Getting a Higher Education in the UK

Getting a Higher Education in the UK

If you want to get a higher education and to enter university, you must first pass exams that most students take at the age of 18 (called A-levels). Students must do well to get a place at university.

Students at university are called (1) ____________________ while they are studying for their first degree. Most students have to pay tuition fees and can get student loans towards these and their living expenses.

Most university courses last three years. Assessment takes place at the end of each year. In most cases this takes the form of a three-hour written exam for each subject (or paper), though some are assessed by coursework. During this period students can say they are studying for or doing their first degree.

Today, the most common undergraduate degrees given are the (2)________________________ (BA) and the (3)_____________________ (BSc). When you complete your first degree, you graduate from university with a Bachelor’s degree and now you are a (4)_________________________.

Some students then go on to a postgraduate course. These students are (5)_________________________ and they often study for a (6)_________________________ (MA), or a (7)______________________ (MSc), or a (8)___________________________(PhD[1]).

In the UK one of the qualifications that can be obtained from a British college of higher education or after two years' study at a university is a Diploma of Higher Education. A diploma is higher than a certificate but below the standard of a bachelor's degree.

Diplomas are undergraduate awards that are usually taught in career based subjects like business, computing, fashion design, media, travel and tourism. Diploma programmes focus on developing practical skills and can significantly improve your career prospects in your chosen industry or profession. Many diplomas also provide study pathways to bachelor degrees at UK universities.

Find out which degree (BA or BSc) mostly would be awarded to:

- undergraduates majoring in languages / history / social sciences / law;

- undergraduates majoring in biology / physics / chemistry / computer science.

(b) Search the text from (a) for the English equivalents of the following phrases:

1) получить высшее образование;

2) поступить в университет;

3) учиться на получение первой (ученой) степени;

4) (Amer.) специализироваться по какому-либо предмету;

5) оценивать по курсовой работе;

6) оценка / оценивание;

7) сдавать экзамены;

8) сдать экзамены;

9) оканчивать университет со степенью бакалавра;

10) поступить / пойти в магистратуру или аспирантуру;

11) улучшить свои перспективы карьерного роста;

12) платить за обучение;

(c) Answer the questions:

1. What’s the school-leaving age in your country?

2. Do you need to pass exams before you can go to university?

3. How long do most degree courses last in Great Britain? What about your country?

4. Do all students who successfully complete a university or college course obtain a degree?

5. What is the equivalent of the British BA and BSc in Russia?

6. Do we have similar postgraduate degrees in our country?

(d) Fill the gaps in the table with the levels of student in an American university (in order of seniority). Some of the terms are becoming common in the UK.

“It was tough being a freshman because I wasn’t used to such difficult finals, but life got a bit easier when I became a sophomore. It was easy enough as a junior, but then it got tough again when I was a senior. As a graduate student, I get to attend seminars with some of the top people in my field.”

1)	a first-year undergraduate
2)	a second-year student (from Greek sophos ‘wise’ and moros ‘dull’)
3)	a third-year student
4)	a fourth-year student
5)	smb who has completed a university degree, especially a first degree

2. (a) Complete the Higher Education Glossary with the terms given below.

academic supervisor admissions tutor alumnus[2]

Campus Dean distance learning freshers week

Gap year halls of residence journal lecture lecturer

Mature student plagiarism professor seminar

Tutorial teaching

Tutors are experts in their field, and tutorials are a chance to get individualised teaching from world-leading academics. At least once a week in each subject studied, groups of two or three students will spend an hour with their tutor, discussing an essay or solutions to set problems.

A tutorial relies on the exchange of ideas between you, your tutor and other students. You need not be experienced in debating, you just need to be ready to present and substantiate your opinions, accept constructive criticism and listen to others. Tutorials are opportunities for tutors to help develop the skills to critically evaluate the topic being addressed.

This personalised attention means that you will face rigorous academic challenges on a weekly basis, facilitating your learning in a way that just is not possible in a lecture.

