Тема 5

Higher Education

Text 1

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 studies. 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 students study at London University.

Admission to the universities 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, the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London are composed of groups of 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 examinations a university graduate will leave with degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA), Science (BS), Medicine (BM), Music (BMus), Laws (LLB), etc.

Arts is the area in which imagination and personal taste are more important than exact measurement and calculation. That’s why History, Literature, and Teaching are among the arts subjects.

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

3. institute – это, как правило, научно-исследовательское учреждение.

4. degree – степень (ученая)

5. full-time education – очное обучение (по полной программе)

6. part-time education - вечернее (заочное) обучение

7. graduate (from) – оканчивать (выпускаться из) вуз

8. a graduate – выпускник

9. confer – присваивать (степень)

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

11. be founded – быть основанным

12. admit (admission) – принимать, зачислять (прем (зачисление))

13. on equal terms – на равных правах, условиях

14. be composed of – состоять из

15. arts – гуманитарные науки

16. science – точные (естественные) науки

17. bachelor – бакалавр

18. Bachelor of Arts – бакалавр гуманитарных наук

19. Bachelor of Science – бакалавр естественных наук

20. Bachelor of Laws – бакалавр права

21. imagination – воображение

22. exact – точный

23. measurement – измерение

24. calculation – вычисление

Ex. 1. Answer the questions:

1. Are “A” levels 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 university?

3. Are women admitted on equal terms with men?

4. What is the general proportion of men to women at Cambridge University?

5. What are the oldest universities in Britain?

6. What is the largest university?

7. When was it founded?

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

9. What degree is conferred on a university graduate?

10. Among what subjects are History, Literature and Teaching?