The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 30 October 2012.
Australia the most expensive study destination for UK students, report finds
A report by banking corporation HSBC has found that Australia is the most expensive place in the world for English students, reports The Australian. The current high value of the Australian dollar as compared to the British pound, in addition to high living costs and expensive flights are responsible for this. After Australia, the US, Canada and the UK itself are the most expensive destinations.
Credit to be offered for massive open online courses
Coursera, a company offering free online courses from some of the world’s leading universities, has entered into a deal with multi-campus US institution Antioch University which will see the latter awarding credit for the completion of Coursera modules, reports Inside Higher Education. This is the first instance of a provider of massive open online courses entering into such a collaboration, and may be an indication of a future where a full degree could be earned though a combination of course from different universities.
University College London to open new east London campus
University College London, ranked 4th in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings, has been given official permission to begin construction of a new center for science, technology, education and research in east London. The US$1.6 billion campus will be situated close to the site for the 2012 London Olympics, reports The Independent.
Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy hits US institutions
Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy has led to the temporary closure of several east-coast US institutions, with the evacuation of New York University Hospital, as reported by ABC News, among the more eye-catching examples. Ivy League universities have also extended application deadlines from November 1st as consequence of the storm, reports The LA Times.
New comedy degree launched at the UK’s Salford University
The UK’s Salford University (ranked 551-600) has launched a new degree which will teach students how to be comedians, reports The Guardian. The degree was launched by UK comic Peter Kay, who studied at the university. Salford, though not the first in the UK to offer a comedy degree (Southampton Solent holds this honor), it is known for pioneering new subjects, launching the world’s first pop music degree in 1992.