Two-year degrees will not threaten quality

When it comes to higher education, there is no “one size fits all” option to suit everyone. Students should be free to choose different subjects, at different institutions, in a way that suits their individual needs.

UK universities already offer an unrivalled student experience and are constantly developing their offerings to provide students with more choice about what and how they study than ever before. This week, we are helping our universities stay ahead of the curve by making it easier for them to offer shorter, or “accelerated”, degrees.

Accelerated degrees do exactly what they suggest: they allow students to complete a standard degree course in two years instead of three, with teaching spread over more weeks a year.

Choosing to complete a degree more quickly does not mean sacrificing quality. Students enrolled on accelerated degrees still benefit from top-quality teaching, first-rate facilities and the full student experience.

In return for their hard work, students on fast-track courses get more pound in their pocket through one year less living costs and total course fees. They can also start earning a year earlier, which is certain to appeal to those seeking to embark more quickly on their chosen career – particularly mature students.

Until now, the limits on the annual fees that universities can charge for accelerated degrees has made it difficult for many institutions to offer them or has, at least, seen them offering fast-track degrees at a loss. This is because condensing degrees into more weeks a year is a costly exercise – requiring more teaching time and campus resources, including catering, student support and accommodation.

Of course, fast-track degrees aren’t for everyone, and it would be impractical to offer them in every subject, in every university. Neither are accelerated degrees new. Universities such as Buckingham have been offering two-year degrees for decades with high rates of student satisfaction and success.

For those who want to get on in life, there can be no doubt that accelerated degrees work. Just last week I met students taking accelerated degrees at Middlesex University, who had chosen their courses precisely to save them time and money.

By teaching students on two- and three-year degrees together for the first half of the year, the university ensures that students taking accelerated courses do not miss out on the “traditional” student experience.

Accelerated degrees can also ensure that employers get faster access to fully qualified graduates. After finding that students were being offered jobs before completing their degrees, universities such as St Mary’s Twickenham have turned to accelerated courses to ensure that students get the qualifications they deserve before being snapped up by prospective employers.

As someone who myself quit a postgraduate degree part-way through to pursue paid employment, I understand the lure of an early job offer and the dilemma faced by students when deciding whether to finish their degree or earn some money.

By enabling more universities to offer accelerated degrees, we can help to ensure that this need no longer be a binary choice.

This week, the House of Commons voted to modestly raise the fee cap for accelerated degrees. If approved by the House of Lords, this will mean that more universities will be able to add accelerated degrees to their suite of options for students.

Under the new legislation, students taking accelerated degrees will pay just over £22,000 in fees for their entire course, as opposed to more than £27,500 for a traditional three-year degree – giving students a saving of about £5,500 on fees alone. Add to this one year less living costs and the potential to earn money a year earlier, this represents a good deal for students who want it.

Providing students with greater choice is paramount. By changing the fee cap for accelerated degrees, we are making this happen and offering greater freedom and flexibility for all.

Chris Skidmore is England’s minister for universities, science, research and innovation.