2 year degree courses

[gcoe]

Not really wanting to be devil's advocate here as I share your concerns to some extent. However I think the graduate entry approach, whether a Masters degree or clinical doctorate, is more complex than just the number of years. So I think it depends:

* If it is necessary for students undertake a biomedical bachelors degree or exercise science degree or something of that ilk - so not just any undergraduate training but something that lays foundation for the physio degree then this can be a good thing. Where universities are doing this it means that the students enter at an advanced level and the course can be tailored around clinical science and practice

* Students generally are entering the course and subsequently their profession with more emotional maturity and with advanced learning skills and this is a good thing for physiotherap. My experience of teaching undergraduate students taking on their first degree vs students who have already done another bachelors degree is that the latter outshine their less mature colleagues, are more motivated, have better communication and empathy with their patients and with other team members, and generally adapt to the social norms of being a clinician much more readily.

* Students who do a four year undergraduate bachelors degree are currently being swindled. In most cases they should at least be getting an honours degree, especially if they had to undertake research on their course. Most bachelors degrees in other fields are only three years. So they should be getting recognised for what they do

* Students are expected to learn at an advanced and accelerated rate on these courses. Many of them have reduced holiday breaks and longer days. so on the whole they are more intensive and pressured.

And by the way I do have huge reservations about the implementation of graduate entry level degrees. It may be dumbing down the professsion - who is going to want to go back and undertake a proper research degree or advanced course work after already completing 6-7 years? And what about the financial expectations of graduates who leave university after 6-7 years? There is going to be some very disappointed physios when they find out what is usually being offered.

So I am in two minds about it and I really think it depends on how it is implemented.