Higher education in great Britain

1. Read and translate the texts given below:

Pupils going on to higher education or professional training usually take "A" level examinations in two or three subjects. Universities accept students mainly on the basis of their "A" level results, although they may interview them as well. In 1971 the Open University was started, where these formal qualifications are not necessary. Nearly a quarter of all adult part-time students follow its degree courses on radio and television.

There are forty-seven universities in Britain and thirty former polytechnics (now also universities), plus 350 colleges and institutes of higher education (some of which train teachers).

Undergraduate courses normally take three years of full-time study, although a number of subjects take longer, including medicine, architecture and foreign languages (where courses include a year abroad). They lead in most cases to a Bachelor's degree in Arts or Science. There are various postgraduate degrees, including Master and Doctor of Philosophy. The last two are awarded for research in arts or sciences. Degrees are awarded either by the institution itself, or by the Council for National Academic Awards, particularly in vocational areas. Students of law, architecture and some other professions can take qualifications awarded by their own professional bodies instead of degrees.

At present, students who have been accepted by universities or other institutions of higher education receive a grant from their local authority, which covers the cost of the course, and may cover living expenses. Parents with higher incomes are expected to make a contribution. Until 1990 the grant did not have to be paid back, but now a system of loans has been introduced.

The most famous universities are Oxford and Cambridge, called "Oxbridge". They are famous for their academic excellence.

 

Learn the vocabulary.

higher education - высшее образование

to go on to higher education - продолжить образование в вузе

professional training - профессиональная подготовка

to take one's "A" level examinations in - сдавать экзамены продвинутого уровня по (какому-либо предмету)

to accept students - принимать студентов

on the basis of "A" level results - на основе результатов экзаменов продвинутого уровня

to interview smb. - провести собеседование с кем-либо

the Open University - открытый университет

formal qualifications - формальные результаты

an adult student - взрослый студент

a part-time student студент - заочник или вечерник

to follow a degree course - проходить курс, ведущий кполучению степени

a former polytechnic - бывший политехнический институт

an institute of higher education - институт, вуз

an undergraduate course - курс для студентов

to take... years - занимать... лет

full-time study - дневное обучение

a Bachelor's degree in Arts or Science - степень бакалавра гуманитарных или естественных наук

a postgraduate degree - ученая степень (присуждается после обучения в аспирантуре или докторантуре)

Master of Philosophy - магистр гуманитарных наук

to be awarded for smth. research in Arts or Sciences - присуждаться за что-либо исследования в области гуманитарных или естественных наук

the Council for National Academic Awards - Национальный совет по присуждению ученых степеней

a vocational area - область профессионального обучения

to take qualifications - сдавать экзамены

a professional body - профессиональный орган

to receive a grant - получать стипендию

a local authority - местный орган власти

to cover the cost of smth. - покрывать расходы на что-либо

living expenses - стоимость проживания

to make a contribution зд.: - возместить часть расходов

to pay smth. back - возвратить что-либо

to introduce a system of loans - ввести систему займов

to be famous for academic excellence - быть известным великолепным качеством обучения

 

3. Answer the questions:

1. What is necessary to go on to higher education?

2. What types of higher educational establishments are there in the UK?

3. What courses of study are offered by higher education establishments?

4. What is the procedure of awarding degrees?

5. What are the conditions of receiving grants?

6. What are the Oxbridge universities famous for?

 

4. Translate into English:

1. В университеты принимают студентов в соответствии с результатами сдачи ими экзаменов продвинутого уровня.

2. В открытом университете не нужны формальные результаты; курс обучения предполагает получение степени.

3. В открытом университете учатся взрослые студенты-вечерники и заочники.

4. Вузы Великобритании подразделяются на следующие типы: университеты (в том числе бывшие политехнические институты), колледжи и институты.

5. Обучение на дневном отделении обычно длится три года и более.

6. Обучение студентов обычно приводит к получению степени бакалавра гуманитарных или естественных наук.

7. Степень магистра присуждается за исследования в области гуманитарных или естественных наук.

8. Экзамены на присуждение степеней сдаются в вузе, Национальном совете по присуждению ученых степеней или в профессиональных органах.

9. Студенты получают стипендии от местных органов власти, которые обязательно покрывают стоимость обучения и иногда — стоимость проживания.

10. Была введена система займов, и сейчас студенты должны возвратить стипендию.

 

CAMBRIDGE

Read the text.

Cambridge is one of the two main universities of England which is located at the Cam River. It was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. The University consists of (состоит из) 24 different colleges including 4 colleges for women. Each college is self-governing (самоуправляется).

The head of the University is the chancelor who is elected for life. The teachers are commonly called «dons» and «tutors». Part of the teaching is by means of lectures organized by the University. Besides lectures teaching is carried out by tutorial system for which Cambridge University is famous all over the world. This is a system of individual tuition (обучения) organized by the colleges.

Each student has a tutor who practically guides him through the whole course of studies. The tutor plans the student's work and once a week the student goes to his tutor to discuss his work with him. The training course lasts 4 years. The academic year is divided into 3 terms. The students study natural and technical sciences, law, history, languages, geography and many other subjects.

After three years of study a student may proceed (получить ученую степень) to a Bachelor's degree, and later to the degrees of Master and Doctor. Students are required to wear gowns (мантия) at lectures, in the University library, in the street in the evening, for dinners in the colleges and for official visits. All the students must pay for their education, examinations, books, laboratories, univer­sity hostel, the use of libraries, etc. Very few students get grants. Not many children from the working class families are able to get higher education, as the cost is high. The cost of education depends on the college and speciality.

A number of great men, well-known scientists and writers stud­ied at Cambridge. Among them are: Erasmus, the great Dutch scholar, Bacon, the philosopher, Milton and Byron, the poets, Cromwell, the soldier, Newton and Darwin, the scientists.

Retell the text.

 

1. Read and translate the texts given below:

 

HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE USA

There is no national system of higher education in the United States. Higher education is given in colleges and universities. There are over 2100 various higher educational institutions, including colleges, technological institutes and universities. The average col­lege course of study is 4 years. The academic year is usually 9 months or 2 terms (semesters) of four and a half months each. Classes usually begin in September and end in June. The first-year students are called freshmen.

Students choose a major subject (профилирующий предмет, дисциплина) and take many courses in this subject. After four years, they get a traditional Bachelor's degree. Then the students may go on to graduate school (старшие курсы) and with a year or two of further study get a Master's degree.

After another year or two of study and research, they may get a still higher degree as Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.). The student's progress is evaluated by means of tests, term works and final exami­nations in each course. The student's work is given a mark, usually on a five point scale (5-балльная система). Letters indicate the level of achievement. «А» is the highest mark. «F» denotes a failure.

Most American colleges and universities charge for tuition. The methods of instruction in the universities are lectures, discussions, laboratory and course works and seminars.

Most cities have colleges or universities that hold classes at night as well as in daytime. In this way people may work for a de­gree or just take a course in the subject that interests them.