Reduce length of university holidays?

Oldernotwiser

You've missed out the option to reduce the holidays and allow more time to study.

Nowadays terms are ridiculously short, which can only contribute to lowering of academic standards.

Alcmene

Different universities have different lengths of staff-student contact times.

I think that 2 year degrees are a bad idea. Students need time to develop, both academically and emotionally. Many students are not ready to embark on their professional, industrial career after 3 years at university, so what will they be like after 2?

Remember that academics are busy with teaching when the students are at university, however, it doesn't end for them when they leave. Marking and exam boards go all the way into July. There's also Open Days to work on, preparation to do, other student related activities like supporting students who are on placement or are repeating work, and so on. Some years are so busy that there is not enough time to actually take all the annual leave that they are entitled to, let alone use the holidays to do any research.

By running 2 year degrees, we would be producing a lower calibre of student, and we would be putting academia at risk. It would mean hiring more academics and support staff, something that many universities can ill afford.

The_One_Who

Keep the holidays as they are

melancholly wrote: »

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

It's not?! But they have paid their tuition fees and are therefore entitled to demand what they want

MrsManda

Keep the holidays as they are

The reason I chose my university is so that I'd be learning from the people who are at the top of their subject. All of my lecturers have been active researchers, which means they have up to date information on current thinking in their field. I don't know about other areas, but in science I think this is really important.

Universities would not be able to attract this level of tuition if their staff did not get time to carry out their research over the summer as the very best researchers would find employment elsewhere.
On top of this, universities gain a lot of their funding through research grants given to their research/teaching staff, without which, in today's economic climate I doubt universities would exist.

I'd be surprised if tuition fees didn't double or triple to try and combat this reduction in research funding.

Far from cutting my degree down to two years and shortening the holidays, my course tutor wants to offer the degree as a four year course to allow us to have more practical experience alongside the knowledge we build up in lectures.

It is generally up to students on what use they make of their summer. Most students I know start applying for jobs/lab placements/camps/overseas voluntary placements etc... and associated grants and scholarships in January. In fact we're positively encouraged to do so.

With all the media attention about the difficulty the thousands of students who graduate each year have getting a job, the summers should be used to do your best to build up a distinctive CV with additional skills and build up contacts.

As for Christmas and Easter holidays, I've had big pieces of work to do over both of these alongside revision for exams and have needed the time for my studies and for my general wellbeing.

University is the only time you are likely to be able to take the time to do things outside of 'normal' experience and the chance should be grabbed with both hands.

ultimatedingbat

My christmas and summer are 3 weeks eaach so not too bad it's the summer which offically is 12 weeks however to be honest after may 1st didn't do anything AT ALL. I had 5 months off. Bonus I did loads of work experience. I got to go to london for 3 weeks which if my summer was only 4 weeks couldnt really do as i'D NEEd to work.

That the other bonus. lots of time to work to earn cash to pay for uni.

Oldernotwiser

When I was at university, most exams didn't take place until after the May half term and there were no end of semester breaks (because no semesters!). I think it's quite shocking how little time is actually spent in university these days and how little protest there has been over the cutting of teaching time.

msmyth18

Keep the holidays as they are

I do a work placement every summer so it suits me!

Tomby1

Keep the holidays as they are

Having long holidays allows you time to earn money over the summer so you aren't totally skint through the year at university. It allows you to work over summer rather than when you are doing your degree - meaning you have more time to spend working and learning through both semesters

Keep them how they are, please.

my_definition

we have very little money over summer even though both of us work as much as we can we have a lot more money while studying. We dont have long at christmas and easter - one year we only had like a week and that was filled with lotsa work but i would like to cut my course down to 3 years. Half a year wouldnt do much for me as im training to be a teacher and schools start in aughust but it would be helpful to have shorter summer and maybe longer at christmas and or easter to cope with exams ect as we dont get any reading weeks or study time

stephyt23

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

I'm just about to return to my BEd teacher training degree after 4 months off for summer and it has been the longest 4 months EVER!! Because the course is so intense and I do have some evening classes it has meant I've been unable to get a job alongside my studies. I've therefore not been able to find a job over the summer as agencies don't have any short term work going (and lets face it, with the amount of people unemployed still they'd get priority over students anyway) so I did voluntary for a month and a half at a local school then !!!!!! all for the rest of the time.

I'm now completely out of study mode so it will be like starting all over again. Personally I think 4-6 weeks is more than enough time off. It gives you enough of a break to relax and switch off and for those working it still gives them time to do extra shifts to save a bit more money.