Opinions on the New College of the Humanities

[bunglebee]

Long story short, I'm currently doing a Level 4 apprenticeship in a subject I'm really enjoying. I already have undergrad and postgrad degrees from previous life. I would have the option, through my current apprenticeship provider, to carry on the apprenticeship to Level 6, which would turn it into a degree awarded by the New College of the Humanities. There's also another Level 6 apprenticeship in the same subject awarded by City University.

My current apprenticeship provider is excellent and does a really good job, but I'm iffy about NCH and how a degree from there would be regarded. Basically, I'm wondering if it's worth trying to get my employer to let me do the one from City instead. I would be less likely to get the approval for that as they'd have to be assessed and accepted as a new supplier, but I think the degree may be better regarded.

Any thoughts on NCH and how it's regarded? It would be an in-demand, applied subject.

It’s more international than City, but has a strong record with degree apprenticeships.

If your provider is already set up with them, I would say stick with them you’ll have a much better experience than being the first person with a new institution

It was controversial when it started, for various reasons, but that seems to have faded; with degrees validated first by the University of London and then by Southampton Solent. It's now owned by an American university and can issue its own degrees.

Thanks guys.

I'd never heard of it tbh. I googled, but most of what I found came from the articles written just after it started and the controversy. I don't think it had fully accredited status at that time. I also wasn't able to find anything on rankings for it, which concerned me.

Speculative bump for the evening crowd.

It doesn't rank in my academic world. I don't see academics from there at conferences or publishing. And they basically employ PhD students to run the courses, paid per course, rather than in proper jobs.

In the humanities, the research status of the academic staff is important - at a good university, you'll be taught by the people writing the books & articles you'll be using in your undergrad courses.

it is a teaching-focused institution, so it is probably good at teaching & making sure the students have a good experience. As Allthat says, it would not rank very highly if you wanted to do further academic work (e.g. a PhD). But if that is not your aim, then it is probably fine.

The course I'd be doing isnt in the humanities, and I doubt I'd ever plan to do a PhD in it, it's very much applied. I'd definitely prefer another more trad uni all other things being equal - it's a question how far I'm willing to push for that.

Thanks for inputs.