Are degrees in the UK value for money?

Thrugelmir

gfplux wrote: »

An anecdote. As anonymous as possible.
Speaking yesterday to a non EU European person.
They have two children both studying in medicine paying top dollars as classed as overseas students.
One in England the other one Poland.
Early days but both unlikely to practice in the Country of their degree but who is to know.

Pick the bones out of that.

What's new? If you've the money then you have choices.

AFF8879

justme111 wrote: »

A bit off topic - there is a phenomenon I can not understand. Medics and dentists are demoralised, looking how to escape country, NHS, profession. Earnings decreasing. Yet there is still stampede of candidates wirh all As willing to spend the next 5- 7 years in unis at a total cost of at least £100 000. (Fees, lost earnings etc)

To add to what adindas said, another positive for such courses are that your skills are in demand anywhere, so you don't have to necessarily move to London to earn decent salaries, which you do with most other professions especially corporate. Plus your skills can take you around the world, and you know how much these youngsters love to travel (I'm only 29 btw, but feel about 45 sometimes due to my stressful, long hours job in London - should have studied medicine instead of business....)

That, and its generally a universally positive reception when you're asked what you do for a living. Everyone admires doctors.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

AFF8879 wrote: »

Everyone admires doctors.

Agatha Christie didn't. Several of her murderers were medical Wrong Uns.

Cakeguts

adindas wrote: »

Because universities are not only doing teaching they are doing research to be in forefront on the subject, helping industries to compete to be an inventor, innovator.

Because they need library with huge collection, research facility to be in the forefront of the subject.

Because universities have a lot of students activities they will need to fund. Sport center, student center, various advisory services, etc.

Because at the university people are taught by highly qualified people, professors, top lawyers, highly qualified engineers. top accountants.

Unlike the boarding school teachers; At the university, university teachers have good opportunities to work on other jobs where they could earn similar or even more. on other industries. Think about Brian Cox, Steven Hawkins working for NASA, Airbus, BAE, Boeing, etc.

Certainly many of these people money are not the first thing. But do you ever believe a second that these very smart people will ever consider working at the universities if they are earning similar to boarding school teachers ?

One thing to consider the true cost of universities here in the UK is not much different to the true cost of other universities in developed countries. Look at US, AU, CA, IE are they different in a greater degree with those at the British Universities ??

The value of this research depends on the university that has done it and the subject. No one seems to have done a lot of research into meeja.

zagubov

Cakeguts wrote: »

The value of this research depends on the university that has done it and the subject. No one seems to have done a lot of research into meeja.

They should. The meeja have been doing loads of research into everybody else.

happyandcontented

chucknorris wrote: »

There is a massive difference though, under the old system of points (they changed this year) we generally offer a conditional place on 280 points (I can't remember though it might be 260). That would be:

A levels: 2B's and 1C

or

BTEC 1 distinction and 2 merits (there is no way that they would be accepted with just a pass). I am still waiting for happyandcontented to identify which university and degree courses, that would accept this extremely low qualification as acceptable.

The most recent one I have seen was Southampton Solent. I have also seen them from Bolton, UCLAN and Sheffield Hallam.

chucknorris

happyandcontented wrote: »

The most recent one I have seen was Southampton Solent. I have also seen them from Bolton, UCLAN and Sheffield Hallam.

So post a link to the specific degree courses that accept a pass at BTEC as acceptable entry qualifications, and then maybe go the extra mile, and express the overall results as a percentage, so we can see if we are talking about a significant shortfall in standards.

happyandcontented

chucknorris wrote: »

So post a link to the specific degree courses that accept a pass at BTEC as acceptable entry qualifications, and then maybe go the extra mile, and express the overall results as a percentage, so we can see if we are talking about a significant shortfall in standards.

You seem to be posting as if you don't believe me.....

I have no axe to grind here or reason to post what is not the truth. The course from the most recent one Solent was ( like all the others) a Computing and IT course, I don't recall the exact specifics of the course and there are quite a few offered by all the institutions mentioned. I assure you that the offer from Solent was only received in the last few weeks so it is current.

Tabbytabbitha

happyandcontented wrote: »

The most recent one I have seen was Southampton Solent. I have also seen them from Bolton, UCLAN and Sheffield Hallam.

Would that be for a Foundation Degree and would it be through Clearing?

chucknorris

happyandcontented wrote: »

You seem to be posting as if you don't believe me.....

I have no axe to grind here or reason to post what is not the truth. The course from the most recent one Solent was ( like all the others) a Computing and IT course, I don't recall the exact specifics of the course and there are quite a few offered by all the institutions mentioned. I assure you that the offer from Solent was only received in the last few weeks so it is current.

I just don't believe that any degree course would be offered on 120 points (on the old UCAS points system, don't get confused by the newly introduced 2017 points tarrif).