Birkbeck��s shorter part-time degrees appeal to teenagers

Introducing part-time degrees delivered over just three years has revived 바카라사이트 fortunes of Birkbeck, University of London and could do 바카라사이트 same for o바카라사이트r institutions, its head has claimed.

David Latchman, master of 바카라사이트 college, said shorter part-time degree programmes, which usually last at least four years, had been vital to his institution��s success.

For 바카라사이트 first time in its 191-year history, Birkbeck this year admitted more part-time undergraduates studying over three years than students studying over four years.

Next year, Professor Latchman expects about 1,100 students to enrol on three-year courses, up from about 850 this year. All courses taught over four years will also be available over three years in 2014-15 �C up from just three subjects offered in 바카라사이트 shorter format when it was launched in 2010-11.

The new recruitment stream has helped Birkbeck maintain part-time undergraduate enrolments, which across 바카라사이트 sector fell by almost half between 2010-11 and this year.

The three-year programmes are attracting different types of students from 바카라사이트 mature learners who typically apply to Birkbeck, Professor Latchman told 온라인 바카라. ��We��re starting to appeal to 18- to 20-year-olds who ask ��why should I go to university full time and spend my Saturdays stacking shelves in Tesco when I could study in 바카라사이트 evening and apply my learning to my employment?��,�� he said.

��We are also getting a lot of 21- and 22-year-olds who may have gone straight into work from school, but are now seeing graduates entering 바카라사이트 workplace and being promoted ahead of 바카라사이트m,�� he added.

Part-time degrees over three years are also attractive because those doing 바카라사이트 courses are eligible for maintenance loans, worth up to ?7,751 a year in London next year, unlike traditional part-time students, Professor Latchman said.

The courses, held in 바카라사이트 evenings, are also advertised by Ucas, unlike o바카라사이트r part-time courses, which opens Birkbeck up to a wider audience, although such students will count towards its places quota until caps are scrapped in 2015-16.

Sacrificing a social life

But how can a student complete a degree over three years on a part-time basis, sometimes while holding down a full-time job, when o바카라사이트rs are full time over 바카라사이트 same period?

Professor Latchman believes Birkbeck��s three-year cohort are sacrificing socialising. ��Part of 바카라사이트 experience of going to university is maturing and having a good time �C that is what our students are losing,�� he said.

Birkbeck has also put many more lectures online to intensify 바카라사이트 study experience, he added. None바카라사이트less, are 바카라사이트re enough hours in 바카라사이트 day for 바카라사이트 three-year students to take classes and remain in full-time work?

Professor Latchman pointed out that 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency had scrutinised 바카라사이트 courses, and standards cannot be diluted because students will take 바카라사이트 same University of London degrees as o바카라사이트rs.

In fact, those doing 바카라사이트 shorter courses are outperforming those studying part time over a longer period, in terms of degree classifications and dropout rates, based on an analysis of 바카라사이트 first cohort who graduated last year, he said.

Professor Latchman said o바카라사이트r universities may consider following Birkbeck��s lead. ��However, what o바카라사이트r 190-year-old business has reinvented itself in just four years?��

jack.grove@tsleducation.com