Students concerned over value of degrees

MANY STUDENTS do not find their degree course demanding or stretching according to new research, which warns there are rising concerns over whether going to university is good value.

More than one in four undergraduates admit they can get away with doing very little private study and still get good marks, it found.

The Which? report concludes that many students are not happy with the academic experience on offer, while others are increasingly concerned that they are not getting value for money.

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Students are also reporting changes to the content of their courses or rises in tuition fees part-way through their degree, with a significant number saying these alterations are unfair.

The report, which is based on surveys of current students says just under half – 49 per cent – of those questioned say that the amount of work they have to do for their degree is demanding.

Only four in 10 – 39 per cent – say the content of their course is stretching. Less than half (45 per cent) thought that seminars were generally worth attending.

The chief executive of vice-chancellors’ group Universities UK, Nicola Dandridge, said: “The move from public funding to increased fees in England has undoubtedly led to increased expectations from students.

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“Student satisfaction rates are at record levels across all the UK’s universities, as shown by the latest national student survey. The latest survey reported that 86 per cent of students were satisfied overall with their course.”

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