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Undergraduate workloads
This thread is directed at people who are already at a university and I would be very grateful for any information provided about the following topics, which I will use in some research I am planning:
What is your university and degree subject?
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
How long are the essays/papers?
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Thanks
What is your university and degree subject?
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
How long are the essays/papers?
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Thanks
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
W.A.S Hewins
What is your university and degree subject?
Formerly University of Glasgow and Neuroscience.
W.A.S Hewins
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
This question is more suited to arts but roughly 20 probably.
W.A.S Hewins
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
No.
W.A.S Hewins
How long are the essays/papers?
Variable and again hard to answer for a science subject. Essay questions would be several pages long whereas Chemistry had a more generic short question slightly longer answer format. Each paper would probably take roughly 2-3 hours to do competently.
W.A.S Hewins
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
As essays and papers done outside of exam conditions did not contribute to the overrall grade it was fairly informal, generally they would be submitted to a tutor or lab assistant for marking depending on subject.
What is your university and degree subject?-
Nottingham and Politics
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)? In the first year, 6 per semester.
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment? -Yes
How long are the essays/papers?- 1500-2000 words.
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?- submit them for grading.
Nottingham and Politics
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)? In the first year, 6 per semester.
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment? -Yes
How long are the essays/papers?- 1500-2000 words.
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?- submit them for grading.
Reply 3
What is your university and degree subject?
Manchester - Politics and international relations
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
about 4 a term
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
didn't in first year, do now in second year
How long are the essays/papers?
range between 2,000 and 6,000 words
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
formally submit them
Manchester - Politics and international relations
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
about 4 a term
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
didn't in first year, do now in second year
How long are the essays/papers?
range between 2,000 and 6,000 words
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
formally submit them
Reply 4
Thanks to those who have contributed so far, I look forward to receiving more material from other contributors, or even comments/ comparisons from those who have already given data.
W.A.S Hewins
What is your university and degree subject
Sheffield, 2nd year Politics
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
Depends how many modules you're doing and how they're spread out over the year. In my first year I had 5 essays the first semester, and 3 essays and two group projects in the second semester.
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
For most modules they form 50% of the total module mark, with the other 50% by exam.
How long are the essays/papers?
Varies from short ones of 1000 words to up to 4000 words.
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Just hand them in.
What is your university and degree subject?
Plymouth University, BSc Human Biosciences
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
About 6 per semester in the first year. More in later years...
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
Yep, they all do.
How long are the essays/papers?
1500-2500 words.
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Submit for grading.
Hope that helps!
Plymouth University, BSc Human Biosciences
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
About 6 per semester in the first year. More in later years...
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
Yep, they all do.
How long are the essays/papers?
1500-2500 words.
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Submit for grading.
Hope that helps!
Reply 7
W.A.S Hewins
What is your university and degree subject?
university of york, english language and linguistics
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
3 maximum, minimum 0!
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
some do, some don't
How long are the essays/papers?
depends, some are only short (1000 words), but the major assessed pieces are about 3000 - 5000
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
as i said before, the smaller pieces are often used in tutorial groups, but the larger are submited for assessment
basically, my course is a complete doss
W.A.S Hewins
What is your university and degree subject?
Cambridge, Computer Science.
W.A.S Hewins
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
Erm, well they aren't really essays as we tend to do work for supervisions, of which we're expected to have about 3 per week (24 per term, say).
W.A.S Hewins
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
No, but during the first and second years there are weekly labs that range between 2 and 6hours to complete each and they are part of our formal assessment.
W.A.S Hewins
How long are the essays/papers?
How long are the essays/papers?
Each supervision work could reasonably be expected to be between 4 and 12 sides of A4. If there's a lot of maths involved it might possibly go over that, but it'd be rare. (Thin ruled paper
)W.A.S Hewins
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
The lab work is formally submitted, the supervision work is submitted informally, marked and then discussed in the supervision.
Alaric.
What is your university and degree subject?
Kings College London - Law (LLB)
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
8
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
No
How long are the essays/papers?
2000-3000
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Formally submit them for grading, but also sometimes read sections out and debate them.
[Note: Maybe 8 essays a term doesnt sound like a lot, but we, like most law students probably, have an incredible amount of note-making to do!]
Kings College London - Law (LLB)
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
8
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
No
How long are the essays/papers?
2000-3000
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Formally submit them for grading, but also sometimes read sections out and debate them.
[Note: Maybe 8 essays a term doesnt sound like a lot, but we, like most law students probably, have an incredible amount of note-making to do!]
Reply 10
What is your university and degree subject?
