Paying for education is a problem. Read the following information to find out how Oxford University tries to help students cope with financial problems

Tuition Fees and Maintenance Grants

Home and European Union (EU) students in full-time higher education now have to contribute £1,025 per year as a share of their tuition fees.

This amount is the same as at all other universities, and is set by the government. Liability to meet this fee is, however, means-tested, ie the amount which you or your family has to contribute will depend on your own, and, if appropriate, your parents’ or spouse’s income.

Is Oxford Expensive?

Oxford is no more expensive than other universities and we make every effort to take the strain out of student finances. The colleges are able to offer accommodation and meals for most if not all of your time here and charges are very reasonable when compared with other universities. Students living in colleges are within easy walking distance of the city centre and all faculties, departments and libraries, with no extra transport costs to worry about.

Financial Assistance

The University and the colleges are very sympathetic to student hardship and are aware of the new financial pressures facing undergraduates. There is a considerable amount of funds available for hardship and the University and colleges are looking to extend these possibilites.

The colleges offer various financial awards and funds to their students, including:

Scholarships and Exhibitions – awarded after the first year for excellent academic achievement

Tutorial Prizes – for good, consistent work

Study Grants – to cover accommodation for students staying in Oxford in the vacation for academic projects

Travel Grants – to cover travel costs for a trip abroad related to academic work

Book Grants – to cover the cost of purchasing books essential to your degree course

Job Opportunities – some colleges can offer part-time work during terms and full-time opportunities to students during vacations, providing it does not interfere with their academic work

Hardship Funds – for students in financial need

The first sentence says that students in full-time higher education have to contribute £1,025 per year as a share of their tuition fees. How is the rest of tuition costs covered?

Comment on the sentence “Liability to meet this fee is, however, means-tested ”.

If a British student can not pay the tuition fee out of his own or his family income, where can he get the sum he needs?

What can you say about paid higher education in Ukraine? Compare the situation in this country with Great Britain.

What is your attitude to paid higher education in general? Give your arguments.

How do Ukrainian students cope with their financial problems? What do you think should be done to improve the situation?

Study the following overview of the US university system and make conclusions about specific features of higher education in the USA. Draw parallels with Great Britain and Ukraine.

The system of higher education in the United States differs from its counterparts in Europe in certain ways. In the United States, there is a nationwide assumption that students who have completed secondary school should have at least two years of university education. Hence, a great number of "junior colleges" and "community colleges" have sprung up to provide two years of undergraduate study, in contrast to the traditional universities and colleges, where a majority of students complete four years of study for a degree and where substantial numbers go on for one to three years of postgraduate study in a "graduate school”.

Universities that provide four-year study courses are either privately funded foundations or are state or city foundations that depend heavily on the government for financial support. Private universities and colleges depend largely on tuition charges levied on students. The individual state governments fund the nation's highly developed system of state universities, which ensure the provision of higher education for the vast majority of those willing and academically qualified to receive such education.

In the American system, the four-year, or "bachelor's," degree is ordinarily obtained not by passing a "finals" examination but rather by the accumulation of course "credits," or hours of classroom study. The quality of work done in these courses is assessed by means of a continuous record of marks and grades in a course transcript. The completion of a certain number (and variety) of courses with passing grades leads to the "bachelor's" degree.

The first two years of a student's studies are generally taken up with prescribed courses in a broad range of subject areas, along with some "elective" courses selected by the student. In the third and fourth years of study, the student specializes in one or perhaps two subject fields. Postgraduate students can pursue either advanced studies or research in one of the many graduate schools, which are usually specialized institutions. At these schools students work toward either a "master's" degree (which involves one to two years of postgraduate study) or a doctoral degree (which involves two to four years of study and other requirements).

A marked feature of American education that derives from the German model is the de-emphasis on lecture and examination. In both of these countries, students are evaluated according to their performance in individual courses where discussion and written essays figure importantly.

Higher educational institutions in the USA

Junior/Community College	University	Professional schools (Graduate Schools)
2 year degree program   AA/AS degree (Associate of Arts, Associate of Science)   offers certificate programs   usually state funded   very inexpensive   available to anyone	4 year degree program   BA/BS MA/MS PhD   either private or state funded   costs and admission requirements vary considerably	2-5 year programs for doctors, lawyers, dentists, vets   BA/BS required   either private or state funded

Student life

Schedule: Schedule is characterized by great flexibility – students are solely responsible for their education process, they make the schedule for themselves. What matters is the final amount of classes you have done.

Levels: To earn credit for a class one must pass with ‘C’ or better for General Education; ‘B’ for major classes

undergraduate students: Freshmen 1-29 units (1 unit=1 hour), Sophomore 30-59 units, Junior 60-89 units, Senior 90-120 units

graduate students: already have BA/BS and are working towards MA/MS

post-graduate students: already have MA/MS and are working towards PhD

Grades and examinations:

A

B

C

{D} will not receive units (credit) for class

{F}

Inc. Incomplete – student did not finish course

W Withdrawal – student left course before it finished

Students are usually tested twice during the semester.

Mid-term = middle of semester written test

Final exam = end of the semester exam; often, but not always comprehensive

Finals week = last week of the semester, students given all written exams or final research paper due

Dead week = last week (week before semester ends) when classes are cancelled or used as review

General Requirements for Bachelors Degree (4 year degree)

Major Area of Study (the Major) – 40 units required (1 unit=1 hour, 1 class=usually 3 units)

General Education (GE) – approx. 65 units required from various areas of study

Minor Area (Minor) – optional in any subject – approx. 20 units of study

Financial aid Depends upon your family income

Grants – state or federal government; based on academic performance or economic need

Scholarships – from university or private organizations; based on academic or athletic performance (usually)

Loans – given to almost every student from the federal government. They must be paid back beginning 6 months after graduation.

Work/Study – federal student aid program that gives university money to hire students to work at the university

Members of ethnical minorities usually get more possibilities to get financial aid.

Clubs and organizations

There are many clubs on campus which represent the many interests and hobbies of the students. A few are:

Fraternities and Sororities – a social club which members pay to join; they often raise money for charity

Student government – regulates clubs and activities on campus

Academic clubs – business, accounting, German, French, psychology, science, humanities, physics, etc.

Sports clubs – ski, table tennis, volleyball, karate, paint ball, surfing, etc.

Ethnic clubs – run by students of specific ethnic background to promote the traditions of their culture

Religious clubs – Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, etc.

Social clubs – International Students Club, Film Club, Poetry Club, etc.

Teachers’ Life