Higher Education in Britain

In Britain higher education is got mainly at universities and colleges of higher education. They accept students with “A” levels from 18. Students study for a degree which takes on average 3 years of fulltime study. Most students graduate at 21 or 22 and are conferred their degree at a special graduation ceremony.

The oldest universities in Britain are Oxford and Cambridge dating from the 12^th and 13^th centuries. The largest is the University of London (London University) which was founded in 1836. About 80 000 (eighty thousand) students study at London University.

Admission to the university is by exams and selection. Women are admitted on equal terms with men, but the general proportion of men to women students is three to one, At Oxford it is six to one, and at Cambridge ten to one.

A college is sometimes a part of a university. For instance (например), the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London are composed of groups of largely autonomous colleges. A college may be quite independent. There is a great number of different colleges – technical, commercial, colleges of art, science, medicine, etc.

After passing his\her examinations a university graduate will leave with the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA), Science (BS), Medicine (BM), Music (BMus), Laws (LLB), etc.

 

Vocabulary

1. accept – принимать

2. degree – степень

3. on average – в среднем

4. fulltime study – очная форма обучения

5. to graduate (from) – окончить высшее учебное заведение

а  graduate – выпускник

6. confer – присуждать, присваивать (степень)

7. graduation ceremony – торжественная церемония по поводу окончания вуза

8. date from – существовать (с какого-то времени)

9. found (was founded) – основать (был основан)

10. admission – прием

11. on equal terms – на равных правах, условиях

12. be composed (of) – состоять (из)

13. bachelor –  бакалавр

Bachelor of Arts – бакалавр гуманитарных наук

Bachelor of Science – бакалавр естественных наук

Bachelor of Laws – бакалавр права

 

Questions

1. Are “A” level exams needed to enter a university or a college of higher education in Britain?

2. Do the applicants (абитуриенты) have to pass exams to be admitted to the universities?

3. Are women admitted on equal terms with men?

4. What are the oldest universities in Britain?

5. What is the largest university?

6. When was it founded?

7. What can you say about the composition (состав) of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London?

8. What degree is conferred (присваивается) on a university graduate?

 

Упр. 2. Прочитайте текст и выполните задания к нему.

Oxford University

Oxford University was founded in the 12^th century as an aristocratic university and has remained so to the present day. The University consists of 32 colleges – 27 colleges for men and 5 colleges for women. There are 16 faculties there. Each college is a completely autonomous body, governed by its own laws. A large college has about 500 students, a small one – about a hundred.

The term of studies lasts for 10 weeks. There are three terms in the Oxford academic year.

Within the first week the freshman meets his tutor who tells the student about his plans, the lectures which he must take, about the requirements for the examination which he will take, about the course of reading for him. Attendance at lectures is not compulsory. Once every week each undergraduate goes to his tutor to read out an essay which he has written and discuss this essay with the tutor.

At the beginning or end of each term the progress of the students is tested by the college examinations.

They pay great attention to athletics at the University. The students are engaged in different kinds of sports, take part in competitions between Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

This is how a student spends his day. His working hours are from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. At 9 o`clock he sees his tutor or goes to the library, or attends lectures. From 2p.m. to 5p.m. he is engaged in sports. From 5p.m. to 7p.m. he works in the library or laboratory. At 7 o`clock they have dinner-time. After dinner the students have club activities.

By 10 o`clock the students must be in the college, as most of the students live in the college, only some of them live in lodgings in the town.

The doors of Oxford University are not open to all. The majority of the students are graduates of private schools, so Oxford University remains an aristocratic university to the present day.

Vocabulary

1. college – высшее учебное заведение, в котором учатся 3 года и получают специальное образование (техническое, гуманитарное, медицинское и др.) Колледж может существовать как самостоятельная единица, а также может входить в состав университета.

2. university – вуз, состоящий из колледжей различных специальностей (срок обучения 3 года). Выпускник получает степень бакалавра.

3. remain – оставаться

4. consist (of) – состоять(из)

5. autonomous body – самостоятельное заведение (орган)

6. govern – управлять

7. term of studies – курс обучения

term – семестр

8. within – в течение

9. freshman – первокурсник undergraduate – студент, учащийся вуза (университета или университетского колледжа)

10.  tutor – в английских университетах – это преподаватель, ведущий практические занятия; он следит за учебой и дисциплиной студентов  

11.   requirements – требования

12. attendance at lectures is not compulsory – посещение лекций необязательно

13. essay – эссе, сочинение

14. the progress is tested – успехи проверяются

15. pay attention to – уделять внимание

16. be engaged in – быть занятым чем-либо

17. take pert (in)  – принимать участие (в)

18. take club activities – участвовать в работе кружка

19. live in lodgings – снимать комнату

20. majority of – большинство

 

Выберите правильный вариант и прочтите предложение:

1. Oxford University was founded (in the 11^th century; in the 12^th century).

2. The University consists of (32; 27) colleges.

3. The Oxford academic year consists of (3; 2) terms.

 4. The tutor tells the freshman about (the requirements for the examinations which he will take; the undergraduates of the University).

5. (Once a term; twice a term) the undergraduates take examinations.

6. Attendance at lectures is (compulsory; not compulsory).

7. (At the end of the term; once every week) each student reads out his essay to his tutor and discusses it with him.

8. During the working day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. a student (meets his tutor, works in the library or in the laboratory; has club activities, debating societies).

9. The majority of the students of Oxford University are (children of the working people; children of the wealthy).

 

Упр. 3. Прочитайте текст и подготовьте сообщение об учебе в Московском финансово-юридическом университете.

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