Length of a degree

[Cozylozy]

Wouldn’t it be more appealing if a degree was condensed to 2 years? Would be doable

When would the lecturers get time to do research?

They exist. They are very unpopular. They aren't pedagogically particularly good.

So no.

God no. There's too much bloody condensing things these days. Learning takes time and university is fun!

My friends daughter is at a post 92 uni and they absolutely think this. They are taught over 2 (out of 3) x12 week semesters each year. So 6 semesters of teaching. Given that there are 3 in a year, she cannot understand why it can't be done over 2 years.

I am sure if it was a more widely available option it would be v popular for young people, particularly with fees, cost of living etc

Certainly wouldn't work for courses which require significant amounts of lab work and where relevant internships in the summer are expected.

yes wouldn’t work for all degrees but definitely for many.

I’m a senior lecturer and I’ve never done any research in my life. 😁. But I also teach a course with only a 6 week gap in the summer (hence why i don’t do research) so for my course it couldn’t be condensed into two years.

But for other courses if research is the only argument yo7 could argue that the 7niversities could have more staff and work out a system where they all get time for research. Would mean fees would have to increase I guess.

And of course assessments would be condensed into 2 years. My students have a breakdown if they have two assessments in a month so can’t see this going down well! 😂

Young people don't like them. We've offered some for a few years, they exclusively attract mature students.
They aren't always cheaper as they need more staff as teaching takes place all year round and they need to fit all of the relevant modules and teaching into 2 years.
They also make it difficult for students to have part time jobs or work ever the summer. This is essential for many students just to survive.

I’m a senior lecturer and I’ve never done any research in my life. 😁.

At my university that would be a sacking offence! I'm guessing you're on a a teaching only contract?

It would probably be helpful to some - especially mature students - if the same quality of degree could be compressed into two years.
But why would a uni offer it? Would they be able to charge the same amount of tuition fees as a 3 year degree? Would they be able to get good teaching staff for this approach? They'd also lose out on being able to use their facilities for conferences during vacations if those were much shorter.

I did a 2year law degree (senior status)

Mostly aimed at people with degrees already so you can jump right into learning as you already know how to write essays etc.

And we did same modules at same time as the normal 3 year degree

We just did 4 1/2 courses each term rather than 3 and had less optional modules we could select.

I am indeed. I do get I think 200 hrs a year for “scholarly activity” and every year they ask me what I’ve done and I say nothing, that I’m too busy teaching. They haven’t sacked me yet, in fact they keep promoting me!

I am indeed. I do get I think 200 hrs a year for “scholarly activity” and every year they ask me what I’ve done and I say nothing, that I’m too busy teaching. They haven’t sacked me yet, in fact they keep promoting me!

200 hours for scholarly activity!! wow! Research is very ,very much an expectation at my university and I only get 185 hours!

I guess they can't sack you for not doing any research if you're on a teaching only contract but 'scholarly activity' hours suggests there is an expectation? No need to answer, I'm just curious!

They do exist but cost the same or more to run and prevent part time work.

I'd say it might 'seem' more appealing but the physical burden of workload would be unlikely to suit most people. You'd be unable to have any employment or social life.
Many more people choose part time degrees that can be done in a longer time period.
So I'd say if it was viable and popular then it would be a lot more available.

What makes you think it’s “doable”? In most countries a degree is four years. Given the entry standards and levels of maturity that we’re now dealing with, the first year is largely taken up with getting students to the standard that we’d expect them to be starting with.

I’m aware that some universities have a two-year degree but I would never recruit a student onto our Masters programme from one of those. For many subjects (those which are more about skills than content), there simply isn’t the intellectual maturation that a three-year or four year degree provides.

@SerenityNowSerenityNow there is an expectation I guess but in the years I’ve worked here we have been short staffed every single year. There are currently two of us running an entire degree course - it’s a course which runs to early August and has a lot of f2f contact time. I’m literally teaching 4 full days a week, sometimes 4.5 while being programme lead. I think they know if they asked too hard about my scholarly activity I’d tell them to do one! I get in at 7am every day just so I can answer emails.

I know that feeling!

I did a 3 year undergrad and a 1 year Masters. I'd argue that a one year course would be sufficient for quite a lot of subjects (not all). That one year course was excellent.

Where I work, you get a 10% research allocation if you’re on a teaching-only contract, so around 160 hours. Everyone who teaches is expected to engage in research, though in practice few of those colleagues do.

if you’re on a teaching and research contract, it’s supposed to be 40% (around 600 hours) research, 40% teaching, 20% admin. So - assuming you’re entered for the REF - your research hours are very low.

if you’re on a teaching and research contract, it’s supposed to be 40% (around 600 hours) research, 40% teaching, 20% admin. So - assuming you’re entered for the REF - your research hours are very low.

That's interesting. All academic staff are on T&R contracts and 185 hours (a day a week) is our standard. Although, research days are few and far between at the moment!

As I said I did in (in law- even Oxford university does a 2 year law)

People still worked (I did 1 day a week) and just had 4 or 5 exams at end of year rather than 3. As most of us were mature students we all managed fine, treating it like a job working 9-6. I don't recall many of us getting less than a 2.1 and plenty of the overseas students would visit Europe at weekends quite regularly.

So it works well for some subjects.

And cost me £9k pa same as any other degree I could do.

Undergrad at Oxford is 3 years or 4 with Law and French law (for example). No 2 year law undergrad degree. Buckingham does 2 year degree but very low in league tables.

I would line the 2 year old style HND taught at unis and then do 2 more years for degree. Or a lot more foundation years. 2 year degrees run the risk of being second class. You really could not do engineering or MFLs in 2 years.