Accelerated two-year degrees have caused a serious stir among universities. Many institutions – especially the more traditional – are concerned about set-up costs, including investment in facilities and additional staff required for teaching and admissions. Some have questioned the value of two-year degrees more broadly. It’s clear that they’re not for everyone – but that doesn’t mean they’re a bad idea.
Introducing two-year degrees in February, universities minister, Jo Johnson, said they would offer students greater levels of flexibility in learning. After his announcement, the Department for Education responded with a consultation. It elicited mixed views. While there were signs of demand from students and employers, traditional universities argued that the complexity of each year’s learning material in the three-year degree corresponds to the growing maturity of students over those years, and that this system can’t be adapted.
It is true that offering accelerated degrees is complicated. But for institutions unencumbered by these restrictions, these courses will provide a real opportunity to offer higher education to groups that could have been excluded. Read more