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Former polytechnic?
hello what's a former polytechnic? I see this term used a lot in forums and was wondering what a former poly uni is, and more importantly, why it's so bad? Most people seem to refer to them in a very negative light.
thanks.
thanks.
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
I dont think that all former poly's are bad, for example Aston is really good in loads of subjects.
Reply 2
14
In the old days (pre 1990 ish?) there were Universities and Polytechnics.
Universities tended to do all the academic stuff and you needed a-level's to get in. Whereas Polytechnics offered more vocational, or simply less academic courses with lower entrance requirement.
If i was a member of the labour government i would at this point talk about the equal status of vocational qualifications and academia, but to be honest the universities were more presitigious and thus usually considered "better".
They changed many old poly's into uni's in the last 10-20 years. Their name may have changed but tbh its a politically motivated gimmick.
I'm not saying polytechnics are bad, but this is why there is the ex-poly stigma. Alot of people do not regard them as proper universities.
Universities tended to do all the academic stuff and you needed a-level's to get in. Whereas Polytechnics offered more vocational, or simply less academic courses with lower entrance requirement.
If i was a member of the labour government i would at this point talk about the equal status of vocational qualifications and academia, but to be honest the universities were more presitigious and thus usually considered "better".
They changed many old poly's into uni's in the last 10-20 years. Their name may have changed but tbh its a politically motivated gimmick.
I'm not saying polytechnics are bad, but this is why there is the ex-poly stigma. Alot of people do not regard them as proper universities.
Reply 3
**noooni**
I dont think that all former poly's are bad, for example Aston is really good in loads of subjects.
Aston isn't a former polly.... UCE is, not Aston or Birmingham
Reply 4
Zakatu
In the old days (pre 1990 ish?) there were Universities and Polytechnics.
Universities tended to do all the academic stuff and you needed a-level's to get in. Whereas Polytechnics offered more vocational, or simply less academic courses with lower entrance requirement.
If i was a member of the labour government i would at this point talk about the equal status of vocational qualifications and academia, but to be honest the universities were more presitigious and thus usually considered "better".
They changed many old poly's into uni's in the last 10-20 years. Their name may have changed but tbh its a politically motivated gimmick.
I'm not saying polytechnics are bad, but this is why there is the ex-poly stigma. Alot of people do not regard them as proper universities.
Universities tended to do all the academic stuff and you needed a-level's to get in. Whereas Polytechnics offered more vocational, or simply less academic courses with lower entrance requirement.
If i was a member of the labour government i would at this point talk about the equal status of vocational qualifications and academia, but to be honest the universities were more presitigious and thus usually considered "better".
They changed many old poly's into uni's in the last 10-20 years. Their name may have changed but tbh its a politically motivated gimmick.
I'm not saying polytechnics are bad, but this is why there is the ex-poly stigma. Alot of people do not regard them as proper universities.
Fair point, but I go to an ex-poly, and I find these sorts of statements completely pointless. I work hard, and try my best to get the best possible marks, and enjoy my course so much, so couldn't give a stuff if I go to an ex-poly. And before anyone says anything, I study English, not something people consider to be 'Mickey Mouse'
Reply 5
Zakatu
In the old days (pre 1990 ish?) there were Universities and Polytechnics.
Reply 6
Ex-polytechnics aren't neccessarily 'bad' unis, it's just that every bad uni is an ex-polytechnic...
Reply 7
Beekeeper
Ex-polytechnics aren't neccessarily 'bad' unis, it's just that every bad uni is an ex-polytechnic...
Where as others, like York St John are no-hopers (sorry if anyone goes there
)Reply 8
Roger Kirk
Yep, places like Middlesex and Oxford Brookes and even Nottingham Trent are all very decent univeristies which are ex-polytechnics.
Guh, Trent is pushing it.
About 85th in the league tables last time I looked...
York St. John isn't classed as a real uni is it? Reply 9
Beekeeper
Guh, Trent is pushing it.
About 85th in the league tables last time I looked...
York St. John isn't classed as a real uni is it?
About 85th in the league tables last time I looked...
York St. John isn't classed as a real uni is it? And yep, some league tables rank York St John....normally around 100-110th.
I guess it's quite strange for one city to have a 'university' normally ranked in the top 10 and another ranked in the bottom ten in the country.
Reply 10
14
Yes, some ex-polys are very good. But its worth noting that no ex-poly is in the top 10 universities.
What i'm trying to say is that in some ways ex polys are second-rate. But i guess it depends what portion of the leaque table you are applying too. If you are going for somewhere half way down then there probably isn't any difference between those that are polytechnics and those that are older universities.
What i'm trying to say is that in some ways ex polys are second-rate. But i guess it depends what portion of the leaque table you are applying too. If you are going for somewhere half way down then there probably isn't any difference between those that are polytechnics and those that are older universities.
