Higher Education in the United Kingdom

1. Pre-Reading Activities

Task I. Learn the words essential for identifying the main ideas of the text:

accessible (adj) – доступный

affiliated (adj) – являющийся филиалом

allow for – допускать, предусматривать

approach (n) – подход

approximately (adv) – приблизительно

assessment (n) – оценка, оценивание

bursary (n) – стипендия, грант

commitment (n) – обязательство

consistent (adj) – последовательный, логичный

contingent (adj) – зависящий

council (n) – совет

current (adj) – нынешний, действующий в настоящий момент

eligible (adj) – имеющий право

eliminate (v) – устранять, исключать

entitle (v) – давать право

extracurricular (adj) – внешкольный, факультативный, внеаудиторный

forward (v) – отправлять, посылать

framework (n) – система, структура, основы, рамки

income (n) – доход, заработок

index-linked (adj) – индексированный

Ivy League – Лига плюща (группа самых престижных частных колледжей и университетов на северо-востоке США)

league table – сравнительная таблица, таблица рейтингов

loan (n) – заем, ссуда, кредит

maintain (v) – поддерживать

maintenance (n) – средства к существованию

non-collegiate (adj) – не имеющий колледжей

obvious (adj) – очевидный

offset (v) – возмещать, компенсировать

peer-review (n) – экспертная оценка

plate glass – зеркальное стекло

plateglass universities – «стеклянные университеты»

predominantly (adv) – преимущественно

provisionally (adv) – предварительно

recreational (adj) – развлекательный, относящийся к сфере развлечений

reference (n) – отзыв, рекомендация

relevant (adj) – соответствующий, имеющий отношение

sacrifice (v) – жертвовать

set (n) – набор, комплект

sophisticated (adj) – сложный; современный

submit (v) – представлять, подавать

target (n) – цель

tutorial (n) – консультация, практическое занятие

undergraduate education – обучение в высшем учебном заведении

underpin (v) – поддерживать, подкреплять

Task II. Explain the following words and word combinations as you have understood them from the text:

comprise state-owned meet national expectations in no order of preference conditional offer

miss the conditions repayable extend transfer a wide array

B. Reading and Comprehension Activities

Task III. Go through the text and check your understanding by doing the tasks that follow:

The system of higher education in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland comprises universities, colleges of higher education and small specialized colleges in areas of study such as Fine Art, Music and Agriculture. Nowadays approximately 1.8 million students attend higher educational establishments in Britain. Higher education is a priority in the current policy of the British Government, with a target set to make education and training accessible full-time or part-time at times and places which suit individual needs.

Institutions of higher education in the UK are divided into the following types:

• Ancient universities, which were founded during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Since no universities were founded in the United Kingdom between the 16^th and 19^th century, the term ‘ancient university’ generally refers to higher educational institutions that were established before the 19^th century. The two top ancient universities are Oxford and Cambridge. Of the two Oxford seems to have been the earlier; probably it was founded in 1167-68. Oxford and Cambridge together are called Oxbridge. Oxbridge is often compared to the American Ivy League universities, but all Ivy League institutions are private universities, while Oxford and Cambridge are state-owned.

• ‘Redbrick universities’ such as Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester Universities. These universities were founded in the industrial parts of the cities in the 19^th century. They were named after the buildings they were housed in which were usually built with red brick. The main difference between redbrick and ancient universities is that Red Bricks were so called non-collegiate institutions and admitted men without regarding their religion or social background. Furthermore they concentrated on teaching predominantly practical subjects often linked to engineering.

• The ‘plateglass universities’ such as the University of Essex, Lancaster University, the University of Kent, etc. They were established in the 1960s at the Government’s initiative to satisfy the country’s needs in scientific and technological personnel. The term ‘plateglass’ reflects their modern architectural design, which often contains wide expanses of plate glass in steel or concrete frames.