It also means that tutors are immediately aware if you need any extra support with any aspect of your course, so they can help you right away. Your tutor monitors your academic progress and encourages you to develop to your full potential.

In preparing for a tutorial, it is students’ responsibility to read the recommended material attentively. Students will often find that there is a lot of material to read and not all of it is relevant. One of the very important skills undergraduates need to develop is how to read thoughtfully, while skipping bits that are not relevant. ‘Skim reading’ is an important skill.

Tutorials develop your ability to think for yourself. It is not only an essential ability for academic success but also a skill that top employers look for in university graduates.

(a) Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text and in the video? (don’t forget to provide evidence):

TRUE	if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE	if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN	if there is no information on this

1. Tutorials are about developing the skills of critical thought and analysis. T

2. Tutorials are based around an essay, or questions and problems that undergraduates have been set the previous week.T

3. Students are asked to make a list of articles and books related to the topic.F

4. Tutorials provide opportunities for tutors to explain carefully what a student doesn’t understand or misunderstands.T

5. It is rare for newer universities in the UK to have the resources to offer individual tuition. NG?

6. Tutorials hinder rather than help develop independent thinking.F

7. During tutorials students should expect to have their ideas and arguments challenged, to be prepared to defend their position or to amend it as appropriate.F

(b) Complete the sentences. Use no more than four words from the text or the video.

1. ___Tutorials____________________ is at the core of teaching in Oxford.

2. A tutorial is a good way to ___explore____________________ the topic in depth.

3. For a tutorial you should write an essay of approximately ____two and half_______________ thousand words.

4. At the entrance interview tutors try to _________assess______________ whether an applicant is good at discussing things.

5. _____________. ‘Skim reading’ ____________ helps to cope with long lists of required reading.

4. Read the text and do the tasks below:

Useful phrases

At first glance it is clear that …

to account for

over a quarter

approximately a third

just under a half

a significant minority / majority

Focus on Vocabulary

Unit 8 “Live and Learn”

Vocabulary Commentary

on the text “How I Got My First-Class Degree”

Don’t spend too much time in the student lounge, do turn up for most lectures and tutorials and do submit all coursework - eventually. (1-2)

· to turn up – to arrive, appear; e.g. A total of 325 Tories failed to turn up for the House of Commons vote to guarantee European citizens the right to remain in the UK following the vote for Brexit. (The Independent)

· coursework - (uncountable) is carried out by students as part of a course of study and contributes towards their overall grade, but is assessed separately from their final exams.Coursework can take the form of short essays, extended essays, reports, presentations, etc. e.g. You are expected to submit all coursework (whether online or in hardcopy) on the published deadline. (London Metropolitan University website)

NOTE: «курсовая работа» as a countable noun – “term paper”, “course paper”, “research paper”

For a 2:1, I’d require a better attendance record and have to work harder, but not at the expense of being cut off from civilisation. (3-5)

· at the expense ofsth - to the detriment / harm of sth; e.g. Hedge funds are notorious for making large profits in unstable markets - sometimes at the expense of a country's economic health, critics say. (The Herald Scotland)

And for a First I would have to become some sort of social outcast… (5-6)

· outcast - someone who is not accepted by the people they live among, or who has been forced out of their home; e.g. The Indian attitude to disability is changing: 25 years ago people with disabilities were seen as social outcasts; but now disabled children are gradually being accepted in the society. (The Guardian)

Sometimes I couldn’t be bothered to go to university and stayed at home instead. But I always knew where I was, what I had to do, and what not to bother with. (12-14)

Collections of selected readings or journal articles were excellent sources that often saved me the bother ofreading the original texts. (47-48)

· bother - (U.) trouble or difficulty that has been caused by small problems and that usually only continues for a short time;

to savesbthe bother ofdoing something - to make it possible for sb to avoid doing sth; e.g. Meaningless or hackneyed phrases are always ready to form the writer’s thoughts to save him the bother of thinking, or writing, clearly. (George Orwell)

to bother - to make the effort to do something; to annoy, worry or upset somebody;

sbcan't / couldn't be bothered(to do something)– (Brit.) used to say that you do not want to make the effort to do something, or that you are not interested in doing something; e.g. “Washington university students too busy, can't be botheredto vote.” (ABC News)

