A presentation to BHQFHE visitors regarding UK Universities

UK Universities:

• In the UK there are 116 universities.

• Some are new and some very old.

• In general they fall into the following categories . . .

UK Universities:• Very Old such as Oxford (1167), Cambridge (1209) St Andrews

(1410), Edinburgh (1582)

• Nineteenth Century universities, Durham (1832) London (1836), London School of Economics (1895)

• ‘Red Brick Universities’ – Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds (all around 1900)

• New civic universities such as Nottingham, Hull, Exeter

• ‘Plate glass Universities’ - Sussex, Warwick, Aston (1960s)

• ‘1992 Universities’ Coventry, Lincoln, Middlesex

• Second wave new universities – Cardiff, Northampton, Chester

The University of Northampton• Higher Education since 1975• Large yet friendly – 14,000 students• Over 1300 international students for

120 countries• Two Campuses in Northampton • Over 100 different degree and

diploma courses • High quality teaching • High quality environment• Turnover of £90m last year, with

impact on local economy of £200m

The University is divided into six Schools:

•Northampton Business School •School of Education•School of Social Science •School of Art•School of Science and Technology •School of Health

•Regional offices in China, India, Malaysia, Pakistan

The University of Northampton

Programmes running from Levels 4 to 8 which align with “The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ)” (see www.qaa.ac.uk) which in turn aligns with the FQ - EHEA

Levels 4-6: Undergraduate Courses (First Cycle)- HND (Diploma) (Short Cycle)- 3 year BA/BSc/LLB Single Honours or Joint/ Honours.- 1 year ‘top-up’ courses (usually at Level 6)

Level 7: Postgraduate Taught Courses (Second Cycle)- 1 year MA/MSc/LLM

Level 8 : Research degrees in a wide range of fields – MPhil/PhD (Third Cycle). - UoN has recently invested over £1 million in PhD Studentships.

Our Programmes

Typical Undergraduate programmes• Foundation degrees: FdSc

• Undergraduate diplomas

• Bachelors degrees: BA/BSc, these can be single or Joint Honours

• Top-up degrees.

Typical Postgraduate programmes• Diploma

• MA and MSc degrees

• MBA degree (for applicants with two years work experience)

• £65 million spent on campus - new halls, library, IT suite

• £11 million on re-development of Newton Building

• £4 million on development of School of Education

The University of Northampton

• £25 million development of town centre halls of residence

The University of Northampton

•New ‘Waterside’ campus, £330m

•Global alumni network of 60,000 graduates living in over 150 different countries

Continuous support Global ambassadors International groups,

associations, network

The University of Northampton

Typical Undergraduate programmes• Single or Joint Honours degree are over three years

• Degrees can often be taken over four years as international experience or professional experience placement programme

Year 1

Year 2

Final Year

Year 1

Year 2

International Experience

Year 1

Year 2

Professional Experience Placement

Final Year Final Year

Types of Assessed work

• Time constrained exams

• Multi choice test

• Essay type assignments

• Individual presentation

• Group presentation

• Portfolio, poster fairs

• Student lead seminars

• Reflective submissions

• Research project

Quality

This covers two major activities:

• Setting and maintaining threshold academic standards

• Assuring and enhancing learning outcomes.

• The national level

• The subject and qualification

• The programme

• Approval and review

• Assessment of achieved learning outcomes.

Setting and maintaining threshold academic standards

Quality

Assessing and enhancing academic quality• Programme design and approval

• Admissions

• Learning and Teaching

• Student support and Engagement

• Assessment of students, External examining

• Programme monitoring and review

• Complaints and appeals

• Management of collaborative arrangements

• Post Graduate research programmes

Quality

University

QAA

Objectives and Standards

Student Learning Experience

Individual Tutor

Accountability

Quality Assessment

Quality Audit

Staff Appraisal

Training and development

Institution

Management Review

Course Review

Resources Review

Quality Assurance system

Curriculum development

Self Appraisal

Resources Allocation

Student Voice

External Examiners

Studying in the UKWeekly lectures, large group teaching

Weekly tutorials, small groups

Three Semesters for PG and two terms for UG Students

Semesters are 14 weeks duration

Terms are 12 weeks

Plus time for revision and exams

Attendance and Engagement (miss out on interaction)

Additional learning support, (dyslexia, disability etc)

Note taking and provision of course materials

Part time work

Studying in the UK• 9-12 hours a week in the classroom with tutors, a mix of

formal lectures and tutorials• UG: 120 credits per year for three years (20 or 40 credit

modules) • PG: 180 credits per year (10, 20 and 60 credit modules)• Reading and preparation outside the classroom, working

alone or with other students• Regular formal assessment such as presentations, group

work, exams, tests, essays and multiple choice questions• Regular feedback from tutors about formal work, and student

contribution in class• Learning not just from tutors but from the contributions of

others.

Student life

Many students will have, as part of their degree course, the opportunity of:

•Choice of modules within programmes

•International focus

•Visiting Speakers

•Links to professional bodies

•Career focussed modules

Wider skills . . .Collaborative and flexible approach Commercial and

professional awareness

Lifelong learner

Effective and articulate

communicator

Adaptive transformative

approachIndependent

motivated and confident Creative and

entrepreneurial

Digitally Literate

Social / Global citizen

Research skilled

Graduate

Thank You