Buckingham University (private) 3 yr courses over 2 yrs - any experience ?

[mumblechum1]

I read something recently about Buckingham University, which is a private university, due to go from one of the most expensive in terms of tuition fees to one of the cheapest (£11.5k per annum, but 3 yr courses are condensed into 2 yrs, so total cost £23k rather than £27k for 3 yr course at £9k pa).

So, it looks q attractive, and they do a Politics and International Relations course which is close to what ds wants to do in Nottingham, but wondering if anyone has any experience of Buckingham, the pros and cons, dos and don'ts?

Thanks in advance.

Cat64 - that may be the case with scientists but in the humanities, no one is employed on a permanent contract just to do research. I think that's generally the case in the social sciences too. Research-led teaching is now very important in a lot of universities, and it's something that students respond well to. Historically, universities have been very bad at explaining to students why exactly research is important, not just for academics but for students themselves.

Crazyspaniel......my comment was not that all Phd trained academics cannot teach but that it is not necessary to hold this level of qualification to be a teacher who has a deep knowledge of their subject. Also I am surprised that you make a judgement about another institutions course based information that appears you have gained from a distance. From looking at their website it appears to me that the majority of academics in the humanities department at Buckingham hold a Phd and many gained from Oxbridge.

I haven't gained the information "from a distance", Natterallday - I have actually worked for them. I don't want to draw attention to particular departments, as I'd probably end up outing myself, but certainly in the departments I'm thinking of it's just not the case that the academics are as well-qualified as those at other universities - the one I'm thinking of has about 50% non-PhDs on its staff. And, actually, I do think that you need to be an active researcher in the field to have a deep knowledge of your subject. Where does that knowledge come from, after all?

Going back to a previous point made by someone who is a recruiter and would feel sceptical about a 2 year versus 3 year degree- well, now that an almighty spanner has been chucked into the works of HE, I'd imagine a recruiter might have to seriously readjust their 'expectations' in line with this fact, as well!

I predict this:

That the number of degree qualified people will plummet over then next few years because of the fees and the increasing discovery that a degree will in no way ensure a good job any more. But when this recession ends, they'll no longer be able to demand a 1:1 for an Office Junior position, as well.

That 'alternative' qualifications will become way more attractive, like 'local college based' HNCs and Ds, even apprenticeships.

Many unis will start to offer 2 year condensed courses, especially in courses that don't require a good 1/3 of the year off for titting around and freeloading off parents independent study.

Some other Universities already do 2 year BA (Hons) they just work through the Summer so you can look out for that.

HoneyandHaycorns

Two year degrees cover all the same units / modules / classes as three year degrees. The difference is that you continue studying in July, August and September.

So 2 semesters a year = 6 semesters in a three year degree

Or 3 semesters a year = 6 semmesters in a two year degree

It could be argued that it if you needed the summer to do the reading for your dissertation then someone taking a degree over two years needed to work harder to get the same degree.

Staffordshire have also been doing two year degrees for a while.