography and the BSc had a greater focus on physical geography.

@dew141 you’ve had me roaring with laughter. Thank you!

Geography has always been one of those subject areas where, typically, a course with a physical geography leaning is BSc and that with a human geography leaning is BA (as usual there are exceptions!).

In some cases, different entry requirements are in place for the BSc/BA paths - as is true at U of Leeds where maths/science A-levels are preferred for the BSc and humanities A-levels for the BA.

Offers typically do not vary across the BSc/BA paths but there is no reason why they might not, slightly, if the Geography department anticipates a likely imbalance of supply and demand for one course rather than the other. Unless I am reading the info incorrectly, U of Leeds typical 2023 entry offer for the BA is AAA/AAB and for the BSc is AAB.

Returning to the subject of Business Management, the only patterns I can discern regarding BSc/BA are that the innovative Management Schools set up in the 1960s at Bath, Loughborough and Lancaster wanted to signal, by way of the BSc designation, that the study of management is a science as well as art; indeed Lancaster has a longstanding specialism in operational research (the maths behind decision-making) and in quantitative analysis of best practice (rather than just production of elegant theories).

All the bachelor courses at Cambridge at BA(hons).

LMAO I did the exact same thing. It wasn't the only consideration (I had no head for stats at the time so avoided all the "biological" modules on my degree) but getting a red gown instead of a dull faded blue one definitely clinched it. I look better in warm-toned shades. I had to suck up the colouring for my MSc gown though as there wasn't an MA in my specialist area. 🤣

Years ago I started a BA. we did do random 4 week stats module and shortly afterwards we were told if we wanted a bsc instead we could choose.

my dad told me to choose bsc so I did. Then years later I was accepted onto a post grad Physicians Associate course which you were only allowed on if you had a science degree. Not sure my very non science bsc should have counted but they let me on. 😁

I am pretty sure it is random. Cambridge only awards BAs even for subjects like Mathematics. I think this is because in the past all degrees were BAs as even sciences were considered arts.

@PerpetualOptimist you mention innovative Management Schools at Bath, Loughborough and Lancaster - are they particularly good business management schools? Bath I can well imagine but also Loughborough and Lancaster?

BSc has more analytics/statistics or research methods elements than a BA.

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/search/undergraduate/business-and-management-studies

Loughborough, Bath and Lancaster at 7th, 8th and 11th place, respectively.

Uni lecturer here. It doesn't matter and BA and BSc have the same level of prestige. Often the decisions taken about what constitutes a BA or BSc are fairly arbitrary.

Hi @kimlek, my specific point was that, at the time of their creation (in the 1960s), Lancaster, Loughborough and U of Bath were innovative in setting up stand alone Departments of Management Studies, during a period when the study of management (if studied at all) was typically subsumed within Economics.

In this case, it is the 'traditional' unis who played catch up and ultimately set up me-too Management Schools. Despite this Lancaster, Lboro and Bath have maintained a pre-eminence in this area. Thank you, @MarchingFrogs, for the league table; obviously these things are 'indicative' rather than absolute but the info makes the point.

More generally, it is worth being aware that the education threads on Mumsnet tend to have a South-Eastern bias (not a criticism, simply an observation) and so U of Bath is more familiar to, and mentioned more frequently by, posters for reasons of geographical proximity as much as other factors.