Blended learning at Strathclyde

[ClerkMaxwell]

Asking for DS2 for masters in business school. He has his 2.1 so has a confirmed place for September but they are being very coy in what blended learning will be and the amount of contact hours. He knows they don't have a crystal ball but was hoping for something along the lines of : if Glasgow is under covid level x restrictions then lectures will be , seminars will be , group work will be . There will be x hours of lectures/y hours of seminars etc.

Edinburgh were similarly vague for DD last year and blended turned out to be 8 hours in person in total over entire year taken by 2nd year PhD student.

Any experience what Strathy has been like this year would help him decide to commit (masters is eye wateringly expensive even with a discount!).

Ds just finished year 3 of a 5 year integrated masters in computer science. He's had no face to face at all. Don't know is that's typical. I asked him about a week ago as to whether any plans for the coming year had been communicated and he said he'd heard nothing.

Sorry should have this is Strathclyde.

Thanks Redacted. Sounds as Strathy hasn't decided. Did your DS say anything about the quality of online learning this year? DS2 could stay at his current uni but prefers Strathclyde but is having a bit of a wobble.

Unfortunately getting any information from DS is like getting blood from a stone. However it seems the only contact he had in terms of anything not just on screen stuff was calls with his group for group work. I think there was an optional 1 hour a week dial in to ask any questions which he never availed himself of.

He's still waiting on this year's results. He's had pretty much over 90/95% for everything so far but this year they seem to be later with everything.

He doesn't mind the online but I don't think it's helpful for his lack of socialising as he basically has no need to leave his bedroom.

I'm hoping that his tutorials and labs are back on face to face even if lectures remain just online.

Amazing results. My DC are not so stellar.

Glasgow Uni not Strathclyde but my eldest is coming to the end of masters without any face to face teaching at all and without even meeting any other fellow student. Small numbers but all tutorials online. Gave up their accommodation after christmas and decided to complete the course from home. Many overseas students also went home.
As you say, eyewateringly expensive for effectively an online course.

All online this year at Strathclyde for my ds who hated it.
I would think that they can’t make any promises, but all 18-30 year old should be fully vaccinated by September so I think it will be different for 21-22. But nothing certain at the moment.

So how does the cost/funding differ for those doing a masters that isn't integrated? As far as I can see, for DS1 nothing changes?

DS2 who has just finished 2nd year in Aberdeen is now talking about potentially doing it postgrad and as we're supporting DS1 for 5 years I guess we need to do the same. But DS2s costs are already higher as he is living away so he's already been supported to a higher level financially and DH and I are getting to the point of hoping to retire in a couple of years.

Hi universities can't say exactly what it will be like - it depends on what the Government decides, and they have specific guidance for higher education which can be different to the guidance for schools etc.

I am not at Strathclyde, but in general I know most universities are hoping that classes of under 50 will be in person. In general if you take social distancing into account then a lecture theatre that can sit 3-400 normally will only hold 50 max.

Thanks everyone. Sounds as if Glasgow (his other choice) might be similar.

I completely understand that they cannot promise but it would be good to have a clear statement of intention based on the covid restriction levels. I worry that regardless of levels in September it will be all online (or token in person) so not to disadvantage international students. DS2 hates online.

I find unis odd that there isnt a clear statement of what you are getting for your money. Maybe there is but DS2 and I have struggled to find (DS2 emailed department to no avail). I went to Strathy ages ago. Is there still a course catalogue so you can see timetabled hours for courses?

Non-integrated masters are expensive. DS2s first choice is £14k+ full price. However there are discounts/scholarships and you can get a loan of around £10k from SAAS. He stayed at home for his first degree so hasn't had any SAAS other than fees paid plus he has worked part time during term time and full time during holidays. He's hoping masters improves his chances of graduate job. He applied for a couple of jobs this year but wasn't successful (plus process so time consuming that it was affecting his dissertation work).

Similar with my one ClerkMaxwell Did his degree at local uni and lived at home, had a pretty well paid part time job so there wasn’t a need to take out the student loan. Fees for his PG are around £10,000 with an available loan of about £5000 towards fees and the usual loan of up to £4700 towards living expenses. Also discounts are normally given to undergrads who undertake a masters at the same institute.

The Scottish government has been tremendously useless in providing universities with advice/information--or anything, really.

My uni (Scottish, not Strathclyde) is basing predictions on a 1 meter social distancing rule by September. That then dictates how much face to face teaching we can do--it's basically limited by the amount of space needed. For example, a room that would usually take 40 students can only take 12. If you multiply that across all degrees/modules, you can see how we'll still have to do online teaching as we just can't accommodate everybody. There is talk of extending the teaching day to 9pm to free up more space.

If social distancing is removed, I would envisage us being able to significantly increase the number of hours on campus.

I can't talk for Strathclyde, but my university and some others I know are prioritising first year UG and taught PG students for on-campus time, but they're not advertising the fact.

@historyrocks is there no plan to prioritise second years next year who never set foot on campus in their first year as everything was online and therefore have missed practical labs etc?

Thanks everyone. I made DS look at the Government guidance. We didn't realise there was still physical distance rules for unis at levels 0-2. I think he's resigned to online lectures and will need to hope Strathclyde prioritises his taught masters for in person seminars.

Edinburgh are doing catchup biology labs as DDs PhD student friend has a job doing these at the moment. Not sure which year though. Also DD said it looks like she will need to do more compulsory courses in her 2nd year (and so less scope for outside courses) so looks like they are attempting to catch-up. Hope the other unis are similar.

Ds finishing a masters at Strathclyde this year. Not been in uni at all. Over 6k for no face to face learning. He seems to be coping right enough.

You might be interested in this topical article on the BBC:
BBC News - Covid: Call for clarity on opening up universities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57482789
The uni staff are equally frustrated.

ssd: glad your DS has coped with his online masters. Can I ask whether there was a reasonable amount of live delivery?

Icould: Interesting article. Hoping the students and staff unite to put some pressure on Scottish government. Would be interesting to see whether first year uni exam results are worse.

St Andrews we’re just on reporting Scotland asking the gov to review the rules ASAP to 1m at most.

@ClerkMaxwell, tbh i haven't a clue. He doesn't give much away..

DS1 didn't get any choices of classes this year but then he doesn't really get many choices anyway usually.