New 2 year degrees will save time and money, but will they be popular?

A series of new government proposals could allow degrees to be completed in only 2 years. Any universities offering these accelerated degree courses will probably charge a higher yearly fee, but it looks like the proposals will stipulate that the overall cost must be lower than the full 3 year degree.

The universities minister Sam Gyimah announced these new fast track qualifications in a statement earlier this week, saying that an expected annual fee will be around £11,000. Tuition fees in the double figures may seem excessive, but students` will actually be saving around £5,750 given the shorter duration of their courses. There may also be an added reduction in accommodation costs, along with the benefit of students being able to enter the workplace early. Mr Gyimah was adamant that the new scheme would be appealing to many students, both because of the lower overall cost, and the possibility of entering their chosen profession a year earlier.

`Accelerated degrees not only make it possible for the next generation of students to access higher education and the undeniable financial, academic and personal benefits it has to offer but drives the sector to offer dynamic choices that serve students` needs.`

The shorter courses would actually contain the same number of teaching hours as their three year counterparts, but the lectures will be squeezed into two 45 week years. While this will be fine for some students, others may find the intense, relentless schedule difficult. They will have grown used to having substantial breaks around Christmas and Easter, and of course an even longer break during the summer; studying for such extended periods, with only short respites, may be challenging.

The plans still require government approval before they can be put in place, with one of the obstacles being the higher fees, which are currently capped at £9,250. If they are given approval Mr Gyimah has said the new accelerated courses could be in place as early as next year. The option of 2 year degrees have been proposed in the past, with an earlier consultation suggesting that within the next 10 years 5 percent of all students could be on the shorter degree courses.

These 2 year courses schemes certainly sound very modern, but in fact there are a few universities who have been offering them for over 40 years. The University of Buckingham is well known for providing these accelerated schemes - their website homepage proudly displays the message `Home of the two year Degree.` The University claims that students are extremely enthusiastic about saving a year of living costs, and entering the workplace a year earlier; and having run these courses for more than four decades there`s certainly enough evidence of them being popular.
The vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, Sir Anthony Seldon (well known historian and biographer) expounded upon the benefits of the two year degree:
`Two-year degrees are a more efficient and cost-effective method for students to get on with their careers and their lives.`

He expressed a cautionary note however, saying that the shorter courses may not suit all universities:

`Universities offering three-year degrees will find it difficult to restructure. We would like the universities minister to engage in discussions with us in order to assist independent providers who offer two-year degrees.`

Other concerns were voiced by The University and College Union, an organisation that represents teachers and researchers. They said the 2 year course poses `an educational risk` and that `fast track programmes will make it harder for students to combine study with periods of reflection, critical thinking and a `deep approach` to learning`. The union also said that many students would find the increased workload difficult to cope with, that it might prevent then earning money while studying, and other responsibilities, such as caring for a relative or a child, might become strained.