The Age has a nicely written article about the
change in how degrees are awarded at the University of Melbourne [via
Berno's blog].
In short, the 'Melbourne Model' will mean there will be "six broad, three-year undergraduate degrees: arts,
science, commerce, biomedicine, environments and music." In order to gain more professional degrees, such as engineering, medicine, law, nursing, education etc., you have to reapply to study a master's or postgraduate degree which adds another 2 years or more. There will also be "no more double degrees".The article gives two good, contrasting examples:
"Kate Wilson is just the sort of student Melbourne
University would like to attract. Smart, articulate and considered,
the 17-year-old had always wanted to study at the elite Parkville
campus. That was until she learned that one of the courses she is
leaning towards, law, will not be offered next year...If she decides law is her path, Kate faces a clear choice: enrol
in a degree in arts or science at Melbourne University and hope to
win a place in the new, three-year graduate law course once she is
finished, or sign up for law immediately somewhere else, probably
at Melbourne's elite cross-town rival, Monash."
"Jackson McLeod, finished year 12
at University High last year...Exhausted after the slog of
the last year of school and confused about his future, he decided
against enrolling in a double degree just to cover his bases and
instead deferred. The idea of the broad "new generation" arts
degree, and its requirement that all students take subjects from
another faculty, won him over. It means he can take an unlikely mix
of subjects — psychology, literature and one of maths or
physics are on his shortlist — and worry about what he is
going to do with his life once he has more experience on which to
base his decision."
What I get from that is that Melbourne is no longer the place for those who are driven, ambitious and determined to pursue their passion anymore. Instead, they're targeting those who haven't made up their minds or who don't really know if they want to go to uni but are going anyway until they know, like Jackson McLeod.
If I was determined to study engineering (or law, like Kate Wilson), I hardly want to have to study a heap of vaguely related units in the six undergrad degrees - I want to study in units that are
directly related to my passion and what I want to do. I don't want to be forced to pick some crappy unit like
Magic, Science and Religion (yes that's an actual arts unit albeit at Monash, but there's probably similar ones at Melbourne). If I wanted to know more about something else, I would enrol in a double degree, or do a diploma in it either at uni or elsewhere. It's like high school all over again otherwise, where we have to study certain subjects. The fact that this extends the length of time compared to the equivalent degree at Monash doesn't help either - e.g. engineering is now a 5+ year degree instead of 4 years at Monash - for comparison, engineering/commerce is only 5.5 years, so for around the same time I get two degrees instead of one. More time also equals more money, even if that's HECS.
The worse bit however, is that you have to reapply after completing your general undergrad degree, to get into a professional masters/postgrad degree. So potentially, you could lose your place and be left hanging. You'll may have to go through all the tests and interviews again, and if you get through, you may not get HECS funding and have to pay full fee. WTF! Having to deal with the uncertainty of getting in and getting HECS once is enough. Melbourne's system means you could intend to study engineering, get into the HECS-funded Science undergrad degree, but after 3 years, you may not get offered a place, or may get offered a full-fee place instead - there is no security anymore that you'll be able to follow through your intended course of study (unless of course, if you're loaded, which for the majority is unlikely). Finances are tight as it is for a uni student; the added looming threat of full-fees could easily screw over a lot of people. Yes, they are saying, "A goal of 75 per cent of all graduate places to be paid
through HECS," but that's firstly a goal, and secondly still means people could miss out and their last 3 years become worthless - will engineering companies accept a science student over an engineering one?
Those who know what they want to do are probably already frustrated enough leaving high school because they have to endure another 3-4 years of non-practical studying at uni before achieving their dreams. Being forced to learn something mildly relevant would just annoy them even more, and possibly damage their future prospects because their motivation to study hard for that unit is not there. This is exactly how I feel, though there is more to my situation which I may blog about later.
We're living in a world where we're all told anything is possible, and nothing should stop us. Will uni become a roadblock rather than a path to our dreams? Hell, isn't uni becoming less and less necessary for some of our dreams?The lack of double degrees is interesting too. I wonder if you can do a commerce undergrad degree, then do a engineering masters/postgrad degree. If you can that's better, but how that student is possibly going to catch up so they're on par with science undergrad students I have no idea. Cramming engineering into two years is a huge stretch too.
The reason behind this change is to align themselves with the US and soon-to-be European model of universities. But is it the right model for an elite university like Melbourne? They risk losing a heap of people who leave high school with a strong ambition, and instead picking up the undecided. The ones with the strong ambition however, are usually the ones that go on to achieve above and beyond, exactly what Melbourne's known for. Monash on the other hand, will probably pick up the ones Melbourne's alienated and improve its already rising reputation as a result. The "most generous scholarship program ever offered in Australia" may help them a bit, but doesn't do anything to add security. I'm not against trial and change, but this really just sounds like a case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', even if the world is against you. Time will tell...
P.S. the fight over 'gender studies' is funny lol - that's the life of an arts student
UPDATE (17/4/2007): There's a nice roundup of articles and blogger opinions on the 'Melbourne Model' over at
sneedleflipsock's Blog.