Student course session mode (SCSMODE)

01 Full-time

With reference to code 01, the funding councils have agreed that a common definition of full-time is that course years must involve a minimum of 24 weeks study and have an average of 21 hours a week study, tuition or work experience (note that this definition does not apply to full-time final year students in providers in Wales or Scotland). Each funding council may also have further additional conditions. HESA will apply the 24-week rule to its definition of full-time in publications i.e. full-time will be all those students coded 01 in this field, together with all those students coded 02 and whose expected length of study is 24 weeks or more.

02 Other full time

Students who study at a full-time intensity but whose StudentCourseSession does not involve 24 weeks study should be recorded as 02 Other full time. If a student leaves early, mode should be recorded in accordance with what was planned. So, if the student intended to complete 24 weeks or more full-time study, they should be recorded with a mode of 01 Full time even if they leave before they have completed 24 weeks.

03 Accelerated full time

Code 03 'Accelerated full time' is only valid for providers in England.

Accelerated courses provide students with the opportunity to study for a qualification over a shorter period of time than is typical, by increasing the intensity of study during the academic year. For example, a first degree being completed in 2 years instead of the usual 3 years or an HND completed in 12 months instead of the usual 2 years. Accelerated provision can occur at any level of qualification.

A variety of terms is in use for qualifications which are accelerated, including fast-track, two-year, compressed, time-compressed, condensed and intensive.

Part-time

Code 31 Part-time, can only be used by providers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Codes 38 and 39 can only be used by providers in Scotland.