They wanted something different, inspirational, iconoclastic. (37-38)

· iconoclastic ideas / opinions / writings - attacking established beliefs and customs; e.g. …the obsession with the story of the iconoclastic CEO who drops out of college and starts a technology revolution. (Scientific American)

I sought shortcuts. (47)

· shortcut, n. - (C.) a path or route that is quicker and shorter than the usual way; a way of saving time or effort in doing smth, often a method that produces a result that is not good enough; e.g. Only rigorous adherence to law can discourage the populist temptation to seek shortcuts to solving problems. (The New Times)

I would flick through the book, read the introduction, note any summaries, look at diagrams, skim the index, and read any conclusions. (50-51)

· to flick through sth - to turn the pages of a book, magazine, newspaper etc very quickly; e.g. But over the next decade, you can expect to chat to friends whose language you don't share without stopping to flick througha dictionary. (BBC News)

· to skim (through / over) – to read quickly without reading every word so that you get an overall impression of a text or part of a text; e.g.Skimming is a high speed reading that can save time and help the readers get through lots of materials quickly. (“More Reading Power” by Mikulecky)

· to scan(through) for sth – to read a passage quickly searching for a particular word or term;e.g.Scan the text quickly for the names of the different people and underline each one in the text. (www.cambridge.org)

I prefer to be spontaneous and open-minded. (57)

· open-minded about / towards sth, adj. - willing to consider and accept other people's ideas; keeping an open mind on sth; unprejudiced;e.g. She is open-minded and is willing to listen to both sides of an argument.≠ narrow-minded;

Be a happy student by strikingthe rightbalance between working and enjoying yourself. (60)

· to strike a balance between sth. - to make a compromise; to give the correct amount of importance or attention to two separate things; e.g. How to strike a balance betweenmainstream and targeted efforts for immigrant integration in Europe? (Podcasts; the University of Oxford)

From Ex. 1, p. 166-167

· to excel in/atsth – to be outstandingly good or proficient at sth; e.g. We believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to excel in education in order to secure a safe future for themselves.( thesundayschool.org.uk)

excellence, n. - (U.); e.g. NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellenceprovide up to $1,500 per year for up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State. (www.hesc.ny.gov)

· perseverance, n. - (U.) determination to keep trying to achieve sth over a long period in spite of difficulties; e.g. “The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other comes from a strong won't.” (H.W. Beecher)

· morale, n. - (U.) the level of confidence and enthusiasm that people have, esp. people who work together, who belong to the same team etc; to boost / raise / keep up / restore morale; e.g. low / high staff morale

NOTE: The moral of a story is the lesson that story teaches about how to behave in the world. Add an "e" and you have morale: the spirit a group has that makes them want to succeed. It's a sense of well-being that comes from confidence, usefulness, and purpose.

COMPARE: “Saudi Arabia blocked access to Facebook on moral grounds.” AND “Perks keep morale high at Michigan's top workplaces.”

· to prejudicesbagainstsb/sth - to influence sb so that they have an unfair or unreasonable opinion about sb/sth; e.g. An accused murderer isworried that his gigantic neck tattoo reading “Murder” might prejudice the jury. (The Daily Caller)

Search the Vocabulary Commentary for the equivalents of the following:

1) бегло просматривать / поверхностно знакомиться;

2) бросающий вызов традициям и авторитетам / критически настроенный / мятежный / дерзкий;

3) за счет / ценой экономического благосостояния;

4) избавить от необходимости писать;

5) изгой общества;

6) искать «кратчайший путь» / самый легкий способ;

7) не хочется / лень;

8) настойчивость / упорство / стойкость;

9) настраивать против / создавать предвзятое мнение;

10) непоявиться на работе;

11) ограниченный / недалёкий / с предрассудками / необъективный / предвзятый / узколобый;

12) отличиться / добиться блестящих результатов в учебе;

13) поднимать моральный / боевой дух;

14) пролистывать / бегло просматривать;

15) стипендия, назначаемая заблестящие / выдающиеся успехи в учебе;

16) установить баланс / найти компромисс / удачно совмещать;

17) широких взглядов / восприимчивый (к новым идеям) / непредубеждённый.

