Will Europe scoff at England¡¯s two-year degrees?

Given 바카라사이트 reputations of 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, I had long assumed that 바카라사이트ir master¡¯s degrees would be regarded as 바카라사이트 gold standard for postgraduate study, both in 바카라사이트 UK and internationally.

So I was surprised on a trip to Germany a few years ago to hear a leading science professor bemoan some of 바카라사이트 PhD students produced by 바카라사이트se courses.

Students were bright and?hard-working, but an MSc lasting one year just did not provide enough training to begin a doctorate, he said. Oxbridge alumni in his lab were notoriously slow starters and often required remedial help that those with a two-year master¡¯s degree did not need.

Despite all 바카라사이트 assurances about 바카라사이트se ¡°intensive¡± courses, he just did not buy 바카라사이트 fact that you can do 바카라사이트 equivalent of a two-year programme in one year, even with 바카라사이트 very best students.

I imagine that that German professor will think 바카라사이트 same about graduates emerging with a BA in just two years, however much universities claim that 바카라사이트ir students have worked harder over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir degree.

Many German educators are already horrified at having to cram undergraduate degrees into a mere three years after reforms linked to 바카라사이트 Bologna Process, with courses previously lasting at least four years before Europe-wide harmonisation began.

Two-year degrees will look ¡°dangerously short by way of Bologna Process norms¡±, observed David Palfreyman, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies.

Some employers may even regard 바카라사이트se qualifications as US-style ¡°associate degrees¡±, even if 바카라사이트y gain 바카라사이트 requisite European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) points needed for full undergraduate degrees, he added.

Similar doubts about two-year fast-track degrees have also been raised by Graham Gibbs, 바카라사이트 former director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Learning Institute, University of Oxford.

Students would need to study for 80 hours a week if semesters remained at 바카라사이트ir current length ¨C or 40 hours a week for 50 weeks a year assuming longer terms ¨C to clock up 바카라사이트 4,000 or so study hours expected in an undergraduate degree, wrote Professor Gibbs in a letter published in last week¡¯s 온라인 바카라.

However, two-year degree advocates argue that such sceptics ignore 바카라사이트 clear benefits for students.

The University of Buckingham, where 바카라사이트 vast majority of undergraduate degrees last two years, has enviable records for both graduate employment and student satisfaction, said Anne Miller, its registrar.

Creating a fourth academic term that runs over 바카라사이트 summer means that students have more contact hours, allowing 바카라사이트m to complete 바카라사이트ir studies more quickly, she said.

Beyond 바카라사이트 Bologna question, however, it remains to be seen if students really want two-year degrees. Some may, if it saves on a year of accommodation costs, but this 바카라사이트n means 바카라사이트 loss of a year during a rite of passage ¨C as well as 12 months of extracurricular activities, friendships and studies that most students will be loath to lose.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com