please explain the scottish higher education system to me??

[colie]

I am doing a vocational degree in england, just about to finish my first year. I am possibly moving back to Scotland so I phoned some scottish universities yesterday to ask what year they would allow me to transfer to if I apply to their establishment.

They have all said 2nd year

If I do my degree in england I will have a BA Honours after 3 years, if I did it in Scotland it would be after 4 years.

So, if i continued with my degree here I would be qualified and have my honours degree in 2 years time.

I explained to the universities that I get 120 points for each year of study in england but from what they are saying students in scotland get 120 points each year for first 3 years, and then if they want the honours part, have to stay for the fourth year to get it. My understaning is in england you do your final 120 points in yr 3 and also get the honours part that year.

I was actually hoping to complete the second year of my degree in england and then transfer it to scotland to complete my last year (which would be the fourth year in scotland). I have been told if I transferred after my second year I would have to do the third and the fourth year in Scotland.

Not sure if this makes sense to anyone. I am just baffled that the same qualification takes a year longer in Scotland. I can't go the open university route either because I would have to be employer sponsered and I am not.

Sorry if this is long winded. Husband thinks I am thinking I am a cut above everyone else by wanting to transfer to scotland but skip a year, even though I have explained I wouldn't be skipping a year (in my eyes) as I would be qualified after 3 years study in england.

I am hoping someone has some insight or knowledge about transferring from a uni in england to scotland or vice versa?

Sounds about right - an ordinary degree would take 3 years in Scotland and honours 4 and you generally need to study for at least 2 years at the instiution to be awarded a degree there.

Results from highers (historically) taking 1 year and A levels 2 years - I think.

Not really convinced there is a solution TBH - you are not presenting exceptional circumstance in the eyes of the institutions.

Normally required to undertake a fairly hefty dissertation in 4th year too - which probably contributes to the difference.

bit sure about the whole transferring thing, Colie, but in Scotland you can have an "ordinary" degree after 3 years, ie a BA, or do a fourth "honours" year if you want a BA(Hons). It probably depends on the subject matter whether that will matter to your future career or not.

• bit unsure, I meant to say!

Info here

Thanks for replies everyone.

I am doing the BA (hons) in Social Work. I have spoken to a few scottish uni lecturers and noone is having pity on me.

In england the dissertation which I think is the same (as my sil did the same degree in glasgow) as in Scotland is done in our third and final year along with the final 120 points. So I will have done the 360 points plus dissertation (sp) after 3 years in england. Wheras in Scotland the 360 points are done over 3 years and then the dissertation is done in the fourth year.

I suppose I will just have to accept it. Dh's job is taking him back to scotland sooner than we expected. I just can't bear the thought of spending an extra year on getting this degree.

Thanks again for the advice.

Had a quick look at my local Uni Social Work course and something else you may need to consider is professional placements - in this case 2: 70 days and 100 days so also a possible complication.

In case you are interested :

www.external.stir.ac.uk/undergrad/course_info/courses_ug/soc_work.php

Well rated for SW I think.

Thanks Gomez. By the time I finish my second year here I will have completed 120 days placement.

200 day placements have to be completed in both england and scotland by the end of your degree. Obviously each uni may split the placement into different lengths in each year.

I think once I am half way through my second year (if I make it that far) I will start asking the scottish uni's again. I had just been asking the ones within the Glasgow area but hadn't thought of Stirling. Though I think Stirling may just be too much of a commute from Glasgow every day. Though if it allowed me to manage the degree with a smaller time frame then I may manage the commute .

I do understand the problem of transferring from England to Scotland as it does seem to be done so differently. Thanks again Gomez. Think I will email Stirling and see if they have any suggestions.

Oh aye I had presumed the placement would be common but the timing may have been an issue.

Stirling very commutable from Glasgow BTW - train, bus or car.

Good luck.

yep, very doable. The Uni is walking distance from Bridge of Allan train station. Depends where in Glasgow you'll be living of course to make that feasible.

Stirling/Bridge of Allan is only 45-50mins commute from Glasgow - and Stirling Uni is excellent. Good luck!

Thanks everyone. Stirling is lovely have been to the castle many times. Not sure about adding a 2 hour commute onto my day as I have 3 kids to get to childminders, nurseries, breakfast clubs etc.

Not that they have said they want me .

I am still unsure, I know of someone who had an HND and this HND got them straight into the fourth year of a scottish degree. I suppose I could email the credits that I would have up to the uni's, and speak to my personal tutor at my uni here, to make sure there is no way they would allow me into the fourth year.

Thanks for the the replies everyone.

As far as I know, HND is equivalent to the first two years of uni, so you can sometimes get into 3rd year with one.

In my specialism (acting) I can get into a postgrad with my HND. I think it very much depends on the uni and the course.