Two-year degrees make for livelier minds, says Sir Anthony Seldon

A slow pace of study leaves too many bored first-year students drinking and lying in bed, according to leading Vice-Chancellor.

Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor at The University of Buckingham and previous headmaster of Wellington college in Berkshire, said that after working hard through sixth form, students felt “alienated and unvalued and underproductive” during their first year at university.

“As a head, I heard very regular complaints from my former students that the pace of work was incredibly slow and undemanding compared to sixth-form life, or indeed compared to the world of work for which university is supposed to be preparing them.

“They quickly became socialised into the high-drink, low-work culture, especially in non-Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, but that didn’t mean that they didn’t continue to be disappointed. The first year of university was a real surprise to many, as were the length of the holidays. I had former students in tears feeling thoroughly alienated and unvalued and underproductive.”

In a two-year degree students “get stuck into the meat of their degree course straight away and having shorter holidays suits their study style and their focus on getting on with their adult life,” he said. In addition, tuition fees for two-year degrees but they are generally lower than for a standard three-year course and students make a considerable saving on living costs.

Sir Anthony said that two-year courses could allow students to take a gap year and learn new skills, without having to take more time out of the workplace.