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Government to propose two-year degrees
Wed 14 Jul 2010
The government is to suggest that undergraduates be allowed to apply for two-year university degrees.
Business secretary Vince Cable will deliver a keynote speech later this week about the issues currently facing higher education funding.
In it, he will outline the various proposals that have been suggested to reduce costs and deliver better value for money in the sector.
This will include reforming the existing degree system so that students can graduate within two years, as opposed to three or more.
Mr Cable will say that by studying for a shorter period of time, students would pay less in tuition fees and leave university with smaller student debts.
The business secretary is expected to state that a two-year degree could be implemented if the length of summer holidays is reduced.
Other ideas under consideration include implementing a graduate tax, which would mean people with a degree foot the bill for attending the university through tax instead of through higher tuition fees.
Stephen Hart, a senior solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "Mr Cable's speech will give an indication as to how universities will have to adapt to a future which is dominated by cuts in state funding.
"Reducing degrees to two years will impact upon lecturers' hours and potentially on universities' income.
"HR teams should start looking now at lecturers' contracts and any framework or collective agreements with trade unions to see whether they can be varied to take account of longer academic terms.
"Finance directors will have to consider whether the value of a degree should remain the same regardless of the duration of study and, therefore, whether fees should be increased.
"Universities will also have to look for funding from other sources. It should be an interesting speech with a long-term impact for the sector."