Vocabulary Exercises

1. Translate the following English phrases from the text “How I Got My First-Class Degree” into Russian:

1) did not give up my life for study;

2) I was usually behind with my reading;

3) I was occasionally mystified by the syllabus;

4) sometimes I couldn’t be bothered to go to university;

5) to have a feel for the education market and really sell your inspirations;

6) customers who fell into two broad categories;

7) to pull down monuments;

8) to rake over familiar ground;

9) every book on my reading list was out on long loan from the university library;

10) I sought shortcuts;

11) to skim the index;

12) to pluck out what was needed;

13) I prefer to be spontaneous and open-minded;

14) to strike the right balance between working and enjoying yourself.

2. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases:

1) диплом с отличием;

2) появиться на занятиях;

3) сдать все курсовые работы;

4) требовать лучшей посещаемости;

5) погруженный в научные книги;

6) усиленно работать на тем, что важно / идет в расчет;

7) избавить меня от необходимости читать оригиналы;

8) пролистать книгу;

9) составлять конспект;

10) относиться серьезно к тому, что делаешь.

3. Answer the following questions to the text (use the Vocabulary Commentary to answer 1-2).

1. How does students’ academic progress affect the class of the degrees that they are awarded?

2. What levels of an undergraduate degree are required to apply for a postgraduate degree?

3. What does it take to graduate from university with honours according to the PhD student from the article?

4. Did the author of the article devote all his time to studying?

5. What idea does one need to grasp to do well at university (according to the writer)?

6. What tactics did the author of the article employ to get better marks for his essays?

7. Did the writer read all the books from his reading list from cover to cover?

8. How did he revise for his exams?

9. What part of your time should be occupied by studying according to Marc McArdle?

4. Match the following words and phrases with their meanings:

Undergraduate perseverance

1) ________________	- attacking the opinions that most people accept;
2) ________________	- to get rid of sth that you no longer want or need; throw away;
3) ________________	- a person studying in a university for one’s first degree;
4) ________________	- a determined attitude that makes you continue trying to achieve sth difficult;
5) ________________	- sb who other people will not accept as a member of society;
6) ________________	- the amount of enthusiasm that people feel about their situation at a particular time.

5. Translate from Russian into English. Refer to the Vocabulary Commentary if necessary:

1. Он всегда добивался блестящих результатовв спорте.

__________________________________________________________________

2. С обычным талантом и необычным упорством – всё достижимо (attainable). - ______________________________________________________

3. Как поддержать высокий моральный дух работников?

__________________________________________________________________

4. Я не хочу хорошо выглядеть за счет здоровья.

__________________________________________________________________

5. Он не явился на занятия в понедельник. - ____________________________

6. У меня хватило времени только бегло ознакомиться с документами.

__________________________________________________________________

7. Она лениво (idly) пролистывала журнал. - ___________________________

8. Существует обеспокоенность, что сообщения в прессе могу создать предвзятое отношение у присяжных.

__________________________________________________________________

9. Мне нужно писать курсовую работу, но мне лень.

__________________________________________________________________

10. Cookies может избавить вас от необходимостивводить имя пользователя каждый раз, когда вы посещаете это сайт.

__________________________________________________________________

11. Советую тебе почитать о Стиве Джобсе: об его творческой энергии (creative drive), проницательности (vision) и мятежном / бросающем вызов устоямобразе жизни.

__________________________________________________________________

12. В Европе курильщикам часто кажется, что к ним относятся как к изгоямобщества. - ________________________________________________________

13. Молодежи следует удерживаться от искушения искать легкий путь к успеху. - __________________________________________________________

14. Ему было сложносовмещать / найти балансмежду семьей и работой.

