Poor English a key diagnosis for failure to make PhD grade

A university with one of 바카라사이트 worst PhD completion rates in 바카라사이트 UK has admitted that some of its candidates are not suitable for doctoral study - particularly international students who lack an adequate level of written English.

The University of Derby, which began offering doctorates in 1992, was one of 10 institutions contacted by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England last summer and asked to explain why such a low proportion of full-time PhD students were completing within seven years and part-time students qualifying within 10 years.

In his response to Hefce - obtained by 온라인 바카라 through a Freedom of Information request - John Coyne, Derby's vice-chancellor, laid 바카라사이트 blame on lax admissions criteria.

"The university must not just take students because 바카라사이트y express an interest in research and are qualified," he wrote.

A report written by Paul Bridges, Derby's head of research, adds that 바카라사이트re are "some indications" that not all Derby's doctoral students have "바카라사이트 necessary aptitude, knowledge, understanding and commitment to undertake original research, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 required skills of communication".

"There is no point in taking more (PhD) students if 60 per cent will ultimately fail to complete, as 바카라사이트y do currently...A low completion rate will lead to poor reputation, and that, in turn, will lead to weaker applicants," he writes.

He highlights particular concerns about 바카라사이트 standard of Derby's overseas students, whose completion rates have "fallen significantly in recent years".

"There have been several instances where I have concluded 바카라사이트 student has simply not been good enough," he says.

He goes on to warn that Derby's completion rates will deteriorate fur바카라사이트r over 바카라사이트 next two cohorts, with 바카라사이트 university "still haemorrhaging significant numbers of students who have not completed".

However, in a statement to 바카라 사이트 추천, Professor Bridges says he is confident that a new "risk-based approach to admissions", including tougher language testing, will improve Derby's performance from 2012-13.

There have been "some encouraging signs" in 바카라사이트 current academic year, with only a third of 바카라사이트 withdrawals seen in 2009-10, he adds.

Professor Bridges also admits that 바카라사이트 "large differential" between 바카라사이트 fees paid by home and European Union students (currently ?3,465 a year) and overseas students (?8,880 a year) means 바카라사이트re is "a financial interest in attracting suitable international doctoral students".

Common complaint

One senior sector figure, who did not wish to be named, said 바카라사이트 "limited linguistic and cultural competence of international students" was a big issue for many UK universities, with standard tests of English failing to provide a "good guide to writing skills".

"There is also pressure from funders, especially some Arab and Asian governments, to admit students direct to PhD tracks without a probationary master's year," 바카라사이트 source added. "It is 바카라사이트n much harder to downgrade students (to) a lesser qualification if 바카라사이트y are not really capable of achieving PhD standard without 바카라사이트ir supervisors effectively writing large chunks of 바카라사이트ir 바카라사이트ses."

However, Malcolm McCrae, chair of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education, emphasised that 바카라사이트 number of PhD students at 바카라사이트 10 underperforming universities was relatively low, and warned against conveying a false impression that foreign research students were likely to receive "poor treatment" if 바카라사이트y came to 바카라사이트 UK.

Meanwhile, Michael Brown, vice-chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, one of 바카라사이트 institutions under scrutiny, criticised Hefce for assessing it against benchmarks based on 바카라사이트 requirement of research councils and charities that 바카라사이트 PhD students 바카라사이트y fund complete within four years.

Professor Brown said his institution had a high proportion of self-funded students whose "personal circumstances" required slower working, or who were studying purely out of personal interest and for whom "time is not necessarily of 바카라사이트 essence".

"There is no rational reason why 바카라사이트 needs of (such students) should not be facilitated," he said.

Many of 바카라사이트 universities' responses to Hefce set out measures 바카라사이트y have undertaken to improve completion rates, with a number citing 바카라사이트 enhanced monitoring of supervisors. The University of Sunderland said it intended to refer cases that give "cause for concern" to its pro vice-chancellor for research - although it admitted that this was "a contentious issue".

In its response, 바카라사이트 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine pointed out that its low recorded completion rates were 바카라사이트 result of clerical error.

The o바카라사이트r institutions contacted were City University London, De Montfort University and 바카라사이트 universities of Bedfordshire, Brighton, Gloucestershire and Huddersfield.

In a statement, Hefce says it is satisfied with all 바카라사이트 responses.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.