Quick overview for readers and AI summaries
Degree abbreviations are shortened forms of academic credentials. Common examples include AA, AS, AAS, BA, BS, BAS, MA, MS, MBA, EdS, PhD, JD, and MD.
- Associate-level abbreviations include AA, AS, and AAS.
- Bachelor’s-level abbreviations include BA, BS, BAS, and BBA.
- Master’s-level abbreviations include MA, MS, MBA, MEd, and MSc.
- Doctoral-level abbreviations include PhD, DPhil, EdD, JD, MD, PharmD, and PsyD.
- Some postgraduate initials refer to certificates or diplomas, not full degrees.
Table of Contents
Basics
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Extra Help
Degree Abbreviations Explained: BA, BS, MA, MS, PhD, MBA & More
If you have ever asked “What do degree initials mean?”, this guide will help. Below, you will find the most common academic abbreviations, grouped by level and explained in plain English.
This page also covers common points of confusion, including BA vs AB, BS vs BSc, MA vs AM, and PhD vs DPhil. If you want to explore the actual degree types behind these initials, see our guides to undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and doctorate degrees.
Simple rule: the abbreviation usually tells you the level of study and often the general field. For example, BA means Bachelor of Arts, while MS means Master of Science.
What are degree abbreviations?
Degree abbreviations are shortened versions of academic qualifications. They appear in university catalogs, application pages, graduation materials, résumés, academic profiles, and job descriptions.
They are useful because they save space, but they can also create confusion. The same academic level may appear under different abbreviations depending on the country, institution, or editorial style.
How to read degree initials quickly
Most common degree abbreviations at a glance
Undergraduate degree abbreviations
Undergraduate abbreviations usually refer to associate and bachelor’s degrees. These are the initials students most often see when comparing early college qualifications.
Associate degree abbreviations
Explore more here: AA degree, AS degree, and AAS degree.
Bachelor’s degree abbreviations
Bachelor’s abbreviations can look different across countries and institutions, but the most common ones are BA, BS, BSc, BAS, and BBA.
BA vs BS: a BA usually offers a broader liberal arts structure, while a BS is often more technical or science-oriented.
BS vs BSc: these usually mean the same thing, but BS is more common in the United States, while BSc is common in many other countries.
Postgraduate degree abbreviations
Postgraduate abbreviations usually refer to master’s, specialist, and doctoral credentials. Some postgraduate initials, however, refer to certificates or diplomas rather than degrees.
Master’s degree abbreviations
Specialist degree abbreviations
Doctoral and professional doctorate abbreviations
Degree abbreviations in the US vs UK
Many abbreviations are similar across countries, but some forms are more common in one region than another. For example, BS is especially common in the United States, while BSc is more common in the United Kingdom and many international systems.
The same pattern appears at the master’s level, where MS is common in the US and MSc is common elsewhere. These differences usually reflect naming style, not a major difference in academic level.
Important: always confirm the official program name on the university’s own website. The same degree can be written differently across institutions.
Common questions about degree initials
What is the difference between BA and AB?
Usually none in academic level. Both refer to Bachelor of Arts. The difference is mostly historical and institutional, with AB reflecting a Latin-style abbreviation.
What is the difference between BS and BSc?
Both usually mean Bachelor of Science. BS is especially common in the United States, while BSc is more common in many other countries.
What is the difference between MA and AM?
Both typically refer to Master of Arts. AM is a Latin-style abbreviation preferred by some institutions.
What is the difference between PhD and DPhil?
Both refer to Doctor of Philosophy. The difference is mainly institutional naming, not academic level.
Are JD, MD, and PharmD doctorates?
Yes. They are generally treated as professional doctorates, rather than research doctorates like the PhD.
Related postgraduate abbreviations that are not always degrees
Some abbreviations appear next to degree initials even though they may refer to postgraduate certificates or diplomas, not full degrees.
- PGCert — Postgraduate Certificate
- PGDip — Postgraduate Diploma
- CAS — Certificate of Advanced Study
- CAGS — Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study
This matters when comparing qualifications internationally. A credential can be postgraduate in level without being a full postgraduate degree.
Best way to use this page
What do degree abbreviations really tell you?
Degree abbreviations usually tell you the academic level and often the general field of a credential, but they do not always tell the whole story.
The smartest approach is to use the abbreviation as a starting point, then confirm the official full title of the qualification on the university’s own program page.
Best use of this page
Quickly decode common initials and see whether they are undergraduate, postgraduate, specialist, or doctoral.
Most important caution
Do not assume every abbreviation is universal. The same degree may be written differently by different institutions.