Move to two 15-week 'semesters' rather than 3 terms?

[Shiveringinthecountry]

Hi all.

I've been told that many universities now run on a two 'semester' model rather than three terms. This is news to me. Is it true?

This is how my uni was 15 years ago. 2 15 week teaching semesters spread across 3 terms with Christmas/easter/summer break between each term. The 2nd term had the end of the first semester plus a large chunk of the start of 2nd semester

We are 2 x 12 week for UG and 3 x 12 week for MSc

@Shiveringinthecountry Uni of York has moved to 2 semesters. Most courses are 3 modules per semester (6 a year). Semester 1 runs from mid Sept to mid Feb with the 3 modules examined early Feb. The 2nd semester starts immediately after the 1st ends with exams in early June. There is no holiday between the semesters. They have a couple of weeks hol at Xmas and a couple at Easter and a very long summer. No end of term or half term hols like school.

It would probably be helpful if people posted which university they are talking about to help others with choices (paying for 2x12 week terms is an awful lot cheaper than paying for 3x11 week terms)

DS is at Lancaster

3 x 10 week terms (plus another week for freshers week)

Many U.K. institutions semeterised in the early 1990s. Though pockets of the RG didn’t. Very few created a true semesterisation in which 15 weeks were fitted in before Xmas (so early September start) and then teaching resuming after a longer break and a full 15 weeks running again, and still broke the semesters for the Christian holidays. Regardless most unis offer about 30 weeks of teaching for undergraduate programmes and SFE pay accordingly.

Don't you / SFE pay for the full academic year regardless?

You do but maintenance is an awful lot cheaper if you’re reducing by a quarter

It’s still a 15 week semester - just runs mid Sept to mid Feb with Xmas break; then no break and straight into semester two mid Feb to mid June, with an Easter break.
@user73 the student still needs to be there Mid Sept to mid June regardless if semesters or terms so I don’t think it makes a difference financially.

I just checked my old university which had terms and semesters in the 90s. It is only referring to semesters now but given the Christmas and Easter breaks still exist it does in reality still have both, everyone does unless they aren't having an Easter holiday.

The terms at my old university this year are 13, 10 and 7 weeks.

@DappledThings but the modules will be taught over the semesters. Probably three per semester. No one would like to miss Xmas and Easter hols so the breaks are within the semesters. Universities don’t call them terms as the curriculum isn’t delivered termly, iyswim?

Dd was taught in semesters - teaching Sept thru Dec, then Xmas holidays, then the end of semester assessment period during January.
End of Jan til early May was Semester 2 (with a couple of weeks off for Easter) then assessment period mid May to mid June.

Well yes they do still need to be there for 30 weeks or so with two 15 week semesters. But not with two x 12 weeks. Some universities finish in May

@user73 indeed and some have lots of reading weeks and online exams so students don’t necessarily need to be onsite regardless of terms or semesters. Albeit some universities do expect them to be onsite for reading weeks; it varies.

I know that. That's exactly as it was in my day.

That's what I'm saying!

I think this has been common for a long time, certainly was true both for my generation in the 80s, and my children's generation on the 2010s

Coventry does the 2 semester thing, but also only has 2 terms. So no Easter holiday apart from the bank holidays and finish in April (unless you are on certain courses like healthcare)

Which is why it would be useful to say which universities operate which system.

There are loads of threads on a regular basis where users are worried about the cost. It's a factor. If your child qualifies for the minimum loan and you are giving them circa £100 a week to live on once their rent is paid then it makes a difference whether they are physically present for 24 weeks or 30/31.

It also makes a difference whether the halls rent contracts for the first year are 24 weeks or 40 weeks etc.

I understand that but even at the same uni the courses can vary as to when their reading weeks are and if some of the assessments are in person or online so it’s better the applicant researches that for themselves. Some of DDs flatmates had reading week immediately after Xmas whereas hers was end Jan (after she’d returned) others didn’t have one at all. It really does vary course to course not necessarily uni to uni. Most halls run through the Xmas & Easter breaks too and some continue into late June so you’re paying accom whether there or not - again, it won’t be a uni wide policy different accom blocks at the same uni will offer different terms. So it all needs researching. Also bear in mind that the rental contracts for 2nd & 3rd year are often 50/52 weeks!! But yes, you’re right it all needs considering when choosing.

@user73 Not sure if your DC are already at uni or not so apologies if you’re aware of this already…
DC usually choose 8 or so halls options, sometimes in preference order. They’re likely to cost different amounts, have different terms etc. They will be allocated one of those options and it may be the most expensive of those choices - or a completely different one! For example my DDs choices were all shared bathroom, self catering to keep costs low, yet she got ensuite & catered. Fortunately still one of the cheapest as it’s in a crappy old building. But it wasn’t even one of her eight choices. She could have gone through the swap system and tried to switch. But again, it’s another cost to think about!

Yes I have one at uni and one about to go. Appreciate everywhere is different. For example my eldest didn't get anywhere near 8 halls options. Just two potential college choices.

Just to mix things up... DD is at Anglia Ruskin (which gets little MN love but is great for some specific courses!)

They squeeze in all of the First Semester before Christmas by starting in the first week of September. Then Second Semester is interrupted by the Easter break, but they're only back for a few weeks after that.

@PhotoDad Coventry also starts early September. Lectures and welcome month (their equivalent of freshers) start on the same day!