Durham- History & Politics (1st year)
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
6 (1 per module, 6 modules)
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
The 3 history essays count toward the final mark for the first year, but not towards my degree.
How long are the essays/papers?
Around 2000 words each
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
The essays get submitted for grading and also get put through plagiarism software. We also have to do at least one presentation per module a year which is the same amount of work as an essay and requires the creation of a hand-out.
Durham- History & Politics (1st year)
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
6 (1 per module, 6 modules)
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
The 3 history essays count toward the final mark for the first year, but not towards my degree.
How long are the essays/papers?
Around 2000 words each
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
The essays get submitted for grading and also get put through plagiarism software. We also have to do at least one presentation per module a year which is the same amount of work as an essay and requires the creation of a hand-out.
Reply 11
Course :Multimedia and Internet Technology
I won't go into full details but a typical 10 credit assigment would consist of writting a program such as a website with a shopping basket or a windows based calaculator than can handle presidence and has many functions. Write a 3000 word report on this.
My main project consists of producing a website which allows you to order PCs built to specifcation, you choose the specifcation and it checks everything is compatable before completing the order. The system also has fully intergrated stock control and CMS system. The report for this project is 10,000 words but the apendix will also probably be around 5000 words excluding code.
I won't go into full details but a typical 10 credit assigment would consist of writting a program such as a website with a shopping basket or a windows based calaculator than can handle presidence and has many functions. Write a 3000 word report on this.
My main project consists of producing a website which allows you to order PCs built to specifcation, you choose the specifcation and it checks everything is compatable before completing the order. The system also has fully intergrated stock control and CMS system. The report for this project is 10,000 words but the apendix will also probably be around 5000 words excluding code.
What is your university and degree subject?
Lincoln College, Oxford
MPhys Physics (currently doing 1st yr)
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses) etc etc?
We don't have essays, but weekly I usually get 1/2 problem sheets for Physics, 2/3 for Maths and will soon be getting 1 for Circuit Theory. These all have to be done to go over in tutorials. I generally find that for each tutorial I will be doing around 3hours or more of work. This depends on how hard it is and how quickly I give up!!! We also are expected to go over any lecture notes, make additional notes, read books etc. Also probably spend about an hour preparing for my weekly practicals (7hrs in lab).
None of this work contributes towards our final grades, although we have to complete a minimum no. of days of "satisfactory" lab work in order to be able to take exams.
Good luck with your research.
Lincoln College, Oxford
MPhys Physics (currently doing 1st yr)
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses) etc etc?
We don't have essays, but weekly I usually get 1/2 problem sheets for Physics, 2/3 for Maths and will soon be getting 1 for Circuit Theory. These all have to be done to go over in tutorials. I generally find that for each tutorial I will be doing around 3hours or more of work. This depends on how hard it is and how quickly I give up!!! We also are expected to go over any lecture notes, make additional notes, read books etc. Also probably spend about an hour preparing for my weekly practicals (7hrs in lab).
None of this work contributes towards our final grades, although we have to complete a minimum no. of days of "satisfactory" lab work in order to be able to take exams.
Good luck with your research.
What is your university and degree subject?
University of Warwick - Computer Systems Engineering
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
Well we don't write essays or papers but on average we'll get maybe two or three programming assignments, a lab report and a few (five or six maybe) question sheets. Sometimes we have big group projects too (e.g. next term we do a group programming assignment over 10 weeks). There are also questions sheets available (one per week) for several modules if you want the practise, though these aren't marked.
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
Yes.
How long are the essays/papers?
Well the question sheets usually have about 5 questions or 10 multiple choice for example. Lab reports will be about 10-20 pages and programs can be as long as you make them!
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Not really a relevant question for my course but I'll try and apply it to it anyway... We formally submit all the work for grading but they are marked in different ways. For example, last year a whole module was marked entirely through peer review (i.e. you mark other people's work and they mark yours). Sometimes you get to go and discuss your work with a tutor and they assign your grade based on your program and how you explain it.
Hope that helps a bit and good luck with your research.
Jenn xx
Reply 14
Thank you all for your replies. Feel free to add further comments, even if you have already contributed.
Reply 15
Oxford, Economics & Management
Typically two essays per week, hence sixteen per term. Length varies by tutors' preferences, but typically 2000 words (1500-3000). None count for my degree whatsoever, and most are handed in (I don't know about "formally") for marking.
Typically two essays per week, hence sixteen per term. Length varies by tutors' preferences, but typically 2000 words (1500-3000). None count for my degree whatsoever, and most are handed in (I don't know about "formally") for marking.
Reply 16
Oxford, PPE
3 per week, 24 per term. Plus the occasional Maths problem sheet, maybe an extra 4 per term.
