Should people with lower A-Level grades be able to do undergrad degrees at the lower standard institutions? Everyone said yes. Apart from me. Thoughts?
By the way, do you mean 'lower standard' or should that be 'lower ranked'? Standards of exam papers and coursework are verified independently, therefore a 2:1 from Nottingham Trent for example is better than a 2:2 from Imperial, for a given equivalent course.
Im guessing ny first from Hull is about the equivalent of a CSE Grade 5 in metalworking. In answer to the original question I don't see why not. They are still more rigorous than many access courses
I don't give a flying fu'ck what other people get up to let um do what they want it doesn't involve me at all
Really? You think a 2:1 from London Metropolitan (apparently the lowest ranked) is of the same standard as a 2:1 in the same subject from Oxford/Cambridge?
If the external examiner has done his/her job in assessing the quality of the examination materials, then the rigour involved in attaining the qualification should be equivalent, therefore the standard should be the same. This does not take into account 'prestige' or 'esteem', which are different to 'standard'.
So if you were hiring for a graduate job which requires a large amount of academic/technical knowledge that the candidate would have gained at university you wouldn't (all other things being equal) prefer someone with a 2:1 from a top 10 uni than a 2:1 from a bottom 10 uni?
if you go to Oxford or Cambridge, you'll get a job no matter what.....they are the best for a reason. ....and before someone says 'you need money/influencial family' to go to Oxbridge this is not too. I once knew a bloke (from Leeds) whose family didn't have a pot to pish in but he had been to Oxford....and he was very very clever. So it is achievable if you are bright enough. otherwise i do believe courses are available at Barnsley campus! hth
The qualification would get them the interview, independent of institution. I'd offer the job to the one who interviewed better and would be based on 'gut instinct'. Where I work we're obliged to interview everybody who meets all 'essential criteria'. We'd be hard pressed to stipulate 2:1 from a Russell Group institution rather than simply requiring a 2:1. I'm not being contrary by the way, I work in higher education, so I make these type of decisions routinely. Often students from 'good' universities have a bit more about them, but not always. I do maintain, that the standard of the degree is independent of the institution. Learning methods and support infrastructure vary from institution to institution as does the quality of the student.
Another stellar contribution. If there was an award for best poster you would be in with a shout. Honest.
I went to a 'lesser' college that was affiliated to Liverpool university - my degree has university of Liverpool on it so if anyone asks .... Honestly didn't bother me I didn't go to a 'proper' university - worked out OK for me
If I understand your question correctly then I would say yes. There are far too many people doing a degree for the sake of it and taking up a place at university which could have been given to someone who have a genuine interest in beginning a career in a certain field. It gives the opportunity to everyone to get the degree they want, regardless of their previous education and background. Not sure I've explained this correctly but it has been a long day at work.
Yes. Many people that know they're going to achieve low A Level grades (after say the first year) will just do another course to get sufficient ucas points to get into uni. So how is that fairer than stopping people who complete A Levels getting to still gain a degree
This sort of sums up my argument. University should be for all - someone from a broken home in an inner city or from a public school background in the Home Counties. Everyone should have the opportunity to go - providing they have the capability to do so. Higher education is precisely that - and it should require a higher level of academic ability. I was at Barnsley College with a girl who took three A-Levels, failed two and got a grade E in the other. She still managed to find a place on an undergraduate degree course at the Polytechnic Of Narnia or somewhere. Absolutely pointless. If someone has proven they are suited to one level of higher education - how can they possibly go on to an even higher level? A waste of time and money for me.
