University Education in Great Britain

There are 46 universities in Britain. But not all the universities are equal. They differ from one another in history, tradition, and academic organization. Not all British universities are backed by a well-known reputation.

Oxford and Cambridge, the oldest universities, are world-known for their academic excellence. The University of London has size and breath to rank among the UK’s top universities.

A university usually consists of colleges. The departments of the colleges are organized into faculties.

University teaching in the UK differs greatly at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels from that in many other countries.

An undergraduate program consists of a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes, which in total account last for about 15 hours per week.

Following a particular program a student takes a series of lecture courses, which may last one academic term or the whole year. Associate with each lecture course are seminars, tutorials, laboratory classes that illustrate the topics presented in the lectures.

Lectures are given to large groups of students (from 20 to 200). Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and in some departments can be on a one-to-one basis (one member of the staff and one student).

Lectures, seminars and tutorials are all one hour in length, laboratory classes last two or three hours. Each student has a tutor whom he can consult on matter whether academic or personal.

The academic year is split into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in the first two terms, which last for twenty-four weeks in total. The third term is reserved for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks.

After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. He can continue to take his Master’s Degree and then the Doctor’s Degree.

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OXBRIDGE

Two universities, Oxford and Cambridge, Oxbridge, as they are sometimes jointly called, for seven hundred years dominated British education, and today they dominate more than ever. The students of Oxbridge make up one of the most elite elites in the world. Many great men studied here. Among them Bacon, the philosopher, Milton, the poet, Cromwell, the soldier, and Newton, the scientist. Many prominent Conservative and Labour leaders and ministers, members of the Royal family studied there too.

Today Oxford and Cambridge have less than one-tenth of all British university students (less than 1% of Britain’s population). Only a small per cent of the candidates are chosen- mainly on the results of the written examinations.

The division between Oxford and Redbrick is sharp. The division is essentially a class one. A large per cent of Oxford undergraduates come from public schools. Only since the 1870s women have been admitted and the women’s colleges constitute only 12% of the Oxbridge population.

Oxford and Cambridge preserve an antique way of life in the midst of the twentieth century. Oxbridge is only in session half the year. Both Oxford and Cambridge now consist of self-governing colleges where students live. The students have lectures and tutorials. Each student has a tutor who tells him to write papers on the subjects he is studying. Tutors are responsible for the students’ progress.

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The Open University

A university that calls itself 'The Open University' suggests (предполагает) that all other universities are closed. And this is true, because they are closed to everyone who does not have the time, the opportunity (возможности) or the qualifications to study there. For these people, who missed (упустить) the chance of going to a conventional university, 'The Open University' was set up in 1967.

Most of its students work at home or in full-time jobs and can study only in their free time. They need to study about ten hours a week. As the university is truly "open", there are no formal entry requirements (вступительных экзаменов) (none of the usual "A" Level examinations are asked for), and students are accepted (приниматься) on a "first come, first served" basis. This is one of the more revolutionary aspects of the university.

Its students are therefore of all ages and come from very different backgrounds (происхождение). Some, such as teachers, want to improve (улучшить) their qualifications. Others, like retired people (пенсионеры) or mothers whose families have grown up, are at the O. U. because they now have the time to do something they have always wanted to do.

Returning to "school" is difficult for most students, for they have forgotten — or never knew — how to study, to write essays, and to prepare for exams. In addition to all the reading and writing assignments (задание), students have got a lot of watching and listening to do, for there are weekly O. U. lectures broadcast on BBC television and radio.

To keep people from just giving up or collapsing under all this work, each student gets the help and support of his own tutor/counselor, who he meets regularly and can telephone in any crisis or difficulty. At the meetings, students get to know other students on the course and join (объединяться) with them into "self-help" groups. These groups meet in each others homes to discuss the texts and assignments; here too they find support and stimulation.

By the time the exams come in October, you feel much more confident (уверенный) and optimistic about your return to student life. Your final mark is based on the exam and the written assignments done during the year.

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US Education

Americans place a high value on education. Universal access to quality education has been one of the nation’s historic goals.

America’s first college, Harvard was founded in 1636. In 1865 education was becoming available to all. The peculiar feature of American education is the absence of national administration.

After graduating from secondary school a growing number of Americans go to higher education. American institutes of higher education include: technical training schools, community colleges; colleges offering four-year bachelor degree programs; and universities which contain one or more colleges and graduate school offering masters or doctoral degree programs. The factors determining an institution’s prestige are the quality of the teaching factory; quality of research facilities; the number and competence of applicants for admission.

After the first two years every university student majors in one subject and minors in another. In addition to these major and minor courses he can select other subjects according to his professional interest.

After completing four years of study the students receive a Bachelor Degree (either B.A. or B.S.) with an additional year of study he may receive a Master’s Degree and after two or three years of graduate work and writing of the dissertation he receives a Doctorate Degree.

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