What is WIA first off. Also, did the job require a masters? If not, this will not be factored in. If the job did require a masters then maybe it would be at a higher grade, just because you have one, does not automatically put you in a higher grade. You could be a professor of astro-physics but if that is not what the job required, it is irrelevant. As to your ethnic background nationality, other companies may factor this in but I doubt QP would. The grade relates to what is required for the role not the experience/qualifications you have, ie it is not specific to you and has been pre-set, probably some time back. Also, the benefits are set in stone and do not relate specifically to you, bar whether you are on family status or not. The only thing you can negotiate is the salary within the grade.

What they do do here is give women lower salaries based on the fact that they probably are not the 'main' bread winner and probably don't need the money LOL!!!