Does anyone else feel that their dissertation doesnt need to take the whole year?

quite possibly, except think its a bit optimistic to think ill get a career just because ive got a degree (see most recent post in careers section). Basically getting rejected from everything. Studying history I have 2 hours of contact time a week. Feel that my energies could be put to use way more doing work experiences etc etc!

are you at uni yet? x

Two hours? I did a History-based BA and had at least 6 hours of contact time a week even in third year.

Yeah, I've known a couple of people who did their dissertation the night before and came out with a 2.i No idea how they managed it, but a year is unnecessary I'm sure. I did an MA essay of 5,000 words that I had quite literally only started the morning of the day I had to hand it and got 90% AND it was based around a book that I hadn't read so anything is possible.

Thanks very much for your reassurance. Good for you and all your contact time! Unfortunately, I onlyhave 2 hours a week! Its really rubbish and not quite sure what I pay for. this is at Durham University btw!

Wow, I wouldn't expect that from Durham - I was under the impression that they followed the Oxbridge model of cramming as many contact hours in as humanly possible. I went to The University of Nottingham for my BA and we had at least two hours a week for every module we took. I'm doing my MA at The University of Iceland and I have 9 hours of contact time a week!

Durham definitley don't- I know someone doing English there and she was complaining about lack of contact time. (she had 6 hours a week in second year)

Why don't you do work experience then?! This is what I don't get about everyone doing a degree. They think that all they need is a degree and then they apply for jobs/graduate schemes etc and then go "oh I got rejected". Instead of wasting your time like you have basically said you have done and considering you only have 2 hours a week why aren't you doing work experience in your spare time? I'm in my second year of my history degree and so have 7-8 hours of contact time and still manage to do another course and work experience in my spare time, plus my 5 essays, 3 presentations and seminar preparation for all modules. Plus I have a social life. It isn't hard to make yourself stand out from the crowd. It's just laziness considering you know what you should be doing and haven't bothered.

Thanks very much for your reassurance. Good for you and all your contact time! Unfortunately, I onlyhave 2 hours a week! Its really rubbish and not quite sure what I pay for. this is at Durham University btw!