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