A January start breaks the mould

Universities are bringing in greater flexibility which could spell the end of the traditional academic year, writes Emma Haughton

Why the academic year has always begun in the autumn may be an accident of history, but it's a pattern that seemed pretty much cast in stone. But a number of institutions – particularly the new universities – are breaking the mould and offering a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses with a starting date in the new year.

Middlesex University, for instance, is offering a January start for degree courses in 40 different subjects, including design, American studies, English, history, journalism, philosophy, publishing, information technology, environmental health, criminology, psychology, social sciences, education studies, design, accounting, human resource management and marketing.

"We've had a January starting date for both undergraduates and postgraduates for a few years now and have gradually built up the number of courses," says Middlesex University's deputy vice-chancellor Professor Terry Butland. "One of the main reasons is that there is a lot of interest from overseas students to start in January – it fits in more easily with the study programmes in some countries."

Although overseas demand has been a significant driver, Middlesex has not stopped there. "We've opened it up to UK and EU students too and we're getting increasing interest," he says. Last year, the university had 300 students from overseas and 200 from the UK beginning in the new year – this year it hopes those numbers will rise significantly.

Many are mature students, Butland points out. "After all, half the students in our university are not 18-year-olds. Why should a mature student start in September? An added starting date gives them a lot more flexibility."

Sukhvinder Chonk runs the learning advice centre at Thames Valley University, which has offered a new year start for undergraduate courses for 2-3 years. "We were still getting enquiries in October and November for the autumn start courses, so we thought it would be a good idea to offer them again in February."

Last year 300 students applied for its undergraduate courses with a February start, in subjects including accounting, business studies, computing, counselling, management, healthcare, catering, human resources, languages, marketing, media, midwifery, music, nursing, psychology, teaching and travel.

"Our postgraduate professional courses have had a new year starting date for some time," says Chonk, "Professional courses have always been flexible because this is what employers require, but we've extended it to undergraduate because we've got to comply with what other people want. Markets are changing, especially with the advent of online and distance learning courses, and with international competition as well we've got to become more flexible."

Students still complete the full three years, she explains. "We give them the option of picking up a module in the summer so they can make up the lost time, but if they don't want to do that they can finish in February."

Offering more flexible starting dates depends on having a modular course structure in place, says Butland. On a one-year postgraduate course, for instance, teaching staff face some students finishing in the summer and some at the end of the year. "If the course is broken down into very clear modules you can have both cohorts doing the same things at the same time," he says.

It's a win-win situation all round, he believes. "Although at first those starting in the new year were a bit out on a limb because the social groups had already developed, now there is quite a large group starting in January they are no longer the exception."

It has been so successful that Middlesex is even considering a summer start.