Understanding the

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Understanding the British System of Higher
Education
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Outline

• British Framework
• Programmes, Modules, Credits, Assessments,
  Regulations
• Module Specifications
• Their significance importance for students
• British Philosophy of Higher Education
• Independent learning

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Activity Study at university and the British
system

• What do you know about study at university and
  the British system of Higher Education?
• Take a few minutes to think about this and
  discuss it with the person next to you

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British Framework
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Elements of the British Framework

• Degree Programmes
• Programme Specifications
• Modules
• Credits
• Assessments
• Semesters Progression
• Regulations

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Degree programmes

• Degree programmes comprise modules each with a
  predefined modular weight
• During the four years of study a student should
  complete 600 credits worth of modules
• Graduates are granted a B.Sc.

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Programme Specifications

• Provide an overview of the required learning
  outcomes of a specific programme
• Outcomes are classified based on the skills and
  knowledge they help develop
• Programme Specifications also provide a list of
  modules to study in order to acquire the defined
  learning outcomes

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Regulations, semesters progression

• Study at BUE is in two Semesters
• Autumn Semester (Sep-Jan)
• Spring Semester (Feb-June)
• Students study sixty credits/semester with a
  total of 120 credits/year
• Students are allowed four attempts for P level
  modules and three for C, I H level modules
• Students can Re-Sit a module in September of each
  year and the first time it is offered thereafter
• Students can progress to the next year with a
  maximum of 20 failed credits

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Module Specifications Their significance and
importance to students
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Each module specification outlines

• Module title
• Module code
• Modular weight
• Aims
• Intended learning Outcomes (ILOs)
• Content
• Methods of teaching, learning and assessment
• Resources list
• Methods of feedback

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Modular weight and student effort

• Each module is assigned a modular weight
• The unit of a modular weight is the credit
• Each credit requires, on average, a total student
  effort of 10 hours along the semester
• A regular module is worth 10 credits, which
  requires 100 hours of student effort along the
  semester
• This total effort includes 30 in the form of
  direct contact on campus in lectures and
  tutorials
• The rest is the independent effort required by
  students to fulfill the module requirements

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Module levels

• Modules are classified in three levels
• Preparatory level - (P)
• Certificate level - (C)
• Intermediate level - (I)
• Honors level - (H)
• These four levels match the four years of study
• The four levels are spread over four years, each
  is worth 160 credits

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Assessments

• Each module specification outlines the Intended
  learning outcomes and modes of assessment.
• Evaluate the extent to which students achieve the
  intended learning outcomes
• Assessments include, assignments, class tests,
  projects, research, reports and exams

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British Philosophy of Higher EducationIndepende
nt Learning
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Key attributes

• You must possess high levels of personal
  motivation work to sustain this
• You will need good time management skills
• You will be able to reflect upon, and adapt
  effectively, aspects of your learning
• 4. Take responsibility for your learning and try
  to be an independent learner, but dont
  hesitate to seek help and support if you need it

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Activity Time management

• We all have time management skills which can be
  developed and used to help us study effectively.
• Work in pairs. List what you think good time
  management involves. How will this help you be an
  effective student?
• Compare your list with the definition given

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Good time management will help you to

• Time management refers to the development of
  skills and tools that increase efficiency and
  productivity. It will help you
• understand manage your commitments
• break assignments down into tasks
• plan prioritise tasks
• carry out each stage effectively
• avoid last minute rushes
• produce higher quality work
• participate in a wider range of activities
• avoid stress
• be an active independent learner

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Activity making time to study 24 hour diary

• Use the 24 hour diary to analyse how you spend a
  typical day. Write down your different
  activities
• essential time eating, sleeping, travelling,
  lectures, classes
• flexible time time you can choose what you do
  leisure, independent study, use of computer etc
• best study times times when you prefer to study
• Look at your completed diary. When can you fit in
  study time? Are there any activities you could
  reduce time doing to free up more study time?

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Activity making time to study - 24 hour diary
Time Activity Time Activity
Midnight-1am Midday-1pm
1am-2am 1pm-2pm
2am-3am 2pm-3pm
3am-4am 3pm-4pm
4pm-5pm 4pm-5pm
5am-6am 5pm-6pm
6am-7am 6pm-7pm
7am-8am 7pm-8pm
8am-9am 8pm-9pm
9am-10am 9pm-10pm
10am-11am 10pm-11pm
11am-midday 11pm-midnight