They don't count towards the degree classification.
Depends, normally between 2,500 to 3,500 words.
About as formally as informal allows. For example, they were marked properly, but we did go over them in tutorials.
3 per week, 24 per term. Plus the occasional Maths problem sheet, maybe an extra 4 per term.
They don't count towards the degree classification.
Depends, normally between 2,500 to 3,500 words.
About as formally as informal allows. For example, they were marked properly, but we did go over them in tutorials.
W.A.S Hewins
This thread is directed at people who are already at a university and I would be very grateful for any information provided about the following topics, which I will use in some research I am planning:
What is your university and degree subject?
Cambridge, Classics
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
9 this term
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
nope
How long are the essays/papers?
1,500-2,000 words
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
submit them for grading, then discuss in a tutorial group
Thanks
What is your university and degree subject?
Cambridge, Classics
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
9 this term
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
nope
How long are the essays/papers?
1,500-2,000 words
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
submit them for grading, then discuss in a tutorial group
Thanks
....
What is your university and degree subject?
University of East Anglia, 2nd year chemistry
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
Don't have essays - the bulk of my work is either lab reports (one for each lab, currently have 2 labs each week so 2 reports a week), or coursework which we're given for most modules, every couple of weeks.
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
Yep, again it depends on which module as to how much it contributes to the final mark.
How long are the essays/papers?
Its hard to say how long they are - lab reports aren't very long (2-3 pages typed A4) but can take hours to research the information properly, and set it out in the style of a proper scientific journal. Coursework mainly involves mechanisms and stuff and not much worded stuff. Each piece of work I do usually takes about 3 hours.
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Yep, though with coursework we have tutorials as well once the coursework has been submitted and marked to go over it, so we can see where we had problems and have it explained in smaller groups etc.
University of East Anglia, 2nd year chemistry
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
Don't have essays - the bulk of my work is either lab reports (one for each lab, currently have 2 labs each week so 2 reports a week), or coursework which we're given for most modules, every couple of weeks.
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
Yep, again it depends on which module as to how much it contributes to the final mark.
How long are the essays/papers?
Its hard to say how long they are - lab reports aren't very long (2-3 pages typed A4) but can take hours to research the information properly, and set it out in the style of a proper scientific journal. Coursework mainly involves mechanisms and stuff and not much worded stuff. Each piece of work I do usually takes about 3 hours.
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
Yep, though with coursework we have tutorials as well once the coursework has been submitted and marked to go over it, so we can see where we had problems and have it explained in smaller groups etc.
What is your university and degree subject?
Univerity of St Andrews MA Economics (1st yr) but also doing modules in management n social anthro
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
economics- none but every 2 weeks we have the biggest sheet of mathsy economic questions for our tutorials which are compulsory. also 2 exams a semester and a final big one at the end of semester.
Management - none, again 2 exams and one big exam at the end of semsester and for these tutorials it is generally reading and short questions.
social anthropology 2 essays one exam and loads of reseach n background reading for tutorials
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
we have two small assessments for each subject which determine whether we can continue onto next semester (permission to proceed) and then a big exam at the end. they dont count but u need to pass!
How long are the essays/papers?
short exams last for 40 mins, and the essays ive had to do are 1200-1500 words
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
our assessed work has to be submitted formally ie the exams n essays, work for tutorials is discussed but if ya turn up without it ya can get kicked out n again this hinders your permission to proceed to proceed!
THEY AINT STRICT OR ANYTHING!!! PAH!
Univerity of St Andrews MA Economics (1st yr) but also doing modules in management n social anthro
How many essays/papers are you expected to write per term (including all your courses)?
economics- none but every 2 weeks we have the biggest sheet of mathsy economic questions for our tutorials which are compulsory. also 2 exams a semester and a final big one at the end of semester.
Management - none, again 2 exams and one big exam at the end of semsester and for these tutorials it is generally reading and short questions.
social anthropology 2 essays one exam and loads of reseach n background reading for tutorials
Do the essays/papers contribute to your formal assessment?
we have two small assessments for each subject which determine whether we can continue onto next semester (permission to proceed) and then a big exam at the end. they dont count but u need to pass!
How long are the essays/papers?
short exams last for 40 mins, and the essays ive had to do are 1200-1500 words
Do you formally have to submit the essays for grading, or do you read them to a tutor/tutorial group?
our assessed work has to be submitted formally ie the exams n essays, work for tutorials is discussed but if ya turn up without it ya can get kicked out n again this hinders your permission to proceed to proceed!
THEY AINT STRICT OR ANYTHING!!! PAH!
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