• ‘New universities’ such as the University of Greenwich, the University of Westminster, Kingston University, etc. The term ‘new universities’ has recently been used to describe any of the former polytechnics or colleges of higher education that were given the status of universities in 1992, or colleges that have been granted university status since then, also called ‘post-1992 universities’ or ‘modern universities’. These universities have the poorest reputation among British higher educational establishments, and many of them regularly appear in bottom Tenth of league tables.

The British Government doesn’t think to build more new universities. There is a tendency to expand the old ones. The most interesting innovations are Open University and the University of the Third Age. The new era in higher education began in 1971 with the creation of the Open University where the formal qualifications (GCSE A-levels) are not necessary. It provides awards by distance learning. Some 150,000 students are following its courses now. Over the last forty years the Open University has become Britain’s largest university. It offers people a chance to study with one of the most prestigious centres of learning in the UK without sacrificing work or family commitments. People study at home using specially written texts, videos, TV and radio programmes and computers. The University of the Third Age is for the retired who just want to study without receiving any diplomas or degrees.

Higher educational institutions in Britain are autonomous self-governing bodies responsible only to their governing councils. All the institutions have legal power to develop their own courses, award their own degrees and determine the conditions on which they are awarded. Enjoying complete academic freedom they appoint their own staff and decide for themselves which students to admit.

Undergraduate education in Britain is largely state financed. Of the UK’s 325 institutions offering further and higher education, only one, the University of Buckingham, is private and receives no direct subsidy from the government. This contrasts with the USA, where approximately 25% of its higher education institutions are out of state control.

Academic standards are established and maintained by higher educational institutions themselves using an extensive and sophisticated range of quality assurance approaches and structures. Standards and quality in institutions are underpinned by universal use of external examiners, a standard set of indicators and other reports and by the activities of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and in professional areas by relevant Professional and Statutory Bodies. This ensures that institutions meet national expectations described in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. QAA conducts peer-review based on audits and reviews of higher education institutions with the opportunity for subject-based review as the need arises. Accuracy and adequacy of quality-related information published by the higher education institutions is also reviewed.

Students normally enter one of the British universities from 18 onwards. The most common requirement for entry to higher education is the General Certificate of Secondary Education at the advanced level (GCSE A-level). A-levels are normally taken by students in their final year of school and consist of up to three or four specialist subjects studied in considerable depth, involving coursework and final examinations.

As nearly all British higher educational institutions are members of University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), nearly all those wishing to study for a Bachelor’s degree in the UK must apply through UCAS, the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses. In case of Cambridge and Oxford, candidates should apply through UCAS and also directly to the university and they cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge at the same time.

Applicants submit to UCAS a single application with a list of up to six educational establishments for which they are applying, in no order of preference. All six choices are confidential during the application process so universities and colleges considering an application cannot see any of the candidate’s other choices. As well as the student’s personal details and a paragraph on their extracurricular interests, the UCAS form will carry details of their GCSE grades and an academic reference from the school which will include a prediction of the grades that the applicant is likely to obtain at A-level. The application is then forwarded by UCAS to the institutions applied to, and if a university or institution is impressed by the student’s UCAS form they will send him/her an offer of a place. Offers are either unconditional or conditional, i.e. dependent on obtaining certain stated A-level grades. Applicants are allowed to provisionally accept and hold a maximum of two offers. If the applicant has accepted conditional offers then he/she will automatically have a place at that institution if the requirements have been met by 1 September in the year of application. Final place confirmations are generally made in mid-August, when the results of the A-level and Higher Grade examinations become available. If candidates miss the conditions, a UCAS Clearing system offers candidates to apply for any course that has places at that time.

The system is complicated and allows for many different routes. Its advantages for both applicants and institutions are that it eliminates duplication of effort, and provides a fair and consistent framework within which both applicants and institutions can compete. From 2005 students can make applications online.

