This field is used to indicate the normal elapsed time in the units indicated by Student.UNITLGTH from the commencement of study, (the first learning/teaching week) to completion of the instance. This will normally include time for examinations. It does not purport to indicate the amount of study time, learning time or contact time.

All students

To monitor patterns of study; to define an estimated completion date.

An instance lasting for two and a half years would be coded 30 months.

This is based on the Instance.SPLENGTH field in the Student record, with the additional restriction in this record that all courses should be assigned a defined length.

This should be the length applicable to the instance as a whole even if particular students may have different lengths of study, e.g. because of direct entry into the second year.

Where there are both part-time and full-time students following a programme of study, the expected length of study should be the normal length applicable for the mode of study of the student.

Where a course length is not clearly defined, institutions are advised to code the maximum length of time that the course is funded.

Length of study includes holiday time.