Transcript The Higher Education System in England

The Higher Education System
in England and Wales
Peter Hartley
University of Birmingham, UK
1
Content
















Higher Education
Access to Higher Education
The ‘Traditional’ System
Degree Progression
Quality Assurance Agency
Academic Content
QAA Framework
Academic Achievement
QAA Guidelines
Structure of Degree Programmes
Undergraduate Degrees
Module Failure and Progression
Level of Degree
Student Funding
Undergraduate Loans
Bologna Compliance
2
Higher Education




Higher Education: Post-18 years
Education,
Distinguished from ‘Further
Education’
University education at Degree level
Approximately 1.5m Full-time and
part-time students
3
Access to Higher Education




Normal requirement for UK students
Three passes at A-level
A-level: Advanced level General
Certificate of Education
Number and level varies by
institution and programme of study
4
The ‘Traditional’ System

Bachelor Degree (BSc, BEd, BEng…)


Master Degree taught (MSc, MA, MBA…)


Normally one year
Master Degree research (MPhil)


Normally three years
Normally 1.5 to two years
Doctoral Degree (PhD, SocScD, EdD,
EngD…)

Normally three years
5
Degree Progression
Research
Doctoral
Bachelor
Master
Specialisation
6
Quality Assurance Agency

QAA – Established in 1997: Quality
Assurance Agency for Higher Education
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk)

Three Important Aspects



Sets out a framework of awards for different
levels of achievement (2001)
Produce subject ‘benchmark’ statements
Assesses the quality of the operating
procedures supporting academic activities
7
Academic Content




Academic content must be subject
to external scrutiny
External Examiner
Professional Accreditation (IMechE,
IMC…, UK-SPEC*)
Programme Review
*http://www.engc.org.uk/UKSPEC established in 2004
to oversee professional competence in engineering education
8
QAA Framework
1 Certificate
C level
Certificates of Higher Education
2 Intermediate
I level
Foundation degrees, ordinary (Bachelors) degrees, Diplomas of
Higher Education and other higher diplomas
3 Honours
H level
Bachelors degrees with Honours, Graduate Certificates and
Graduate Diplomas
4 Masters
M level
Masters degrees, Postgraduate Certificates and Postgraduate
Diplomas
5 Doctoral
D level
Doctorates
9
Academic Achievement


Award of any qualification is based
on the achievement of specific skills
or ‘learning outcomes’
Degree programmes must specify
expected outcomes at programme
and module level
10
QAA Guidelines
Honours level
An Honours graduate will have developed an
understanding of a complex body of knowledge, some
of it at the current boundaries of an academic
discipline. Through this, the graduate will have
developed analytical techniques and problem-solving
skills that can be applied in many types of
employment. The graduate will be able to evaluate
evidence, arguments and assumptions, to reach sound
judgements, and to communicate effectively.
An Honours graduate should have the qualities needed for
employment in situations requiring the exercise of
personal responsibility, and decision-making in complex
and unpredictable circumstances.

11
Structure of Degree Programmes

Engineering Degrees at Birmingham






BEng – 3 year undergraduate degree
MEng – 4 year undergraduate degree
MSc – one year taught postgraduate degree
MPhil/MRes – 1.5 to 2 year research
postgraduate degree
PhD – 3 year research postgraduate degree
EngD – 4 year research/industrial
postgraduate degree
12
Undergraduate Degrees

Each year






12 modules
Each module requires 100 hours
student-effort
1200 hours student-effort per year
30-week academic year
10 credits per module (pass: 10
credits, fail: zero credits)
120 credits per year (100 required to
progress to next year)
13
Module Failure and Progression





The pass mark for modules in years 1, 2
and 3 is 40%
The pass mark for modules in year 4 (i.e.
second part of stage 3 for MEng students
is 50% - also applies to PG modules)
In years 1 and 2, the examination for any
(or all) failed modules may be re-taken
once only
Must achieve a minimum of 100 credits to
progress to next level
In years 3 and 4, there is no opportunity
to re-take a failed module
14
Level of Degree (Degree
classification)

Applies to Bachelor or UG Master only








1st class, 69.5%+
Upper second class (2.1), 59.5 – 69.4%
Lower second class (2.2), 49.5 – 59.4%
3rd class, 39.5 – 49.4%
Fail, 39.4% or less
Personal Profiling also used (no universal UK
system)
Minimum number of credits required for ‘Honours’
degree. ‘Pass’ degree awarded to those who
achieve overall pass but do not have required
credits
Contribution of each year to final award varies
between universities
15
Student Funding


For UG programmes (BEng, MEng)
the UK government provides loans
For PhD programmes a grant is
provided (£15385 pa – non taxable,
including fees of £3085). Research
support (at least in engineering)
usually restricted to applied
research. No provision for MSc
support.
16
Undergraduate Loans

Maintenance loan of up to £3300 pa


Fee support, up to £3000 pa


(Other support available for low income, including
non-repayable grants)
(From September 2006 Universities may increase
their course fee, up to a maximum of £3000)
Repayment


From April 6th after graduation (or if leaving
University before completion), if income is more
than £15000 pa. Interest rate is currently 3.2%
(about one third of Bank loan rate)
Loan outstanding is written off after 25 years.
17
Bologna Compliance
Bologna
Cycle
Requirements
UK Equivalent
Requirements
Bologna
Compliant
1st Cycle
180 ECTS 3-years
Bachelor (Hons)
degree
360 credits
3-years
Yes
2nd Cycle
90 – 120 ECTS
1½ - 2 years
60 ECTS
Minimum 1year
Master degree (4th
year of MEng
or taught
programme)
MPhil/MRes
120 credits
1-year
Unlikely
1.5 years
Uncertain
3 – 4 years
Doctoral
3 – 4 years
PhD Probably
EngD Uncertain
3rd Cycle
1 European Credit = 2 (Birmingham) Credits
Problem areas – Master level
18
Acknowledgements

The invitation and support of the
University of Novi-Sad is
acknowledged with thanks.
19