Court agrees to two semester year
University Court has agreed to proceed with changes to the shape of the academic year which will mean greater flexibility for students wishing to mix courses across disciplines.
Under the new system the academic year will be divided into two semesters rather than three terms as at present, with courses delivered in a modular format.
The first term under the new semester system will start on 22 September 2003 rather than at the start of October as at present.
Semester one will run up to the Christmas vacation with all teaching and examining completed by that time. The Christmas vacation will be extended from the present three weeks to four weeks and semester two will begin on 19 January 2004 running until the end of the exam period in May.
The Easter vacation will be reduced from four to three weeks running from 4 April - 25 April 2004 and exams will commence on 26 April 2004.
The annual graduation ceremonies will also move, taking place in the week beginning 21 June 2004, some three weeks earlier than under the current pattern.
Court approved the changes and the working group will continue in its task of working towards implementation.
The new semesterised and modularised system will allow greater flexibility for students wishing to mix and match courses and degrees both across disciplines within the University and in partnership with other universities and institutions.
Principal Sir Alan Langlands welcomed the move, saying: "Court took an important decision which will help reshape the way we deliver courses to students allowing them greater flexibility of study and making it easier to develop new up to the minute courses drawing on a range of disciplines."
Science & Engineering to split
Court agreed to a proposal to divide the faculty of science and engineering into two independent faculties of science and of engineering with effect from 1 August 2002.The idea for the split originated within each of the schools of life sciences and engineering and in part reflected the transfer of primary responsibility for the allocation of budgets from the faculty to each school. By removing the extra tier of decision making at faculty level the efficient management of the schools should be enhanced.
The proposal had already been endorsed by Senate.
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