Module 2 Unit 1

Listen to James Couzin, Education Consultant at Universities UK speaking on the changes British system of higher education is experiencing.

Nowadays many institutions are changing the way in which their courses are structured. The new modular schemes offer you the opportunity to design a programme of study which suits your interests. First of all let me explain what a modular scheme is.

Technically speaking a modular course is made up of a number of self-contained units of study. These units, or modules, count towards your final qualification – whether it is a first degree, a postgraduate award or a Higher National Diploma. The final qualification is of the same value as one which has a traditional structure, but the way in which the course is organized and assessed is different. In a full-time programme the students will study between 9 and 12 modules each year. Some of them may run for more than one term or semester. The work will be assessed at the end of each module, and each module a student successfully passes will give credit points which have a common value within the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme, or CATS for short.

The next important thing is how a student can choose a course. In most modular courses you still choose the main field of study. This may take the form of a single subject degree in business studies, for examples, or a joint degree in biology and information technology. A student has to take a number of compulsory or “core” modules from a list of optional subjects, either within the specialist subject(s) or in an associated field. A student may also be able to choose modules from completely different subject areas. These are called “elective” subjects and can provide you with additional employment skills, or an opportunity to broaden your academic interests. Options range from language to computer skills, from accounting to fine art courses. In some institutions you start with a broader choice of subjects, decide which modules to take as you move through the course, and the title of the degree is decided during the final year. In order to gain professional qualifications, it is important to cover the necessary modules. Most institutions specify in their prospectuses the routes you should go.

You might ask where you can study for a modular degree. In fact, modular courses are offered by all kinds of institutions: the “new” universities (formerly polytechnics), colleges of higher education and, increasingly, the more traditional universities. Institutions vary a great deal in the way in which they are developing their courses. Some have changed all their courses to the modular structure, others offer modular options only within a combined degree.

To cap it all I’d like to point out the advantages of this system. The modular scheme enables students to choose the topics of professional or general interest and to take modules outside the normal range of studies. Also the end-of-module assessment makes it easier for a student to monitor the progress.

However, there are some difficulties in studying on a modular course. With a new choice of modules each term or semester a student will have more decisions to make. The assessment process means that tutors for different modules may require a lot of planning. Nevertheless, modular courses are very flexible. Through CATS scheme, a student can transfer credit points from one institution to another, and study in more than one country.

(Adapted from http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/)