Reduce length of university holidays?

glider3560

Thought I'd start a poll on here as it was something I was discussing with some friends (and we couldn't come to a decision).

My university year is technically 29 weeks long (although most are only doing something for about 27 weeks).

The actual summer holiday is 15 weeks long. We then get 4 weeks at Easter and 4 weeks at Christmas.

Here are the two proposals that I'd like people to vote on:

1. Keep the holidays as they are (Pros: gives people an opportunity to do internships and holiday work. Cons: extra accommodation costs and bills.)

2. Reduce the interim holidays to 2 weeks each and the summer to 4 weeks. This would reduce each year by 15 weeks and therefore the whole degree could be completed half a year earlier (Pros: degree finished in less time and fewer accommodation expenses. Cons: No time for internships or summer work, less time for academics to do research.)

I'll open this up for you to discuss and vote.

Lokolo

Reduce the interim holidays to 2 weeks each and the summer to 4 weeks

My uni only has 2 weeks off for xmas and 2 weeks off for Easter.

However, I then get a bloody huge summer. Which tbh, gets annoying as I forgot loads of stuff by the time I go back. For example, I will finish uni next year 15th April. We start mid Sept, 12 weeks semester, finish before xmas. We then get a couple of weeks off, and exam periods are first week back. Then second semester starts. This finished for Easter. Exams after Easter for 3 weeks. Then thats it.

Although I agree, I think the reason they have long holidays is for lecturers and research stuff.

Indie_Kid

Lokolo wrote: »

My uni only has 2 weeks off for xmas and 2 weeks off for Easter.

However, I then get a bloody huge summer. Which tbh, gets annoying as I forgot loads of stuff by the time I go back. For example, I will finish uni next year 15th April. We start mid Sept, 12 weeks semester, finish before xmas. We then get a couple of weeks off, and exam periods are first week back. Then second semester starts. This finished for Easter. Exams after Easter for 3 weeks. Then thats it.

Although I agree, I think the reason they have long holidays is for lecturers and research stuff.

This was the same for me. Actually, second and third years start in October.

atypical

Keep the holidays as they are

I've fit in 2 placements over this summer and hopefully will do the same next summer. I have practically 4 months off which I agree is too long, but 4 weeks is too short. I'd say they should be cut down to 3 months.

The_One_Who

Keep the holidays as they are

If the length of the summer holidays were reduced then universities would really need to employ both teaching-only and research-only staff, rather than having some who do both. Academia at the moment is in a pretty bad shape and to ask academics to do even more with even less would probably be the final nail in the coffin.

Summer placements are great if you can get them, but I think we need to acknowledge that for a lot of people these are simply unobtainable, either financially or just through sheer competition. There is also that for a lot of jobs, placements don't really exist, and there are a lot of students who don't know what it is they want to do anyway.

devildog

Reduce the holidays and complete the degree sooner!!

atypical

Keep the holidays as they are

The_One_Who wrote: »

Summer placements are great if you can get them, but I think we need to acknowledge that for a lot of people these are simply unobtainable, either financially or just through sheer competition. There is also that for a lot of jobs, placements don't really exist, and there are a lot of students who don't know what it is they want to do anyway.

Most placements are salaried unless you want to work in politics or media. If anything is worth doing there's going to be competition, even just the process of applying helps in learning how to jump the hoops. Placements don't have to be related to future jobs, and it's even more reason to do a placement if you're unsure what you want to do. You can try out anything!

Besides there's also voluntary work and 'normal' jobs. Both of which make people more employable. We see plenty of posts here accusing graduates of not having real life skills, cutting the summers to 4 weeks would only make that worse.

There's also the argument that it would be very rare once people start their careers that they'd have the opportunity of 4 months of time to do what they want to do. And at a time when they usually have few commitments and are independent.

Indie_Kid

devildog wrote: »

Reduce the holidays and complete the degree sooner!!

Plymouth university allow you to do a fast-track degree. It takes 2 years (instead of 3) and you do the second year (or some of it, anyway) over the summer. Teaching in first year is 45 weeks.

The_One_Who

Keep the holidays as they are

atypical wrote: »

Besides there's also voluntary work and 'normal' jobs. Both of which make people more employable. We see plenty of posts here accusing graduates of not having real life skills, cutting the summers to 4 weeks would only make that worse.

There's also the argument that it would be very rare once people start their careers that they'd have the opportunity of 4 months of time to do what they want to do. And at a time when they usually have few commitments and are independent.

Yep, any work experience is better than none. There are also opportunities like Camp America (and others) which can only be done in the long summer holidays.

Like I say, placements are great but they are not the be all and end all. A bit like graduate schemes really.

melancholly

no reduction of holidays! it's the only time that academics get to do their own work/writing without teaching, marking and student related admin! the only unis that would be able to offer this would be ones without active research staff, which would be a loss to the students.

for subjects which are essay based, it reduces the time available to develop style and do extra reading.

i guess in my mind, uni isn't all about the undergrads...

CatValou

Reduce the interim holidays to 2 weeks each and the summer to 4 weeks

I like the idea of a fast track degree with shorter holidays, although I did use my 5 month holiday time to earn money to see me through the next term since part time jobs were not allowed. I would return for a second bite of the cherry if a degree was a shorter time commitment.