THE prospect of heading out to sit on hard seats in a lecture theatre four nights a week will strike many people as either madness or masochism. But there has been no shortage of takers for UCD's modular BA programme which makes such demands and at present there are roughly 700 students at various points in the study cycle. The programme began in 1992 and the first group of just over 100 graduates were conferred. last May.
Next October will mark the sixth intake of students and those interested in applying for a place or getting information about the course structure need to start doing something about it soon. The Modular BA office can be telephoned at (01) 706 8241 or faxed at (01) 706 1163. It will send out all relevant details about subject options and how to apply through the CAO. An information evening about the programme will be held on January 22nd in Theatre O, Arts Building, UCD, starting at 7.30pm.
The modular structure allows students to complete a degree at their own pace. But for those who want to go by "fast track" it can be done in four years. This means taking two subjects together and spending four nights a week at UCD. Lectures begin at 6.30pm and go on for three hours, which is a punishing schedule for anyone taking it on after a day's work.
The director of the programme, Dr Alan Harrison, says that modular students have extraordinary levels of stamina and staying power. "I'm constantly amazed by the commitment of the modular students," he says. "Many travel long distances to get here. Many come here after work and many have taken on the course without any history of study at third level. But their belief in what they're doing seems to drive them in a way you rarely see with day time undergraduates. It seems to be a question of focus. Those who come at night really want to be here and they become totally absorbed in their subjects."
Proof of this is in the exam results which show a comparatively low failure rate among the night students. "We expect a 10 to 15 per cent failure rate in first year with day students, but the rate among, night students is about five per cent," says Harrison.
However, assessing the drop out rate from the programme is more difficult as students are free to opt in and out as suits them. But Harrison believes that the numbers who drop out completely are small.
Last year the college had almost 700 enquiries from people interested in the programme. But the enquiry level usually pans out at roughly 150 firm applications and offers of places are then made to about 140 people. Potential students have to be aged 20 or over to apply and those in the 25 to 35 age group constitute - the single biggest group within the programme. However, age is no barrier and the most senior students are in their Seventies.
In October the BA Modular programme will have a choice of 12 subjects on offer at foundation level. Subjects are divided into two blocks and those opting to do two subjects choose one from each. For those with other qualifications, such as modules completed with the Open University, it may be possible to get exemptions and it would be worth discussing this possibility with the college.
According to Alan Harrison, the Modular BA is "pretty much open entry". By this he means that those without Leaving Cert or who do not satisfy matriculation criteria can apply on grounds of mature years provided they are over 23 years of age.
People without an academic track record have to make their case for a place on the CAO form and, says Harrison, only a handful of applications are refused. "Unless there is a real negative we are willing to let people have a go," he says. "But if we feel there is a reason why someone is unlikely to succeed then we will not cynically take their money from them knowing they will probably fail."
Examples of "a real negative" would be an applicant with literacy or language problems. But Harrison stresses that the exam results show that those without academic qualifications usually do very well. Succeeding on the programme, he says, has a lot to do with commitment and enthusiasm.
COST can a stumbling block to admission. The fee is £690 a year per module and no grants are available to modular BA students. It's possible to get tax relief on the fees but only if the applicant does not already have a primary degree. "The whole issue of fees is a very live one with the evening students," says Harrison. "We have a file full of hardship cases which we can't do anything about because the resources are not there to help these people."
He feels strongly about a system which enables people "to get as far as our door and then cuts off their support".
