socialmedian: Arts students 'see academics for just nine hours a week'

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Arts students 'see academics for just nine hours a week'

Source: The Guardian

Nov 08, 2009

Summary

by Anushka Asthana

Students studying subjects such as languages, history and philosophy have access to less than nine hours a week "contact time" with lecturers or tutors, research reveals today.

The study by the National Union of Students and HSBC shows huge differences in the student experience. Those doing medicine and dentistry have an average of 22.6 contact hours a week, compared with 14.8 for biological sciences, 12.2 for law and 8.7 for languages, the study found.

Those at the most prestigious universities receive significantly more time with academics through lectures, individual tutorials and drop-in sessions than those at other institutions, despite the vast majority of universities charging students up to the maximum fee level of £3,225 per year – whatever their subject.

The issue of contact hours has becoming increasingly contentious since fees were raised in 2006 and will be further scrutinised tomorrow when the government announces the details of a review. Some university vice-chancellors want to see the cap raised to £7,000 a year.

"Given that the

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