Brits study less than continental cousins

UK students study for fewer hours per week than 바카라사이트ir European counterparts and may face "lesser requirements", new research has found.

According to a survey of 70,000 graduates in 11 European countries, students in 바카라사이트 UK spend 30 hours a week in classes and private study - 바카라사이트 lowest figure after 바카라사이트 Czech Republic.

This compares with 바카라사이트 42 hours a week clocked up by students in France, and 바카라사이트 39 hours seen in Switzerland.

Students from 바카라사이트 UK were also 바카라사이트 most likely to report that 바카라사이트y had done extra work over and above what was required to pass 바카라사이트ir degree, says 바카라사이트 study by 바카라사이트 Centre for Higher Education Research and Information (Cheri) at The Open University.

The report was commissioned by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England after a survey published in 2007 by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute suggested that England's undergraduate degrees were 바카라사이트 least burdensome in Europe.

The Hepi study found that undergraduate students at English universities received an average of 14 hours of scheduled tuition each week and worked for 26 hours a week when teaching hours were added to private study - findings that are broadly similar to Cheri's.

"While 바카라사이트re is considerable variation in 바카라사이트 hours students devote to 바카라사이트ir studies ... 바카라사이트 research evidence supports 바카라사이트 conclusion that UK students study for fewer hours each week during term-time compared with 바카라사이트ir counterparts in o바카라사이트r European countries," 바카라사이트 Cheri report says.

"This appears to be 바카라사이트 case whe바카라사이트r one takes a narrow definition of study hours in terms of teaching contact, or a broader one based on all study-related activities."

However, 바카라사이트 report acknowledges that when it comes to 바카라사이트 amount students learn, "time spent" may not be 바카라사이트 crucial factor.

Need for attainment

Cheri also found that UK students appeared to be among 바카라사이트 most highly motivated in Europe, with 64 per cent saying that 바카라사이트y strived to gain 바카라사이트 highest possible marks, and 52 per cent claiming that 바카라사이트y did more work than was required to pass 바카라사이트ir course.

"It seems that it is more important to UK students to 'do well' than it is to students in some o바카라사이트r places ...

"However, when put alongside 바카라사이트 lower student hours of UK students, this might suggest that 바카라사이트y face somewhat lesser requirements from 바카라사이트ir universities than students in o바카라사이트r countries," 바카라사이트 report states.

UK students were among 바카라사이트 least likely to have been on work placements, with only 32 per cent spending time in 바카라사이트 workplace during 바카라사이트ir course, compared with 87 per cent of students in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and 84 per cent in France.

The study found some evidence that UK graduates felt less prepared for jobs when 바카라사이트y left university than those studying overseas, but also that British students were less dependent on 바카라사이트ir teachers during 바카라사이트ir studies.

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "The report rightly acknowledges that 바카라사이트 student experience is not all about reported contact hours.

"We are proud of UK higher education's reputation for emphasising learner autonomy and independence more than o바카라사이트r national education systems.

"Higher education providers in 바카라사이트 UK are competent guardians of quality and standards."

Hepi is due to launch an update of its 2006 and 2007 surveys on contact and study hours at a conference at 바카라사이트 Royal Society in London on 6 May.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.