Higher Education in Great Britain

Read the following text and answer the questions.

Substitute the words and word combinations in bold type with those similar in meaning used in the text.

Students are accepted by British Universities largely on the basis of the results of their GCSE examinations. On the form sent by the UCCA a candidate has to write down the names of the universities beginning the list with the ones he prefers most and ending it with those least preferred. He may state that if not admitted to these universities, he would be willing to go to any other. Each applicant is first considered by the office at the university responsible for admission procedures. In some cases the board sends the applicant a refusal. As a rule, the department makes an offer according to which the candidate will be accepted on certain conditions. When the university admissions department sends the candidate a definite offer, he must express his agreement or disagreement to be admitted to the university within three days and nights.

4) Answer the questions:

1. Where should school leavers in Britain apply to if they want to go to university?

2. What does a candidate write on the UCCA form?

3. What papers are sent to the UCCA along with the completed UCCA form?

4. What does the UCCA do with the applicant's papers?

5. What university groups consider the applications for admission?

6. What decision may be sent to the applicant?

7. When is a definite offer sent to the applicant?

8. How long is the time period within which the candidate must accept or refuse a definite offer?

9. What is the admission procedure in Russia?

5) Discuss:

Compare the admission procedures in Britain and in Russia in terms of convenience. Which is more convenient for applicants? For universities?

"Higher Education" in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which currently consists of some 96 universities and 70 or so Colleges of Higher Education, means the stage of education which follows after one obtains qualifications equivalent to the Advanced Level of the General Certificate of Education.

In Scotland, the qualifying examinations are called "Highers", and some students take a Certificate of Sixth Year Studies, which is similar to A-levels. The concept of universal education was accepted in Scotland as early as the sixteenth century, long before such views prevailed elsewhere in Britain. St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities were established in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Universities in Britain are divided into three types: 1. The old established universities, such as Oxford (founded 1249), Cambridge and Edinburgh. Oxford and Cambridge together are often called Oxbridge. 2. The 19th century universities such as London and Manchester. 3. The new universities established after World War II, such as Essex, Lancaster, The New University of Ulster.

The higher education system consists of Universities, Colleges of Higher Education and a number of small specialised colleges in areas of study such as Fine Art, Music and Agriculture.

Students or undergraduates can complete their first (Bachelor's) Degree - a minimum of three years. Law degrees and some others require four years of study, while medicine takes longer. Students awarded their Bachelor's Degree are called graduates.

Universities, and to a limited extent Colleges of Higher Education, offer a wide range of one-year, or sometimes two-year, taught graduate courses leading to a Master's Degree.

Universities also offer research degrees (Doctor's Degrees), which have a very limited taught element, and are an opportunity to undertake research over a period of, generally, at least three years. The period for the award of a research degree is not laid out: it depends on the progress made. Students working for their Master's and Doctor's Degrees are called postgraduates.

Most UK universities are keen to increase their numbers of postgraduate students. Many of the leading UK universities are looking forward to the development of Graduate Schools, Major research-based universities, such as Birmingham, Durham, Manchester, Sheffield and Warwick, have taken the initiative in setting up Graduate Schools, reflecting the very high level accorded to postgraduate activities in these institutions.

UK universities offer full time programmes and also part-time and distance learning programmes. An academic year is divided into three terms of about 10 weeks each.

In 1971 the Open University was established, where the formal qualifications (GCSE A-levels) are not necessary. Nearly a quarter of all adult part-time students participate in its degree courses on radio and television.

2) Match the words from the text and their definitions given below:

A first university degree, usually requiring at least four years of full-time college study.

A university degree that you can get by studying for one or two years after the bachelor’s degree.

The highest level of degree given by a university, it is usually based on a programme requiring at least two academic years of original research.

An advanced stage of education that takes place after a student has finished a university degree.

A method of study that involves working at home and sending your work to your teacher.

The qualifying examinations in Scotland.

3) Answer the questions using the information given in the text:

1. What qualifications are necessary for admission to university in the UK?

2. When were the first Scottish universities established?

3. What are three types of universities in Britain?

4. What is the minimum period of time for completing a Bachelor's Degree?

5. What is the difference between undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates?

6. How can one receive a Master's Degree?

7. What is the normal route for the award of a research degree (a Doctor's Degree)?

8. How is the Open University different from other universities?

4) Match the Russian education terms and their English equivalents. Mark the latter as British (Br) or American (Am):

1. государственные школы	a. 1) nursery school 2) kindergarten
2. директор школы	b. 1) secondary school 2) high school
3. детские ясли	c. 1) headmaster/headmistress 2) principal
4. детский сад	d. 1) state schools 2) public schools
5. начальная школа	e. 1) streaming 2) tracking
6. средняя школа	f. 1) public/independent schools 2) private/independent schools
7. класс (ступень обучения)	g. 1) the General Certificate of Secondary Education 2) High School Diploma
8. колледж, готовящий к поступлению в вуз или колледж начального высшего образования	h. 1) grade 2) class/year/form
9. частные школы	i. 1) mark 2) grade
10. деление на потоки	j. 1) community/junior college 2) sixth-form/tertiary college
11. оценка	k. 1) elementary school 2) primary school
12. аттестат об окончании средней школы	l. 1) day nursery 2) nursery school

5) Supply full word combinations for the following initial abbreviations:

1. ACT	5. PhD	9. AS	13. MSc
2. SAT	6. MA	10. AAS	14. MBA
3. BA	7. EdD	11. Bed	15. GCSE
4. BS	8. AA	12. MEd	16. UCCA

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29