Tuition fees are set at a maximum index-linked £3,145 per year. If the student is not eligible for the Home Student status they will be charged as an Overseas Student and these range from about £6,000 up to about £10,000 per annum. At university level, there are numerous bursaries (awarded to low income applicants) to offset the undergraduate fees, with the state paying all fees for students from the poorest backgrounds. For postgraduates full scholarships are available for most subjects, awarded competitively. UK students are generally entitled to student loans for maintenance that are repayable after graduation and contingent on attaining a certain level of income.

The academic year usually begins in autumn and is divided into three terms, each term lasts from 8 to 10 weeks. Universities and colleges are responsible for providing the students with the information about the course, its aims, the qualification received and opportunities to continue education. Class sizes at British universities and other similar institutions are typically small and a mixture of lectures and tutorials are commonly given, plus practical work where relevant. Assessment is mainly by examinations held at the end of the course. Many degree courses also involve practical experience outside the university itself which may extend the length of the course from the normal three years to four. Repeating a year of study or transferring from one institution to another are both comparatively rare. Some universities are changing their attitudes about these possibilities but generally if students are working badly they simply lose their places.

Students or undergraduates can complete their first (Bachelor’s) degree in a minimum of three years. Law degrees and some others require four years of study, while medicine takes longer. Students awarded their Bachelor’s degree are called graduates. Some universities offer a vocationally-based foundation degree, typically two years in length for those students who hope to continue to take a Bachelor’s degree but wish to remain in employment. Students who have completed a first degree are eligible to undertake a postgraduate degree, which includes Master’s degree (typically taken in one year) and Doctor’s degree (typically taken in three years). Postgraduate education is not automatically financed by the state, and so admission is in practice highly competitive. It should be noted that a degree from any one British institution of higher education is considered to be academically equivalent to a degree from any other British institution of higher education. However, certain British universities carry, for historical reasons, extra prestige. Oxford and Cambridge are obvious examples, and competition for entry to these universities is so great that applicants typically require three A grades at A-level to earn a place.

At most universities students organize clubs and societies covering various areas such as sport, drama, debating, music, politics, and religion. Every university has a students’ union which provides a wide array of services for students, ranging from sports and special interests clubs to recreational and shopping facilities and student pubs. Student unions organize activities between and across the colleges, such as sports championships. They also deal with the administration representing student interests. The union is required to have a written constitution approved by the governing body. The reports of the union are published annually. Most student unions are affiliated with the National Union of Students, one of the biggest student organisations in the world.

Task IV. Look through the words in the text that have similar meanings to these:

1. dependent (1)

2. to fund (1)

3. goal (2)

4. contemporary (3)

5. to enlarge (2)

6. extent (2)

7. obtainable (2)

8. variety (3)

9. complex (2)

10. to involve (3)

Task V. The text contains a number of verb-noun partnerships. Match up these verbs and nouns to make collocations. Recall the contexts in which these combinations are used.

1. award	a. academic standards
2. apply	b. duplication of effort
3. establish	c. a certain level of income
4. submit	d. undergraduate fees
5. attain	e. a loan for maintenance
6. accept	f. a degree
7. eliminate	g. a wide array of services
8. offset	h. an application
9. provide	i. through UCAS
10. be entitled to	j. a conditional offer

Task VI. Read the text and use the suggested words to fill in each of the blanks:

attend academic fees study bursary available loans full-time grants first-year

Nowadays student debt is spiralling because of increasing tuition (1) … and the use of some commercial (2) … at very high rates, a report commissioned by the British Government suggests.

More than half of the students questioned said that money worries had affected their (3) … performance. One in 12 full-time students had considered dropping out because of financial problems.

The direct cost of going to university for (4) … students had risen by almost 70% between 2005 and 2008, the report found. Concerns about debt nearly stopped a quarter of (5) … and almost a third of part-time students from going to university.

The President of the National Union of Students said: “It is not acceptable that a third of students have to base their decisions about which university to (6) … or which course to (7) … on the amount of financial support which will be (8) … to them. We need a national (9) … scheme, so that all financial support is based on how much a student needs it, not where they happen to be studying.”

