There is a considerable choice of post-school education in Britain. In addition to universities, there are also polytechnics and a series of different types of assisted colleges, such as colleges of technology, art, etc, which tend to provide more work-orientated courses than universities. Some of these courses are part-time, with the students being released by their employers for one day a week or longer periods.
Virtually all students on full-time courses receive grants or loans from the Government which cover their tuition fees and everyday expenses (accommodation, food, books, etc).
Universities in Britain enjoy complete academic freedom, choosing their own staff and deciding which students to admit, what and how to teach, and which degrees to award (first degrees are called Bachelor degrees). They are mainly government-funded, except for the totally independent University of Buckingham.
There is no automatic admission to university, as there are only a limited number of places (around 100,000) available each year. Candidates are accepted on the basis of their A-level results. Virtually all degree courses are full-time and most last three years (medical and veterinary courses last five or six years).
Students who obtain their Bachelor degree (graduates) can apply to take a further degree course, usually involving a mixture of exam courses and research. There are two different types of post-graduate courses — the master's degree (MA or MSc), which takes one or two years, and the higher degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which takes two or three years.
Vocabulary
grant — грант; дотация, субсидия
loans — заем, ссуда
tuition fees — плата за обучение
expenses — расходы
bachelor degree — степень Бакалавра
admission — прием
master's degree — степень Магистра
Questions
1) What is a choice of post-school education in Britain?
2) What do all students on full-time courses receive?
2) How are first degrees called?
3) Is there any automatic admission to university?
4) What are two different types of post-graduate courses?
Higher Education in Britain.
Only 25 per cent of the student population goes on to higher education. Competition to get into one of Britain's universities is fierce and not everyone who gets A-levels can go. Students usually need three A-levels to go to university and grades at A-level go from A, the highest grade, to E.
Students apply to universities months before they take their A-levels. The students are given a personal interview and the universities then decide which students they want. They offer them a place which depends on A-level results. The more popular university, the higher the grades it will ask for.
Most big towns in Britain have both a university and a college of higher education. A British university usually consists of colleges. The departments of the colleges are organized into faculties. There are 91 universities and 47 colleges of higher education in Britain. The most famous and prestigious universities are those in Oxford and Cambridge.
Universities offer three- and four-year degree courses. A degree is the qualification you get from university when you pass your final exams. You are then awarded a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science) or BEd (Bachelor of Education).
Students who are studying for degrees are called undergraduates. They go to large formal lectures, but most of the work takes place in tutorials: lessons in groups often or more when students discuss their work with the lecturer.
Most British students choose to go to university a long way from their home town. University is seen as a time to be independent, to live away from home and develop new interests. British students do not have to pay to go to university, but do need money to live away from home while they are studying. Some students whose parents do not earn a lot of money are given a grant from the local education authority. If students do not get a grant, parents are expected to pay for their children. In fact, the grant is not a lot of money. Students used to work during holidays to earn more money, but it is now difficult to find such jobs. The result is that more students are dropping out, failing to finish their courses.
Not all students study full time at university or college. Many people combine their studies with work. Large companies often have their own in-house training schemes. The British government very enthusiastic about such training schemes, because so few people go to university.
Vocabulary
grade — оценка, отметка
degree — (ученая) степень
to award — присуждать
bachelor — бакалавр
undergraduate — студент университета
tutorial — консультация, практическое занятие
grant — грант; дотация, субсидия, стипендия
to drop out (of) — бросать (учебу)
to study full time — учиться очно
Questions
1) Is it difficult to get a place at a university in Britain?
2) How long does a student have to study to take a UK degree? What kind of degrees can students be awarded?
3) What are the advantages and disadvantages of going to university or college in Britain?
4) What can students do if they don't get a grant and their parents refuse to pay for their education?
5) Do many British go on to higher education?
6) Would you like to enter any British university or college? Why?
7) What is necessary for a Belarusian student to go to university in Britain?
8) Can you compare British and Belarusian universities?