My degree course required me to gain a good understanding of the principals of my subject and answer detailed questions on them. The ATPLs, by contrast, require you to memorise lots of facts, without very much need to have any understanding of them in an intellectual or academic sense.
Hansard said: "I found the degree course... easier than the ATPLs." Personally, I agree, but I think it depends on the individual. If, like me, you're good at understanding things, you'll find a degree course easier. If you're good at memorising things, you'll find the ATPLs easier.
FFF
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