How can I tell whether a department emphasizes hands-on learning?
Check the department’s official curriculum and course syllabi to see from which year and to what extent experiments, practical classes, exercises, design or fabrication, and graduation research are included. Facilities, student work, and assessment methods are also useful clues. At an open day or information session, look at examples of student work or practical activities and ask about the actual time, tasks, and process involved. This makes it easier to judge how strongly hands-on learning is emphasized.
Key points
- Use the curriculum and syllabi to check the timing, required or elective status, and content of practical or fabrication courses.
- Look for opportunities to use laboratories, workshops, or other facilities, and identify what students actually make or operate in class.
- Review student projects, graduation research, and assessment methods, and ask current students or faculty for concrete examples.
Things to check
- The amount and content of practical work can vary by university, faculty, course, academic year, and the subjects a student takes, so check the latest official information.