Letter: Sandwich courses

Sir: Your article on "The degree explosion" (Magazine, 24 June) makes plain that six of the top 10 universities in an employment league table were founded in the Sixties. A further fact of considerable interest is that five of those six are universities that offer students sandwich courses. These are often with prestigious placements in places such as the European Council for Nuclear Research, the National Physical Laboratory and other government research laboratories and large public companies.

The experience and knowledge of work gained by such students, not only in the sciences and engineering but also in many other areas, is of great benefit to them in job-finding afterwards. The salary helps, too - most students are paid on placement. The surprising fact is that students in schools seem largely unaware of the benefits of such courses.

Yours faithfully,

R. A. L. Sullivan

Bath