The same subject can be taught in very different ways from one university to another.
In addition to traditional teaching and learning methods such as lectures, tutorials, homework, and cookbook labs; universities now may also use evidenced-based pedagogy. Some of these include flipped classrooms, peer-based active learning, online guided exercises, inquiry and project-based simulations pre-labs, and guided peer discussion post-lab.
Thus, you must ensure that you check the course styles of the universities that you are considering. If you are better suited to studying with big exams at the end of the final year, then you need to find universities that offer the more traditional approach.
All UK degree courses lead to ‘honours degrees’ (Hons) if you achieve a high enough standard in your coursework and final examinations. A straight honours degree in the UK will take you three years after A Levels, STPM, or International Baccalaureate® (IB) – with some exceptions. An honours degree at a Scottish university, for example, takes four years. Fully-accredited Engineering degrees (MEng) take four years. Medicine and Dentistry both require a minimum of five years to complete.
However, due to the many combinations and variations within courses, the traditional length of degree courses mentioned above may differ.
As such, we have listed some considerations for course styles and content so that it helps you in making a more informed decision.
Please refer to the specific MABECS Subject Booklets for more details on this. You may obtain a copy by walking into MABECS office .
Sandwich Courses
The goal of a Sandwich Course is to ensure students receive the highest level of academic learning possible, whilst also making sure that students are prepared to enter the workforce. This means extending your degree by one year, in order to spend 12 months working in the industry as a part of your degree course.
This work experience, which usually takes place after the second year, provides students invaluable insight as to how theoretical knowledge gets translated into experiential knowledge in the workplace. Typically, you will earn a salary during the industrial placement.
Another advantage of this course is that you will finish the course as a fresh graduate with 12 months of international work experience!
Coursework vs Project Work
Coursework refers to the typical class assignment that a student undertakes as part of the course requirement.
Project work refers to a larger research assignment which requires more effort and facilitates application to real-life situations. Project work is sometimes paid a minimal salary by the university.
If you prefer a course that will assess you continuously; then you need to focus on universities that offer this option or have a significant element of project work in the course. Coursework assessment, project work and examinations are very different styles of assessment; hence, you need to think carefully over which suits you best as you go through the modules outlined in the course.
Additional Options – Language Courses & Elective Modules
Many university courses are aiming to equip their students with additional skills that will make them competent for the global workplace.
As a result, many courses offer language proficiency modules in addition to the main course of study. For example, many Chemistry and Engineering courses now offer the pure science with a language. Thus, the course is increased in length by one year to allow the student to spend a year abroad and fully develop the use of the foreign language. In addition, many science-based courses are combining their subjects with business and management options to better prepare students for the workplace. In these instances, the courses do not usually increase in length.
Course Content
Courses with the same titles do not necessarily have the same course content. Check the course content carefully before you apply.
Until you actually research the content of university degree courses, you may expect that courses with the same titles will have the same content. This is not true. Universities in the UK are self-governing; each university autonomously decide what subjects it will teach, as well as how it will approach a particular subject.
As such, you need to find out the major differences in approach and style before you apply. No subject is excluded from this difference: Medicine varies in its approach as much as Accounting, Law, Arts, Engineering, Business, Management, Computing, Psychology, and all other subjects. So, remember, do your research carefully!
Please refer to the specific MABECS Quick Guides for more details on this. You may obtain a copy by registering and downloading it here.” with the link to the new Quick Guides page accessible from “here“.
Have more questions about studying in the UK?
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