Master of Arts (Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin)

In the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, recipients of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree may, upon application, be promoted to the degree of Master of Arts (MA). This promotion requires only the passage of a specified period of time and does not involve any further examination or study. The newly conferred degree is regarded as a mark of seniority rather than an additional postgraduate qualification. The postnominal letters "MA" are followed by the abbreviated Latin name of the conferring university: Oxon (Oxford), Cantab (Cambridge), or Dubl (Dublin).

In addition, under the principle of ad eundem gradum, graduates of the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin may use a process called "incorporation" to be granted equivalent academic degrees at either of the other two universities, provided that they wish to register for a separate higher degree at that university or are members of the academic staff, and that the required fee is paid. One of the most frequently cited examples of incorporation is that of the steamboat ladies — approximately 720 women graduates of Oxford and Cambridge who were awarded Dublin degrees. Although not earned through further study, both the original degree(s) and any incorporated ad eundem degree(s) may be listed as post-nominals in the Oxford University Calendar.

This promotion may take place no earlier than seven years after starting one's degree at Oxford, six years after starting the degree at Cambridge, and three years after graduation at Dublin. While these three universities also award postgraduate master’s degrees that require further study, they do not use the title ‘MA’ for any taught or examined postgraduate qualification. This practice differs from that of most universities worldwide, where the Master of Arts degree denotes postgraduate study. Consequently, the degrees are often referred to as the Oxford and Cambridge MA, and the Dublin or Trinity MA, in order to distinguish them. This system has at times caused confusion among employers, who may mistakenly regard the promoted MA as an additional academic qualification.