To make up for the amazing improvement in teaching and ever rising school exam results over the last 20years we have had to add an extra year to the traditional 3year undergrad course. For some reason we don't understand these increasingly brilliant school students don't seem to have done any calculus for example before arriving for a physics degree.
The extra 'honours' year of the degree is normally called a MSci/Meng - to differentiate it from a real MSc masters degree. There is usually an option to stop after 3 years and get a normal BSc. Most research councils require the four year version.
The reason British PhDs were nominally 3years is that UK ugrad programs were totally in the nominal subject, there is no minor or required arts/humanities courses - you just do a single subject every lecture.
Similarly a PhD traditionally has no taught courses or required extra material, just do the research 24x7. And since the research councils gave you a grant you could live on there was no need to teach/TA more than a nominal amount for experience (and beer money)
To make up for the amazing improvement in teaching and ever rising school exam results over the last 20years we have had to add an extra year to the traditional 3year undergrad course. For some reason we don't understand these increasingly brilliant school students don't seem to have done any calculus for example before arriving for a physics degree.
The extra 'honours' year of the degree is normally called a MSci/Meng - to differentiate it from a real MSc masters degree. There is usually an option to stop after 3 years and get a normal BSc. Most research councils require the four year version.
The reason British PhDs were nominally 3years is that UK ugrad programs were totally in the nominal subject, there is no minor or required arts/humanities courses - you just do a single subject every lecture.
Similarly a PhD traditionally has no taught courses or required extra material, just do the research 24x7. And since the research councils gave you a grant you could live on there was no need to teach/TA more than a nominal amount for experience (and beer money)