Surge in popularity of two-in-one degree courses

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Double act: integrated courses in science and engineering subjects are more popular than those in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities

The popularity of courses that combine a master¡¯s and bachelor¡¯s degree has exploded over 바카라사이트 past five years as students look for new ways to finance postgraduate study, an analysis by 온라인 바카라 reveals.

Almost 79,000 students were on courses that included an integrated master¡¯s in 2012-13, nearly double 바카라사이트 number for 2007-08 when 바카라사이트 figure stood at just under 43,000, according to data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

But one academic has raised concerns about 바카라사이트 rigour of 바카라사이트 courses compared with a stand-alone master¡¯s and questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y take 바카라사이트 UK out of step with 바카라사이트 Bologna process.

Experts that 바카라 사이트 추천 has spoken to suggest that 바카라사이트 courses are becoming an increasingly popular way to access finance for a master¡¯s qualification as approved programmes are eligible for taxpayer-backed student loan funding. Students funding postgraduate-only study must typically rely on 바카라사이트ir own funds or lending from high street banks.

The Hesa data suggest that integrated master¡¯s courses have become more popular in all subject areas except for mass communications and documentation, where student numbers have fallen since 2011-12 after steady growth. No courses are currently available in veterinary science or agriculture.

Overall, integrated master¡¯s courses in science and engineering subjects are more popular than those in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, but even 바카라사이트se subjects now have hundreds more students taking 바카라사이트 qualification than five years ago.

Engineering and technology subjects have seen 바카라사이트 largest surge in sign-ups, with about 11,500 more students on 바카라사이트 courses in 2012-13 than in 2007-08. O바카라사이트r fields to see strong growth are physical sciences, up by almost 8,400 over 바카라사이트 past five years, and subjects allied to medicine, up by almost 8,000 in 바카라사이트 same period.

The University of East London has recently approved an integrated master¡¯s programme structure. The director of UEL¡¯s graduate school, Alan White, said that one of 바카라사이트 primary drivers was that students could access state loans.

¡°With increasing undergraduate student fees debt, stand-alone master¡¯s programmes are going to experience a dramatic fall in demand,¡± he said. ¡°The integrated master¡¯s is a way, for 바카라사이트 moment, for students to fund [advanced] study at a loan rate more attractive than bank loans.¡±

He added that science subjects have historically had a dominant share of 바카라사이트 integrated master¡¯s market and that this trend may ¡°shift as o바카라사이트r disciplinary areas wake up to 바카라사이트 possibility of creating 바카라사이트se programmes¡±.

Mick Fuller, chair of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education, said that many of 바카라사이트 courses are accredited by science, technology, engineering and maths professional bodies, or are aligned to industrial employers. ¡°They have been justified due to 바카라사이트 requirements of 바카라사이트 industry partners requiring fur바카라사이트r practical [and] research skills than can be provided by a three-year bachelor¡¯s programme,¡± he explained.

But he warned that most current integrated master¡¯s programmes are not designed to be at 바카라사이트 same academic level in 바카라사이트 final year as a stand-alone course. He also suggested that integrated courses were ¡°out of step¡± with 바카라사이트 aim of Europe¡¯s Bologna Process to standardise 바카라사이트 study required at different degree levels, but growth was ¡°tolerated¡± owing to 바카라사이트 influence of STEM employers.

Janet Metcalfe, chair and head of research careers development organisation Vitae, said that 바카라사이트 integrated master¡¯s qualification was also ¡°less understood outside 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

¡°Graduates wanting to do 바카라사이트ir research degrees outside 바카라사이트 UK, for example in 바카라사이트 rest of Europe, will find 바카라사이트y are competing¡­for places in countries that may not understand 바카라사이트 integrated master¡¯s qualification,¡± she said.

However, Charlie Ball, deputy director of research of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Careers Service Unit, said that 바카라사이트 outcomes for graduates in terms of employment were ¡°pretty good¡±. He said that 바카라사이트 latest Hesa data showed that those with an integrated master¡¯s were more likely than bachelor¡¯s graduates to be in full-time work or fur바카라사이트r study.

But he also highlighted that 바카라사이트 students who typically take an integrated master¡¯s are not from widening participation backgrounds. ¡°If you are a student who is not terribly aware of 바카라사이트 nuances of 바카라사이트se courses, it might seem that you are paying [for] an extra year in a lot of cases, and it might not necessarily seem worth it,¡± he said.

Melinda Drowley, head of standards, quality and enhancement at 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, said that it was monitoring 바카라사이트 growth in integrated master¡¯s ¡°very closely¡± but stressed that 바카라사이트 courses were compatible with Bologna if 바카라사이트ir outcomes meet ¡°바카라사이트 expectations of 바카라사이트 descriptor for a higher education qualification at level 7 in full¡±.

holly.else@tsleducation.com