Would Students Benefit From a Shorter University Experience?

Yes
by Laura Cress
First of all, I would like to state that I have loved my past two years at the University of York, and if I could, I would try and stay there for as long as possible.

However, what I’m arguing here is not that the university experience isn’t an enjoyable one, but that in the reality of the dreaded economic environment it is no longer practical to have a degree lasting for three years.

I’m probably going to end up sounding like a killjoy here, although I do understand the argument of three years at university being necessary for adjustment into the real world. I do understand the argument of three years at university being necessary for adjustment into the real world. There are, after all, still elements of “living on my own” that I am getting used to, even at the start of my third year. However, that doesn’t mean that after I leave university that’ll be it, and if I haven’t gotten used to the real world by then I’ll just have to wave my fingers over my head and hope to God I make a convincing rabbit. Adjustment to the real world goes on far longer than the three years we have at university, so it shouldn’t be used as an excuse for how long we spend our time there for.

“Aha, but what about the academic side of it?” you muse. Well, I actually agree with you there. There is a big leap between how we are taught at A Level and at university, and in this respect, I believe that if the summer and easter holidays (a bloated 20 weeks) were shortened somewhat, this would give more time to add to terms. It wouldn’t tally up to the extra 30 given by another year, but for some degrees, such as my own, English Literature, those weeks are punctuated by only five or six contact hours. Some spare time is necessary for reading, but these contact hours could be increased slightly without interfering that much (why can I see a red sniper dot hovering on my head?).

With higher contact hour degrees e.g. medicine, there is generally a higher chance of immediate graduate employment, whilst for a degree such as my own, more time at the end of my degree would no doubt be beneficial for sorting out some work experience.

I can picture the horror on many people’s faces as they read that term time should be lengthened. This is the real reason behind why any student would want university to last as long as possible is because of the brilliant atmosphere felt at societies and on campus in general.

I’m already scared about having to leave this wonderful bubble, but deep down I know that for the amount I’m paying, it’s not quite worth it in terms of a career. Degrees are not defunct, but with such a push for university places and jobs, perhaps a shorter time would still allow for a decenteducational experience without putting us so much out of pocket.

No
by Chris Craddock
It is a simple fact that for most people, their time at university is one of the most important periods in their lives. Leaving aside the mushy garbage about making friends for life, university is vital for several far more relevant reasons.

First of all, there is a major learning gap between university and Sixth Form College. When I first came here I felt the first year was almost a joke as I learnt that it would count for nothing to my degree, but looking back on it I definitely agree that it took me and most others a year to fully get to grips with the pace of university. Despite skipping a gap year, I found the strange combination of lack of contact hours and loads of reading material perplexing, leading to an irresistible temptation to ignore the latter at the expense of the former. Unfortunately, many others as well as I had to experience a few disappointing marks from essays before learning this precious lesson. It makes no sense to shorten a degree where the first year is dedicated to adjusting to a completely new form of learning that many are not prepared for by college.

Furthermore, the university experience is about learning at the highest level. I can see no real need, reason nor explanation for why you would want to curtail this unique period in our lives where we can focus and dedicate ourselves to the joy of learning. Ok, I am putting myself forward as someone who thinks the best way to spend a sunny afternoon is locked away in the darkest corner of the library. My point is not this but that the majority of students come to university to study subjects that are of great interest and excitement to them and you need at least three years to get to grips with whatever academic pursuits they have chosen.

I know there is an argument that all we do here is accumulate a huge debt to the government – all for a worthless degree in the real world, as most of today’s jobs demand some form of work experience in that field of employment. Having said this, it’s not impossible to gain some experience while at university, and moreover, without a degree it would be an even harder struggle to achieve our goals. In fact, we cannot rest safe in the knowledge that our degrees can ensure our desired future unless we attain a good grade and how would this be possible if we reduce the amount of time spent on it?

Overall, we need at least three years to come to terms with life away from the joys and comforts of our homes, to adjust and compete within the university system itself and to be able to produce work that will earn us a respectable degree at the end of it. Any less time and the wonderful and enlightening experience of university would lose its meaning and relevance as the pinnacle of the great learning journey.