Reply 11
15
Blates as
Aston isn't a former polly.... UCE is, not Aston or Birmingham
I was about to post that! Aston University is over 100 years old, so not the oldest of pre-1992 unis, but older than a lot!!! Certainly older than the 'Plate Glass ' universities such as Reading, Bath, Warwick and York. Take a look at their foundation dates...
--------------
Roger Kirk
I think it was aound 1992 when most had their status changed.
Indeed, hence the fact the first wave are known as '1992 Universities'... All all called 'Post-1992 Uniiversities', mainly by older uni's who hate the fact that some ex polys are better than they are
Polytechnics (called 'Central Institutions' in Scotland) were designed to train people vocationally, and these courses are still 'new Uni's' best offerings. The best allied healthcare, physio, OT etc degrees are offered by 'ex-Polys; as that's what they were set up to do...
Pre-1992, when you applied to uni you applied through UCCA for University and PCAS for Polytechnics. The two processes were merged into what is now UCAS.
--------------
Zakatu
Yes, some ex-polys are very good. But its worth noting that no ex-poly is in the top 10 universities.
And only 10 of the older ones are
Reply 12
16
Reading isn't a 'plate-glass' university - it's one of the most red-brick ones you can get! It was an extension college of Oxford at first, after all.
Reply 13
15
Kew
Reading isn't a 'plate-glass' university - it's one of the most red-brick ones you can get! It was an extension college of Oxford at first, after all.
Really? When I had a PhD interview there (in AMS) the lab head told me it was 'Plate Glass'...!
Reply 14
16
Fluffy
Really? When I had a PhD interview there (in AMS) the lab head told me it was 'Plate Glass'...!
Yep. I was at Reading in my first year, living in Wantage Hall, which was the original hall of residence built for the first lot of students, back in 1908 - apparently it was the first purpose-built hall of residence in the country, other than Oxbridge colleges. That was when only the London Road campus existed.
That's how come Wantage Hall (ah the memories!) is so much like an Oxbridge college...
Reply 15
15
Kewl! I'd never heard the term before my interview, so took it as gospel...
I know Bath, York and Warwick are all 1960's inventions.
To judge the true worth of an ex-poly, give them another 30 years and see where they are. 10 years ago, some of todays top UK pre-1992 univesities were seen as *****/not anywhere near as strong as they are today...
I know Bath, York and Warwick are all 1960's inventions.
To judge the true worth of an ex-poly, give them another 30 years and see where they are. 10 years ago, some of todays top UK pre-1992 univesities were seen as *****/not anywhere near as strong as they are today...
Reply 16
The 60s univeristies, or plate-glass universities are the following:
Brunel University
University of Bath
University of Bradford
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Kent
University of Keele
Lancaster University
University of Stirling
University of Sussex
University of Warwick
University of Ulster
University of York
so a fair few top 20 unis in there.
Brunel University
University of Bath
University of Bradford
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Kent
University of Keele
Lancaster University
University of Stirling
University of Sussex
University of Warwick
University of Ulster
University of York
so a fair few top 20 unis in there.
Reply 17
15
Roger Kirk
The 60s univeristies, or plate-glass universities are the following:
Brunel University
University of Bath
University of Bradford
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Kent
University of Keele
Lancaster University
University of Stirling
University of Sussex
University of Warwick
University of Ulster
University of York
so a fair few top 20 unis in there.
Brunel University
University of Bath
University of Bradford
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Kent
University of Keele
Lancaster University
University of Stirling
University of Sussex
University of Warwick
University of Ulster
University of York
so a fair few top 20 unis in there.
Ahh! The good old copy and paste from wiki!
Reply 18
Roger Kirk
The 60s univeristies, or plate-glass universities are the following:
Brunel University
University of Bath
University of Bradford
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Kent
University of Keele
Lancaster University
University of Stirling
University of Sussex
University of Warwick
University of Ulster
University of York
so a fair few top 20 unis in there.
Brunel University
University of Bath
University of Bradford
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Kent
University of Keele
Lancaster University
University of Stirling
University of Sussex
University of Warwick
University of Ulster
University of York
so a fair few top 20 unis in there.
Only Warwick, York and Bath are among the 20 ( using the Times list )
Reply 19
Don't regard a university as an ex poly, look at where it is today instead. Oxford Brookes is a fine example and even MMU has got its act together a lot these days.
Some ex polys are extremely woeful, but some are very very good for certain courses. Also forget the league tables, for varius reasons the league tables can be cruel to ex polys as they are often located in poorer areas, poorer areas can mean high drop out rates even though there is nothing wrong with the course itself.
Just go to the best university you can but also one you will feel happy at.
Some ex polys are extremely woeful, but some are very very good for certain courses. Also forget the league tables, for varius reasons the league tables can be cruel to ex polys as they are often located in poorer areas, poorer areas can mean high drop out rates even though there is nothing wrong with the course itself.
Just go to the best university you can but also one you will feel happy at.
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