Length of a degree

[Cozylozy]

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

I can’t think of a single degree where summer internships are ‘expected’.

I can’t think of a single degree where summer internships are ‘expected’..

Maybe not but we know that graduate outcomes are better for students who have undertaken placements or internships.

Not to mention those students who really need to work in the summer to earn money.

Nursing courses are 45 weeks per year - 2 weeks off at Christmas and Easter and 3 in summer.......

Not much chance of summer internship with a teaching degree like mine! 😂

Nursing courses are 45 weeks per year - 2 weeks off at Christmas and Easter and 3 in summer.......

Yeah I know. But not all students are on nursing degrees.

Some students do rely on the summer to earn money or do internships. But obviously not all courses allow for that.

My friend was upset her DD got so little teaching on her nursing degree. Far more work on the wards than she had done when she was training. They might be lengthy but it’s because they are working at the same time.

As for the complaints about lack of teaching time, it’s not school. There’s always learning to be done or doing useful work.

Humanities degrees could absolutely be done in 2 years. The first year is pretty pointless anyway, but even disregarding that the lack of contact time and term hours it's really quite ridiculous it's stretched out over 3 years. I suppose the degrees like that financially even out the more resource heavy degrees so I doubt it'll ever happen, it'll all be to do with money.

And yes, still plenty of time for reading and studying in a 2 year period.

so I doubt it'll ever happen, it'll all be to do with money.

Have you even bothered to read the thread? It does happen - but students don't want it.

Financially the fees received are the same as for the three year version btw - actually beneficial to the uni as it gets its money more quickly and only one drop out point rather than two.

@titchy I meant universally. Universities are businesses and whilst I don't doubt universities are driven by their customers' desires, I have no doubt if 2 year degrees were financially lucrative they would find a means to attract students, most students are driven by the university itself and the course topic most of which won't offer a 2 year option, if they had the like for like option of 2 vs 3 years the stats may be different, but they're not widely available enough to say for certain "students don't want them".

But it's already been pointed out in this thread that unis HAVE offered both - and the three year version is what students want.

The two year may be fine for mature students, but not 18 year olds. Pedagogically it's better too in a number of subjects. English degrees are already shorter than those of most other countries!

I don't think you can compare a two year graduate entry course, where everyone has already learnt the skills to complete their first degree to an undergrad. The first year of UG at 18 is getting used to being away from home, developing yourself and your study skills learning to reference using the library or virtual library and soft skills. The learning only ever really happens in the following two years and lots of unis just require you to pass the first year to continue and don't count your grades towards your final grade but it doesn't mean that that first year isn't a valuable time for self development.

I had to spend several weeks every summer on fieldwork or projects (plus a week or two at Easter as well).

We had a lot of contact hours between lectures, seminars and labs - contact hours for the same course now is about half of what we had, so I struggle to see how you could cover the same content in 2 years.

If you’ve ever taught undergraduates, you’d know that it takes time for the deep learning to sink in. It’s not about cramming, it’s about teaching a significant level of expertise in a subject.

And it’s also about learning how to think.

I would not be happy about letting my second years loose on the world as “professionals” !

Because you’d already studied for 3 years.

Maturity, knowledge, understanding.

Heck no, my DD is doing an engineering degree and her classes are tough, she doesn’t need any more pressure, she already gets stressed. Plus they need time to network and do a few clubs.

I can’t think of a single degree where summer internships are ‘expected’.

A certain number of weeks of relevant internship were a requirement in order to proceed to yr 3 of my DDs engineering degree. I've no idea if that's the case elsewhere, but I think it's very much the norm for engineering students to do a fair bit, and I can't imagine many employers being impressed if they hadn't.

Most employers expect any graduate to have done some kind of internship or work placement.

@ErrolTheDragon Yes and even if it’s not a requirement, I think it’s very common to do internships nowadays for STEM degrees. It’s good experience and builds connections for when they graduate.

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

There are some that already do this. Very intense and full on though.

@TeamPolin For 18 year olds? Buckingham do but very few others and, as we have discussed, many expect another degree or HE qualification first, not A levels.

Civil engineering would expect summer internships and a year in industry.,

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads It does not. MEng degrees are 4 years and many don’t have a year in industry. Doing relevant work in the summer is just as good. Internships are difficult to come by but do exist. Neither are required as civil engineers are a shortage occupation.