At my University in the UK (Warwick) we have three Physics courses:
- BSc: A 3 year taught course with some of the final year devoted to research.
- MPhys[1]: A 4 year taught course that is essentially a longer version of the BSc with good chunk of the final year being a research project (some UK universities have an even larger portion of time in the 4th year for research)
- MSc: A 1 year master's course focussing entirely on research (no exams) designed as a follow-on to a BSc.
In the UK, an MPhys is understood to be different to a MSc in the level of research achieved and teaching received.
In Australia, a follow-on year with a research component is called "Honours". You "only" get a Bachelor's degree, but you can attach the honours statement to it, including the classification (first class, upper second class, lower second class, third class).
Same in South Africa. BSc honours is required if you want to do a masters or anything further. In the sciences, a BSc on its own only qualifies you to be a lab tech.
Here you can go to Masters with a straight Bachelor's degree; but to get into a PhD program you need to take Honours. (I was encouraged to take a PhD and decided that I am tired of poverty).
- BSc: A 3 year taught course with some of the final year devoted to research.
- MPhys[1]: A 4 year taught course that is essentially a longer version of the BSc with good chunk of the final year being a research project (some UK universities have an even larger portion of time in the 4th year for research)
- MSc: A 1 year master's course focussing entirely on research (no exams) designed as a follow-on to a BSc.
In the UK, an MPhys is understood to be different to a MSc in the level of research achieved and teaching received.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Physics