Understanding the British System

of Higher Education

Outline

• British Framework– Programmes, Modules, Credits, Assessments,

Regulations

• Module Specifications– Their significance & importance for students

• British Philosophy of Higher Education– Independent learning

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Activity: Study at university and the British system

What do you know about study at university and the British system of Higher Education?

Take a few minutes to think about this and discuss it with the person next to you

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British Framework

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Elements of the British Framework

• Degree Programmes• Programme Specifications• Modules• Credits• Assessments• Semesters & Progression• Regulations

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Degree programmes

• Degree programmes comprise modules each with a predefined modular weight

• During the four years of study a student should complete 600 credits worth of modules

• Graduates are granted a B.Sc.

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Programme Specifications

• Provide an overview of the required learning outcomes of a specific programme

• Outcomes are classified based on the skills and knowledge they help develop

• Programme Specifications also provide a list of modules to study in order to acquire the defined learning outcomes

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Regulations, semesters & progression

• Study at BUE is in two Semesters– Autumn Semester (Sep-Jan)– Spring Semester (Feb-June)

• Students study sixty credits/semester with a total of 120 credits/year

• Students are allowed four attempts for P level modules and three for C, I & H level modules

• Students can Re-Sit a module in September of each year and the first time it is offered thereafter

• Students can progress to the next year with a maximum of 20 failed credits

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Module Specifications Their significance and importance to students

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Each module specification outlines

Module titleModule codeModular weightAims Intended learning Outcomes (ILOs)ContentMethods of teaching, learning and assessmentResources listMethods of feedback

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Modular weight and student effort

• Each module is assigned a modular weight

• The unit of a modular weight is the credit

• Each credit requires, on average, a total student effort of 10 hours along the semester

• A regular module is worth 10 credits, which requires 100 hours of student effort along the semester

• This total effort includes 30% in the form of direct contact on campus in lectures and tutorials

• The rest is the independent effort required by students to fulfill the module requirements

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Module levels

• Modules are classified in three levels:i. Preparatory level - (P)ii. Certificate level - (C) iii. Intermediate level - (I)iv. Honors level - (H)

• These four levels match the four years of study

• The four levels are spread over four years, each is worth 160 credits

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Assessments

• Each module specification outlines the Intended learning outcomes and modes of assessment.

• Evaluate the extent to which students achieve the intended learning outcomes

• Assessments include, assignments, class tests, projects, research, reports and exams

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British Philosophy of Higher EducationIndependent Learning

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Key attributes

1. You must possess high levels of personal motivation & work to sustain this

2. You will need good time management skills

3. You will be able to reflect upon, and adapt effectively, aspects of your learning

4. Take responsibility for your learning and try to be an ‘independent learner’, but don’t hesitate to seek help and support if you need it

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Activity: Time management

• We all have time management skills which can be developed and used to help us study effectively.

• Work in pairs. List what you think good time management involves. How will this help you be an effective student?

• Compare your list with the definition given

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Good time management will help you to:• Time management refers to the development of skills and tools that

increase efficiency and productivity. It will help you:

understand & manage your commitments break assignments down into tasks plan & prioritise tasks carry out each stage effectively avoid last minute rushes produce higher quality work participate in a wider range of activities avoid stress be an active & independent learner

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Activity: making time to study – 24 hour diary

• Use the 24 hour diary to analyse how you spend a typical day. Write down your different activities:

1. essential time – eating, sleeping, travelling, lectures, classes

2. flexible time – time you can choose what you do: leisure, independent study, use of computer etc

3. best study times – times when you prefer to study

• Look at your completed diary. When can you fit in study time? Are there any activities you could reduce time doing to free up more study time?

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Activity: making time to study - 24 hour diaryTime Activity Time Activity

Midnight-1am Midday-1pm

1am-2am 1pm-2pm

2am-3am 2pm-3pm

3am-4am 3pm-4pm

4pm-5pm 4pm-5pm

5am-6am 5pm-6pm

6am-7am 6pm-7pm

7am-8am 7pm-8pm

8am-9am 8pm-9pm

9am-10am 9pm-10pm

10am-11am 10pm-11pm

11am-midday 11pm-midnight19