We're Not Going On A Summer Holiday...
10 April 2006
The new courses will start from September 2006, enabling students to complete an honours degree in two calendar years.
”Dr Andrew Rothwell, Head of Combined Programmes
Students are being invited to explore a new type of degree at the University of Derby that ensures quality, enables them to graduate sooner and reduces the cost of studying.
The University is launching three accelerated 'Fast Track Degree' programmes which can be studied by students over two years, as opposed to the traditional three- or four-year period.
Students who take part in the courses will use part of their summer break - taking this time as flexible study towards their degree. Access to the University's e-learning resources alongside work experience and fieldwork will help students achieve their goal.
The Fast Track Degree programmes are:
BA (Hons) Business Studies
BSc (Hons) Applied Earth Sciences
Joint Honours programmes at the University in Buxton
Students on the Fast Track programmes will save money by paying only two years' tuition fees. Those eligible will be entitled to receive the same maintenance grants for their two years as other full-time students.
Total accommodation costs are also reduced by up to one third.
Dr Andrew Rothwell, Head of Combined Programmes at the University of Derby, said: "Fees for UK and EU students for these degrees are £3,000 for each of the two calendar years, just £6,000 in total for the whole degree.
"The new courses will start from September 2006, enabling students to complete an honours degree in two calendar years. We believe the programmes will appeal particularly to students who may have some prior experience, wish to accumulate less debt and are keen to enter the graduate labour market more quickly."
This latest initiative further underlines Derby's reputation as an innovative leader in flexible learning.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Freda Tallantyre, said: "We have recently been selected by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) as a Flexible Learning Pathfinder, one of only eight institutions in the UK to have been identified as places where new flexible pilot programmes can be evaluated.
"The value we add to what students learn and how effectively they learn contributes to their success and satisfaction and lets their talents shine through."
Fast Track Degree students will follow modules consistent with those studying for longer degree programmes but then gain extra academic credit during the summer months by undertaking a combination of work-based learning, e-learning, fieldwork and independent study. These features will vary slightly according to each particular programme.
Prospective students do not need to be campus-based in the summer. They could be at a work placement location or in their home town. By increasing the number of weeks per academic year a student's workload is similar to a three-year degree except that they take a fifth module in spring.
On a week-for-week basis students will do the same amount of work, but over a full calendar year there will be around 50 per cent more work to do spread out to include the traditional summer break. This means students would still be able to work part time they wish.
Interested potential students can visit www.derby.ac.uk/fast-track and contact the Student Recruitment Unit on 01332 591167.
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For further media information, please contact Simon Redfern, Senior Press and PR Officer, on 01332 591942, or Simon Butt, Press and PR Officer, on 01332 591891, or email: pressoffice@derby.ac.uk.
