University holidays ‘should be cut to get students into work’

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

It called for long holidays and free time to be cut to allow undergraduates to complete degrees in two years instead of three.

Simon Culhane, chief executive of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, said a shorter degree course would cut costs for students and they could spend the extra year doing vocational qualifications or starting work earlier.

He said: "Of course there is more to going to university than just developing academically, but with over a third of today's students working part time to fund the cost of their studies, the extra-curricular argument is wearing thin."

Business Secretary Vince Cable and his predecessor Lord Mandelson have called for a move towards two-year degrees.

Mr Culhane said students could increase the number of hours of studies each week from the current average of 28 — including private study — to 35 hours. This would be the equivalent of a full working week.

If universities opened for an extra six weeks a year and the summer exams were pushed back by two weeks, the three years' worth of work could be done in two, he argues.

Tuition fees would have to rise by 10 per cent for these two years, but students would not have the cost of being at university for a third year — so they would actually be 25 per cent better off at the end of their degree.

Mr Culhane said 35 per cent of students have part-time jobs, and work an average 14 hours a week, adding: "Since the advent of tuition fees far more students have had to work."

My quick degree

Samantha Brown is half way through her two-year law degree at BPP University in Holborn.

The 25-year-old from Rickmansworth said: "I was in full-time work when I decided to study law and I just wanted to get the qualification as quickly as possible. We only get six weeks of holiday every year. I also work part time as an office manager for 24 hours a week.

"I can understand why people may think it is less fun, but being a mature student I realise it is still more fun than working full time. If you are 18 you may want to spend three years, but for me it is perfect."