09 - England - Organisation of the academic year

The full academic year for higher education runs from 1 August to 31 July. Organisation of the teaching year is at the discretion of the individual institution. For undergraduate (first cycle) students, attendance is normally required from a date varying from the beginning of September to the beginning of October through to the end of June, with breaks lasting between three and five weeks at Christmas and Easter. The organisation of teaching traditionally reflected this three-term system. Institutions are increasingly organising their teaching along the two-semester system, although this does not necessarily involve changing the dates of required attendance. All institutions generally have fewer teaching weeks in the third term to allow time for revision and examinations. Some cease teaching at the end of the second term. A few have a ‘reading week’ in the middle of a term, during which no teaching is done and students are expected to work independently. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have shorter terms. Certain institutions offer accelerated degrees which require student attendance for longer periods during the academic year.

Several universities have introduced courses that run twice a year, with two different start dates: in autumn (as normal) and also in spring. Applications for spring entry are made direct to the university, not through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Teaching normally takes place between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., from Monday to Friday, but may take place at other times. Part-time courses may be offered during the day or in the evening. It is usual for institutions not to organise classes for full-time students on a Wednesday afternoon, so that students who wish to do so may participate in sporting activities.

Institutions:

 

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Rosehill New Barn Lane Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ England
Tel.:+44 (0) 1242 222444
E-mail: enquiries@ucas.ac.uk
Website:  http://www.ucas.ac.uk


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Date: 2009
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