By Sarah Morcom
Arguments are beginning to emerge that two year degree courses could be more beneficial than the usual three year courses. It is claimed that the advantages of shortening degrees will benefit both young and adult students due to smaller tuition fees and will also accelerate the speed at which they move onto employment. Universities that have tested these two year degrees have found that they were effective at meeting student’s needs and that it didn’t hinder their ability to both work and study. Counter-arguments have suggested that two year degrees are just being used to help push more people through higher education. They argue that due to the recent cut backs in university funding many lecturers jobs have been put at stake and that two year degrees will only succeed if the government is willing to put money back into education and maintain funding. If not, those lecturers left will have enough work to do without having to worry about the increased work load of two year degrees. It is also argued that due to the intensity of two year degrees, the ability to pack your CV with extra-curriculum activities will be diminished.