Higher Education in Great Britain

Pre-reading task: Answer the following questions:

1. What do you know about higher education in Great Britain?

2.What do you think are the oldest universities inGreat Britain?

3. Would you like to study at Oxford University?

There are many academic institutions in Great Britain that make up the system of higher education.

Universities have traditionally been regarded as centres of academic learning, in contrast to polytechnics, which have focused on vocational (work-related) education. However, this distinction has gradually disappeared.

You can also study at colleges of higher education. These institutions are generally smaller than universities, and tend to concentrate on more specialized fields of study, such as education, art and design, music and drama.

There are about one hundred universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Manchester, Liverpool.

The most common requirements for admission to establishments of higher education are General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and good A-level results. Universities choose their students after interviews.

English universities differ from each other in date of foundation, size, history, general organization, methods of instruction, way of student life.

The academic year in Britain’s universities, polytechnics, colleges of education is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.

After 3 years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Later he/she may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an important feature of university work.

Ex.17 Answer the questions:

1. What used to be the difference between universities and polytechnics?

2. What are the differences between universities and colleges of higher education?

3. What are the admission requirements?

4. How many terms does the academic year consist of?

5. When does the first term begin?

6. What degrees are awarded at British universities?

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