__________________________________________________________________

Study Habits and Skills

6. (a) Match the verbs or phrases (from Ex. 3a, p. 168) to their definitions:

Cram edit revise highlight

Language Focus

10. (a) Use the words or phrases (from Ex. 1a, p. 168) to match the definitions:

Unified State Examination

Traditionally, in Russia universities and institutes conducted their own admission tests almost regardless of the applicants' school record. In 2003 the Ministry of Education launched the Unified state examination (USE) programme. The set of standardized tests for school-leavers, issued uniformly throughout the country was supposed to replace entrance exams to state universities.

Initially, the reformers reasoned, the USE will empower talented school-leavers from remote locations to compete for admissions at the country’s leading universities – located mainly in Moscow and St. Petersburg – on more equal and transparent terms, at the same time eliminating admission-related bribery.

However, the first few years after the exam’s introduction revealed a number of serious problems, the main one being mistrust of the integrity and transparency of the USE system. Unfortunately, the corruption pervasive in Russian society has left its mark on education, too. As a result, the media and – even more so – social networks are full of scandals about buying grades, leaking exams ahead of time, manipulating lists of university applicants, and so on.

Many university heads, notably Moscow State University rector Viktor Sadovnichiy, resisted the novelty, arguing that their schools cannot survive without charging the applicants with their own entrance hurdles. Nevertheless, in 2009 the USE became mandatory for the students and the universities.

Apart from accusations of insufficient transparency and corruption, the problem with the USE is that its existing model often fails to assess the applicant’s critical thinking skills, creativity, independent thinking, etc.

Moreover, the focus on standardized testing encourages teachers to equip students with a narrow set of skills that enhance test performance without actually fostering a deeper understanding of subject matter or key principles. The result is what is called “teaching to the test”, depriving students of the opportunity to study the most important and difficult subjects in the last year of school.

Scholastic Assessment Test

The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test for most college admissions in the US. The test does not mirror high school curriculum and it is intended to assess a student's readiness for college. The SAT measures literacy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. However, the test is administered under a tight time limit and this can cause brilliant students that are slow test takers to receive only average scores.

For decades many critics have accused designers of the verbal SAT of cultural bias toward the white and wealthy (for example, the choice of the correct answer for some questions was thought to require students' familiarity with regatta and rowing, a sport popular with the wealthy).

But test results in the US are not the only criterion for admission. These include a competitive evaluation of students’ written applications and interviews. In order to increase the transparency of the admissions process, evaluations of applications and especially interviews are conducted not only by professors but also by representatives of alumni associations and the employers of alumni (stakeholders). Obviously, this system allows admission boards to assess each applicant’s personal qualities and potential in greater depth.

A-levels

The A-level, or “Advanced Level” is a grade of education that is offered by schools and colleges and is an accepted form of qualification in the UK and some other countries. A-levels are usually taken after successful completion of a previous level of course, such as GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education).

The majority of students enrol onto an A-level course at the age of 16-18 as a prequel to application to a university. This is due to the high standard of entries to each university, meaning the institution requires a certain academic grade and subject of A-level in order for them to offer a student a place.

UK universities typically require students to pass three subjects at A-level, but you should check the entry requirements of the universities that you are considering. More and more students are taking five A-levels in order to have a broader range of top marks.

A-levels are generally a two-year course. They are assessed by a mixture of practical coursework and exams in both years. A-level coursework and exam results are graded on a scale from A* to E.

Within Great Britain A-level results have enjoyed a steady incline for the past quarter of a century, with results rising each year for the past twenty-five years in a row. 2007 saw a pass rate (a grade between A-E) of 97.5%. This caused a stir amongst educational bodies, prompting for harder exams or harder criteria in order to sort the best students worthy of a place at a top UK institution. Due to this many universities are introducing their own examination procedures including aptitude tests. It is decisions like this that put the future of A-levels into some serious doubt.

