What's it really like doing an Arts degree?...
Homepage » For Students » What's it really like doing an Arts degree?
It wasn’t until a few weeks before starting that I realised I had no idea of the academic expectations my course would demand. I imagined that it would sort of be an extension of 6th form. But actually, it's quite different and below are some Q’s & A’s which I hope will give you an insight into what it's really like doing an arts degree at university. What’s the difference between a lecture and a seminar?Lectures: Lectures normally last for an hour and comprise of one lecturer or professor and up to about 100 students. He /she talks and you listen. Lectures may be optional, but I would strongly advise you attend because they offer background information, that may help turn an average essay into a good one. Lectures tend to focus on more specific topics than seminars. If for example, you’re studying a module in Medieval Literature as part of an English degree, then a lecture may focus on Medieval art work. The primary aim for any lecture is to give you some contextual information about a particular subject that you will later discuss in your seminars.
In doing an Arts Degree you’ll normally have one lecture and one seminar per week, for each module, and normally two modules per term. I myself had only six contact hours a week (two, one-hour lectures and two, two-hour seminars). Because of the short amount of classroom time, there is a greater emphasis on 'home work' than if you were doing a science degree. As an Arts student you will be expected to dedicate plenty of time to reading and researching around your particular subject. What’s the work load actually like?Despite the mountain of textbooks you will be presented with at the end of your first lecture, the reading lists are never as time consuming as it first seems. In every course there are a number of primary texts that are essential reading. I’m just finishing an English degree and we have, on average, around three novels to read per module (over a twelve week period) as well as some extra, suggested reading, which is primarily used to ‘dip in to’ during your essay weeks. The structure of most courses are split into two six week times slots, where you work for five weeks on your particular subject, and have the sixth and twelfth weeks off (reading weeks) to work on your essays. Deadlines
What happens if I give an essay in late?If you think you might be unable to finish your essay in time, it’s always worth emailing your seminar leader and asking them for an extension. If you do give it in late without permission then your essay mark is likely to be reduced, but by how much is completely dependent on your university and indeed your department. Some departments are reasonably lax (the History department at my university, for example, only takes off one mark for every day late the essay is) whereas other departments will give you zero for any essays handed in late. What is the exam to coursework ratio?Again this is very much dependent on your subject/university but most of my modules consist of 10% seminar participation mark (a mark for your seminar attendance as well as how much you contribute to class discussions) and either 90% coursework (two essays worth 45% each) or 45% course work and 45% examination. How much choice do I get regarding my modules?Throughout my degree, each terms modules have been reasonably similar: You normally do two subjects per term, one of which is called a ‘core module’ which you don’t have much say in (you normally pick one out of two possible subjects) and a second module where you’re given much more choice (you have around 10 modules to choose from). In the first year I knew people studying four modules per term, but this is normally cut down to two by the second year. TimetablesYou’ll probably be presented with your timetable before the first week of term and should you have any problems like a timetable clash, you should contact the university immediately. Normal lessons are spread between 9am (if you’re unlucky) and 6pm on Monday to Friday and no official lessons will take place outside these times. Exams however are often scheduled on Saturdays so if you have a job then you will need to alert them in advance that this is a possibility.
Christopher Atiyah - University of Kent
If you have any interesting stories or pictures we’d love to hear from you. Click here to get in touch |
If you're an A level student planning to go to university this September and haven’t got a clue about the academic structure; work demands, deadlines etc, then you are not alone! Thinking back to the summer before I joined university, my main anxieties were focused on the social aspects of university life and not the study.
Seminars: Seminars are a bit more like an A level class but a bit more relaxed. They normally consist of around 10 to 20 students, last up to 2 hours and have a greater emphasis on class discussion. Seminars are more interactive and you may find yourself doing group or individual presentations that will eventually contribute to your ‘seminar participation mark’. 
Although deadlines are a lot less flexible then at A level, there is usually some room for negotiation. As I said previously, you will normally hand in your first set of essays in the sixth week of term and your second set in the twelfth week. Seminar leaders tend to be more lenient on the deadline for the first set of essays. The final set has to be given in on the last day of term and unless you have a doctor’s note, excuses will not normally be accepted.
