Accelerated degree courses are becoming more popular every year. In this blog we explore what the benefits are to an accelerated course and what to expect if you are signed up for one.
What is an Accelerated Degree course?
University degree courses in the UK are traditionally three years in length with long holiday periods. An accelerated course shortens the holiday time and replaces it with training allowing you to accelerate your learning and finish your course in two full years.
How much holiday time do University students normally get?
On average University students get approximately 1 month off at Christmas, 1 month off at Easter and 3.5 months off in the summer. On an accelerated course you will receive 3 weeks off at Christmas, 2 weeks off at Easter and 5 weeks off in the summer.
What are the benefits of doing an accelerated course?
There are many benefits to an accelerated course:
Cost savings: Course fees are a year less than a 3-year degree, cutting a whole year of tuition off of what you pay or borrow. If you get a student loan you decrease the amount you have to pay back significantly. If you rent accommodation while you are training, you will pay a year less of rent on an accelerated course not to mention your room won’t sit empty for months if you go home in the summer months or during other holidays.
Enter the Industry sooner: You will graduate with your degree a whole year earlier so will enter the industry faster having completed the exact same amount of training as a 3-year course. Momentum: You will not have months off at a time to get out of shape or out of touch so you will continually be at a high level of mental and physical fitness throughout the entire process.
How do I know if an accelerated course is right for me?
It depends on how driven you are. If you like to take things at a slower pace than an accelerated course isn’t probably for you. Although the daily hours of training are the same (9-5) it will feel like it is moving faster as assessments will come sooner. A degree course consists of three levels (4, 5 and 6). On an accelerated course you will start level 5 in May, where a normal 3-year course you would start level 5 in September or October. Some students feel they need 3 years to mature/grow or maybe they want to have more socialising time with peers over a longer period. They also may not know what it is they want to do as a career and want time to figure that out. An accelerated course is likely for those who already know exactly what they want to do.
What if I start an accelerated course but realise that it isn’t for me?
In most cases transferring off an accelerated course onto a 3-year course is not an issue, provided it is done in the first year of training. You will be ahead of others once you transfer to the new course so need to accept that you may have to repeat some of the training. Given you are starting your Level 5 in May on the accelerated course, you couldn’t transfer onto the second year of a 3-year course at that time. So, the longer you wait the trickier it gets.
Writer: Kenneth Avery-Clark, Principal and owner of SLP College, Leeds and the International College of Musical Theatre, London. The ICMT offers a 2-year Accelerated BA (Hons) course in Musical Theatre performance. www.theicmt.com