``The courses have been chosen to reflect a wide range of subject interests and to cater to people with different levels of background knowledge, as well as for their intrinsic appeal. Many classes are of an introductory nature and require no prior study. The classes are small, averaging 15 students, to complement the friendly, informal, interactive teaching style.

The emphasis is on seminars, but the teaching pattern can include a variety of learning situations. The courses are taught by Middlesex lecturers, supported where appropriate by outside practitioners. The courses can be either credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing, says Maroof Raza, regional director, Middlesex University, South Asian Region.

For the two-week summer course, the tuition fee is 2,500, inclusive of breakfast and dinner, sightseeing, river cruise and social events. The airfare has to be borne by the student.

Credit bearing courses offer the opportunity to earn credits towards university awards. Courses carry either 10 or 20 credit points based on the standard UK 1 20-credit academic year. Each 20-credit course consists of approximately 38 hours of class contact time (seminar, studio, fieldwork and/or lecture) supplemented as appropriate with individual tutorials. About half as much class contact time is involved in the 1O-credit modules.

Assessment varies from subject to subject, but most courses are based on a combination of course work and a final project or examination.

``If you wish to study purely out of interest, you are welcome to attend the course on an `audit only' basis, that is, attending all the classes, but undertaking no assessment. All accredited courses meet the university's high quality standards and are approved at the departmental level and by the central unit for academic development and quality,'' Raza adds.

He adds that Middlesex was one of the first UK universities to base its academic provision on credit accumulation. Students `earn as they learn', gaining academic credit for each course as it is successfully completed. These credit points lead to awards at Middlesex and other UK and overseas colleges and universities.

To allow for different credit systems, 20 UK credit points equals 5 North American credit points. Students may study for up to 10 credit points during the summer programme non-credit courses. These courses offer the opportunity to develop skills or interests and are mostly one day to one week in duration. Non-credit courses are not assessed and do not carry credits towards university awards. Students will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion of the course. A credit-bearing course can also be taken on a non-credit basis.

Many of the courses are taught over five weeks, although some are taught more intensively over a shorter period of time. Whenever possible, Friday afternoons are kept free of classes so that students can take advantage of longer weekends.

In addition to the course title, each course is given a course code of three letters and four numbers (eg INT1000, DRA3575), which is a shorthand form used by the university to categorise the courses. The letters refer to the subject area with which the course is associated (eg INT refers to the Information Technology subject area). Courses that are prefixed SUM are non-credit courses run solely during the summer or those awaiting validation for credit points.

The first figure of the code number pertains to the level of the course. Level 1 refers to the first year of a degree programme, level 2 to the intermediate level and level 3 to the final year honours level. While background subject knowledge is useful for level 1 courses, it is not essential. Courses at levels 2 or 3 are likely to require previous knowledge of the subject area. This knowledge may have been gained through formal or informal study or work experience.

Assessment requirements vary from course to course. Examinations take place on August 11, 14, 15 and 16, 2000. All course work is due on August 11, 2000. Some courses offer the opportunity to defer the assessment until the next opportunity (usually January or June of the next year). Where this is not allowed, check for `Self deferral not permitted' in the assessment section against each course listing.

Middlesex University offers a wide range of facilities across its summer campuses. Trent Park forms the premier campus of the Summer School, providing the halls of residence and the base for most of the summer courses.For this year's summer course, applications need to be processed by May 26, 2000, in India, Raza says.

For further information, contact Maroof Raza, B2/13, Safadarjung Enclave, New Delhi; Tel: (011) 619 8707-8.