HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

When higher education of Great Britain is being spoken about the University education is generally meant. But in fact there is a considerable amount of pоst-school education, including part-time as well as full-time studies carried on in technical colleges, teacher training colleges, art colleges, institutes of adult education and so on.

There are some 90 universities, which enjoy academic freedom. Every University is autonomous and responsible to its governing body. The regulations differ from University to University. While there are similarities between them, they all differ from Oxford and Cambridge, where are a number of separate colleges, each with their own regulations and courses of studies. The new, so-called ”red-brick” Universities are divided into various faculties: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, etc.

University degree courses are generally being taken for three, four or even five years. University teaching combines lectures practical classes and small group teaching in either seminars or tutorials. The last is a traditional feature of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

First degree courses are mainly full time and usually last three years, with longer courses in subjects such as medicine. Universities offer courses in a broad range of academic and vocational subjects, including traditional arts subjects, the humanities, and science and technology. The government encourages young people to choose degree courses in subjects, or combinations of subjects, that provide the knowledge and skills required by a technologically advanced economy.

Over 95 percent of students on first degree and comparable higher education courses receive government grants covering tuition and accommodation and other maintenance expenses. Parents also contribute, the amount depending on their income. In addition, students can take out loans to help pay their maintenance costs.

ADD TO YOUR ACTIVE VOCABULARY:

post-school education – образование, получаемое после окончания школы

in fact – фактически, на самом деле

part-time studies – заочная форма обучения

full-time studies –очная форма обучения

as well as – так же как и

to be responsible to – быть ответственным за …

to take a course – выбирать курс

a broad range of academic and vocational subjects – широкий выбор академических и профессиональных предметов

humanities – гуманитарный

teacher training college – педагогический институт

to carry on – продолжать

to provide knowledge – обеспечивать знаниями

to receive government grants – получать правительственные гранты

maintenance expenses – расходы на обучение

Ex. 1. Answer the questions:

1. What is the system of higher education in Great Britain?

2. What does higher education consist of?

3. How many Universities are there in Great Britain at present?

4. Who is every university responsible to?

5. For how many years are university degree courses taken?

6. What does university teaching combine?

7. Where is a traditional feature of Cambridge and Oxford?

8. How many years do first degree courses last?

9. What courses does University offer?

10. Who does the government encourage?

11. Why does the government encourage young people?

12. What do students on first degree receive?

13. What do parents contribute?

14. What can students take out to help pay their maintenance costs?

Ex. 2. Transcribe, read and translate the following words:

Generally, considerable, amount, equivalent, experienced, expansion, enjoy, autonomous, responsible, regulations, governing, similarities, Oxford, Cambridge, various, faculty, degree, course, lectures, tutorials, feature, mainly, medicine, broad, range, academic, vocational, humanities, science, technology, government, encourage, choose, require, comparable, tuition, maintenance.

Ex. 3. Complete the following sentences:

1. The post-school education is carried on in.... 2. Higher education, consisting of degree and equivalent courses, has experienced.... 3. Every University is autonomous and responsible to.... 4. University teaching combines.... 5. Universities offer courses in a.... 6. The government encourages young people to.... 7. Parents also contribute the amount....

Ex. 4. Say if it is right:

1. Part-time and full-time studies are carried on only at Universities. 2. British higher education consists of degree and equivalent courses. 3. Every University is autonomous and responsible to its government body. 4. There are great difference between various Universities. 5. University degree courses are generally being taken for four years. 6. Lectures and practical classes are traditional for teaching at Oxford and Cambridge. 7. First degree courses are both full-time and part-time. 8. Universities offer courses in a broad range of academic and vocational subjects. 9. All students on first degree receive government grant. 10. Students can take out loans to help pay their maintenance costs.

Ex. 5. Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs if necessary:

1. There is a demand... a better and more democratic system... education... Great Britain. 2. The students of all the groups are responsible... their dean. 3. The regulations differ... university... university... Great Britain. 4. Our institute is divided... various departments. 5. Our university degree courses are taken... four or five years... Ukraine. 6. The students were speaking... their forthcoming exams. 7. Women as well as men have equal rights... education... our country.