Some experts claim that the rise in grades is actually a drop in standards with students being given higher grades than they have actually earned.

Another point of criticism is that students are being ‘groomed’ for exams. By this they mean that students are being taught how to sit exams, not the actual subjects.

As previous years exam papers are freely given out as examples for practise many believe that students are being given an unfair advantage, as the questions are very likely to reoccur.

Yet another reason given for the continued rise in grades in the UK is the selection choices of the students with more ‘soft’ subjects being taken resulting in higher numbers of passes and high grades.

It is clear that grading and study of A-levels has by no means reached a ‘perfect’ equilibrium and it is likely that more reforms coming will be both hailed and dismissed by critics and advocates alike.

An Academic Course Description

21. (a) Read this extract from an Oxford University’s web page[12]. What skills do students master while taking this course?

Getting a Higher Education in the UK

If you want to get a higher education and to enter university, you must first pass exams that most students take at the age of 18 (called A-levels). Students must do well to get a place at university.

Students at university are called (1) ____________________ while they are studying for their first degree. Most students have to pay tuition fees and can get student loans towards these and their living expenses.

Most university courses last three years. Assessment takes place at the end of each year. In most cases this takes the form of a three-hour written exam for each subject (or paper), though some are assessed by coursework. During this period students can say they are studying for or doing their first degree.

Today, the most common undergraduate degrees given are the (2)________________________ (BA) and the (3)_____________________ (BSc). When you complete your first degree, you graduate from university with a Bachelor’s degree and now you are a (4)_________________________.

Some students then go on to a postgraduate course. These students are (5)_________________________ and they often study for a (6)_________________________ (MA), or a (7)______________________ (MSc), or a (8)___________________________(PhD[1]).

In the UK one of the qualifications that can be obtained from a British college of higher education or after two years' study at a university is a Diploma of Higher Education. A diploma is higher than a certificate but below the standard of a bachelor's degree.

Diplomas are undergraduate awards that are usually taught in career based subjects like business, computing, fashion design, media, travel and tourism. Diploma programmes focus on developing practical skills and can significantly improve your career prospects in your chosen industry or profession. Many diplomas also provide study pathways to bachelor degrees at UK universities.

Find out which degree (BA or BSc) mostly would be awarded to:

- undergraduates majoring in languages / history / social sciences / law;

- undergraduates majoring in biology / physics / chemistry / computer science.

(b) Search the text from (a) for the English equivalents of the following phrases:

1) получить высшее образование;

2) поступить в университет;

3) учиться на получение первой (ученой) степени;

4) (Amer.) специализироваться по какому-либо предмету;

5) оценивать по курсовой работе;

6) оценка / оценивание;

7) сдавать экзамены;

8) сдать экзамены;

9) оканчивать университет со степенью бакалавра;

10) поступить / пойти в магистратуру или аспирантуру;

11) улучшить свои перспективы карьерного роста;

12) платить за обучение;

(c) Answer the questions:

1. What’s the school-leaving age in your country?

2. Do you need to pass exams before you can go to university?

3. How long do most degree courses last in Great Britain? What about your country?

4. Do all students who successfully complete a university or college course obtain a degree?

5. What is the equivalent of the British BA and BSc in Russia?

6. Do we have similar postgraduate degrees in our country?

(d) Fill the gaps in the table with the levels of student in an American university (in order of seniority). Some of the terms are becoming common in the UK.

“It was tough being a freshman because I wasn’t used to such difficult finals, but life got a bit easier when I became a sophomore. It was easy enough as a junior, but then it got tough again when I was a senior. As a graduate student, I get to attend seminars with some of the top people in my field.”

1)	a first-year undergraduate
2)	a second-year student (from Greek sophos ‘wise’ and moros ‘dull’)
3)	a third-year student
4)	a fourth-year student
5)	smb who has completed a university degree, especially a first degree

2. (a) Complete the Higher Education Glossary with the terms given below.

academic supervisor admissions tutor alumnus[2]