Chimpy Chompy on 10/5/2010 at 15:03
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
Of course, our Bachelor degrees typically only take 4
I think that's a scottish thing? It's 3 years for a BA or BSc south of the border.
Matthew on 10/5/2010 at 15:13
And over the Irish Sea, too.
Chimpy Chompy on 10/5/2010 at 15:15
Well we do have 4-year courses but you end up with an MSci, or at least that was how it worked at my department at Durham (and I dunno if that's considered equal to a BSc + MSc or somewhere in between).
Nameless Voice on 10/5/2010 at 15:32
Doesn't the number of years also depend on the subject and the college in question?
Here in Ireland, the terms college and university are roughly interchangeable too (I think Universities generally have a broader range of subjects and more lectures compared to practicals than colleges).
My software development course (from a technical institute / college) is broken down into 3 years for an ordinary degree (level 7), plus one year for a full honours degree (level 8), and an extra year for the Masters. The local university has a similar course that's four years (all level 8) instead.
Also, taking down notes on a laptop is the way to go (unless it's a subject with lots of symbols and diagrams, such as maths), but bear in mind that everyone and their uncle will be asking you for a copy if you do this.
As for the original topic, for some reason I'm reminded of (
http://i42.tinypic.com/120gkuf.gif) this image that's been floating around the Internet for a few years.
Scots Taffer on 10/5/2010 at 15:32
Quote Posted by Chimpy Chompy
Well we do have 4-year courses but you end up with an MSci, or at least that was how it worked at my department at Durham (and I dunno if that's considered equal to a BSc + MSc or somewhere in between).
In between. Got one of those.
Weren't your BSc programs are a year shorter because A-levels (as they used to be called) were obligatory 2 years?
Chimpy Chompy on 10/5/2010 at 15:44
That could be it. People certainly aren't off to Uni at 16 here!
SubJeff on 10/5/2010 at 17:56
I always thought the whole thing with the Scottish system was you DID get an MSc/MA after doing the 4 years.
In England you do 3 for a BSc/BA and then you can go on to do a Masters. Unless you did your BSc/BA at Oxford or Cambridge, in which case you can pay a pound after a year and your Bachelors becomes a Masters. This is not acceptable in a court of law for the purposes of being an "expert" in a subject though for some reason, whereas having a "regular" Masters is. As far as I understand it anyways.
Enchantermon on 10/5/2010 at 18:31
Quote Posted by Nameless Voice
As for the original topic, for some reason I'm reminded of (
http://i42.tinypic.com/120gkuf.gif) this image that's been floating around the Internet for a few years.
I lol'd. :thumb:
Rug Burn Junky on 10/5/2010 at 19:04
Quote Posted by Fafhrd
if you don't waffle about your major too much you should be on track for a Bachelor's in 4 years.
In theory yes, but in practice the majority of students don't graduate within four years. In fact, on average students take at least an extra semester, and only 65% even graduate within 6 years.
Chade on 10/5/2010 at 20:54
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
I can see why the academic establishments resisted it for so long though, being in a position as an employer of undergrads/grads in my current job - I hear "oh I can just download the notes" or "I don't attend the lectures" so often that I wonder how simplified the degree process has become and how much the average student actually
learns.
There really is nothing like attending lectures or tuts in person ... and speaking as someone who did half my degree externally, a good set of online resources makes a
huge difference in overcoming that gap.
When I started my degree in 2002, all we got was a textbook and some study material mailed to you. Need help? RTFM! By the time I finished my honours some lecturer's were even holding skype sessions with their external students. It was an absolute god send.
