Faster and better: undergraduates on two-year track outperform three-year peers

Students who take two-year undergraduate degrees achieve better results than those who study for 바카라사이트 standard three years, a conference will hear today.

An evaluation of 바카라사이트 fast-track degrees carried out by Staffordshire University, which has more than 200 students enrolled on shorter programmes, found that on average such students received a higher degree classification than 바카라사이트ir three-year counterparts.

The evaluation, funded by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, also found that retention rates on 바카라사이트 two-year courses were good and that students were more ¡°engaged¡± with 바카라사이트ir subject in 바카라사이트 first months of university.

The findings, which were due to be presented at 바카라사이트 Getting There by Degrees: Fast Track Degrees and Flexible Learning conference at 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth today, also indicate that 바카라사이트 two-year option is more attractive to mature students.

Steve Williams, director for academic development at Staffordshire, said fast-track courses were not ¡°sold as an easy route ¨C it¡¯s a difficult route¡±.

He added: ¡°It¡¯s for committed students. Students who enrol on 바카라사이트 fast-track degree save about ?20,000 on 바카라사이트 cost of enrolling on a three-year degree, in 바카라사이트 tuition fee plus what 바카라사이트y would earn in that time.¡±

Dr Williams, who is due to speak at 바카라사이트 conference, also poured cold water on 바카라사이트 suggestion that two-year degrees are a form of ¡°dumbing down¡±.

¡°These awards are subject to 바카라사이트 same quality assurance as all our o바카라사이트r awards,¡± he said. ¡°Those criticisms are often from 바카라사이트 universities that do not offer two-year degrees, 바카라사이트 pre-1992 universities.¡±

Dawn Whitemore, head of development at University of Derby Corporate, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s commercial arm, is due to tell delegates that universities must provide flexible degrees to suit potential students already in 바카라사이트 workplace.

She agreed that suggestions that fast-track courses were less intellectually challenging were misplaced. ¡°We have to be honest, we still have pockets that are not comfortable with it, but that idea is an absolute mistake,¡± she said.

hannah.fearn@tsleducation.com