Are degrees in the UK value for money?

happyandcontented

chucknorris wrote: »

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).

I can only tell you what I know to be true in this case. It is for entry in Sept 2017 and not through clearing, but an offer from the UCAS application.

I queried it with the student concerned thinking that perhaps he had other quals which I was unaware of but no, he hadn't.

chucknorris

happyandcontented wrote: »

I can only tell you what I know to be true in this case. It is for entry in Sept 2017 and not through clearing, but an offer from the UCAS application.

I queried it with the student concerned thinking that perhaps he had other quals which I was unaware of but no, he hadn't.

What I suspect has happened here is that the student you refer to had enough 'known' marks (on his BTEC, it involves coursework which could have already been marked)) to guarantee a result above a mere pass, and that was the reason for an offer being made, i.e. NOT on the basis of a mere pass.

happyandcontented

chucknorris wrote: »

What I suspect has happened here is that the student you refer to had enough 'known' marks (on his BTEC, it involves coursework which could have already been marked)) to guarantee a result above a mere pass, and that was the reason for an offer being made, i.e. NOT on the basis of a mere pass.

I can assure you that is not the case.

zagubov

In the new UCAS tariff system 120 points would be 3Bs at A level and DDM at BTC.

chucknorris

happyandcontented wrote: »

I can assure you that is not the case.

Details required! Please just post the link! Otherwise you are expecting us to accept a level of acceptance of about 50% below normal!

chucknorris

zagubov wrote: »

In the new UCAS tariff system 120 points would be 3Bs at A level and DDM at BTC.

I quoted the pre 2017 system, that's why I made a point of saying so (there is a huge difference this year to the points system)! In the old system 120 points would be 3 E's at A level.

happyandcontented

chucknorris wrote: »

Details required! Please just post the link! Otherwise you are expecting us to accept a level of acceptance of about 50% below normal!

I can't post the link to the actual course at Solent as I don't recall which one he applied for. I am not asking you to accept anything, I am merely giving you my experience nothing more, nothing less. I have no idea if this is the norm for this institution or if applications are down for these courses or the university as a whole, thus leading to entry quals being watered down.

zagubov

chucknorris wrote: »

I quoted the pre 2017 system, that's why I made a point of saying so (there is a huge difference this year to the points system)! In the old system 120 points would be 3 E's at A level.

I knew you'd know it, but I wasn't sure everybody else would get the difference. The BTECs are going up in value compared with A levels.

120 old points might have got someone onto a Foundation year of a degree, which would very much be a sub-degree course.

chucknorris

zagubov wrote: »

I knew you'd know it, but I wasn't sure everybody else would get the difference. The BTECs are going up in value compared with A levels.

120 old points might have got someone onto a Foundation year of a degree, which would very much be a sub-degree course.

OK, but that still doesn't justify what the the other poster is saying. A foundation degree is not the same as getting onto a degree course.

zagubov

chucknorris wrote: »

OK, but that still doesn't justify what the the other poster is saying. A foundation degree is not the same as getting onto a degree course.

Well a foundation year can feed into a degree course. I've been heavily involved with them, and know they can be a gateway into HE, but are not a qualification in their own right..

Foundation degrees seem to be a late arrival in a very crowded HE ecosystem what with Bachelors ordinary/general degrees, Diplomas in HE, HNDs and HNCs all already occupying the educational space below honours degrees already.

I'm concerned they're just a way to rebrand a perfectly worthy sub-degree qualification with an upgraded name, just because the US has a similar system with Associate degrees. I'm not sure how our degree system will maintain its credibility in the European student market with two-year degrees.