The Minister for Higher Education said: “Higher education remains one of the best pathways to a rewarding career, and it is good to see that students recognise it as a good investment for their future. We firmly believe that finance should never be a barrier to good education. This is why we continue to make generous loans and (10) … available to students.”

Task VII. Provide evidence from the text to prove or disprove the following statements:

1. All British higher educational establishments are funded by the Government.

2. The Oxbridge universities which are amongst the world’s oldest universities are generally ranked at the top of all UK universities.

3. To become an undergraduate, a candidate makes one single application through Universities Central Admissions Service rather than to individual universities and colleges.

4. An unconditional offer implies that the candidate will be accepted by the university if he/she fulfils the requirements stated in the offer.

5. Once the applicant has received responses from all the institutions he/she applied to, he/she must respond by accepting up to two available offers.

6. Students are admitted largely on the basis of their performance in the examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education at the ordinary level.

7. In the UK a Bachelor’s degree can be obtained by a maximum of three years’ study at one of the institutions of higher education offering degree courses.

8. Students working for their Master’s and Doctor’s degrees are called postgraduates.

9. A Master’s degree normally is earned in two years, and a Doctor’s degree is completed after three years.

10. After graduation, students begin repaying their loans when their annual income exceeds a certain salary.

Task VIII. Complete the given sentences using the information from the text:

1. Although UK colleges and universities receive financial support from the State …

2. All higher educational establishments are responsible for …

3. Degree courses can last …

4. … is an official body in Britain which deals with people’s requests to study for degrees at colleges and universities.

5. An applicant should complete …

6. The principal examinations taken by secondary school-leavers …

7. When the university sends the candidate an offer …

8. The final decision on which institution the student will actually attend …

9. To finance their stay at a British university, British students …

10. The typical first degree offered at British universities …

Task IX. Read the text again scanning it for the information needed to answer the questions that follow:

1. What are the main types of higher educational establishments in the United Kingdom?

2. Why are Cambridge and Oxford universities considered to be the most prestigious of all higher educational establishments in the United Kingdom?

3. Is it true that British universities are autonomous and self-governing institutions?

4. In what way is the quality of higher education assured in the UK?

5. Imagine you are a secondary school pupil in Britain. You are planning to enter a university. What should you do to apply?

6. What information should a candidate submit to UCAS? What does UCAS do with the applicant’s papers?

7. Do all the students in the UK have to pay for their education?

8. What is the difference between undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates?

9. What are the general routes for the award of Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s degrees?

10. What are the peculiarities of British students’ life?

Task X. Fill in the blanks with the necessary prepositions:

For many, higher education will have been (1) __ the cards (2) __ some time now, but for others this will be a new, exciting possibility. Either way, there’s a lot to be taken (3) __ account.

(4) __ a career point (5) __ view, a degree may be essential. The likely higher salaries, better future prospects and increased job satisfaction make it a crucial consideration. Indeed, surveys have calculated that over a career a graduate is likely to have an earning power (6) __ about £160,000 more than someone educated (7) __ A-level standard.

(8) __ addition, women gain more financial advantage (9) __ having a degree than men, while men (10) __ poorer backgrounds increase their earning potential more than those (11) __ more affluent homes. If you are certain (12) __ your future career, then a vocational degree directly related (13) __ a specific work area may be (14) __ you. Examples here are teaching, pharmacy and various engineering areas.

The studies may prove tough but the social life can be a real boon. It is an ideal opportunity to meet people (15) __ a wide range of backgrounds, to explore new interests, and to make new friends, many (16) __ whom will become lifelong. If you move away (17) __ home, you’ll become more independent. Another survey suggests that you are likely to enjoy better health as a graduate (more likely to exercise, less likely to smoke or be depressed), more likely to be more influential (18) __ the community, and to be more positive towards diversity and equal opportunities. Remember: there’s a niche (19) __ everyone (20) __ university, you don’t have to be the 100% party animal to have a great time.

Task XI. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Система высшего образования в Соединенном Королевстве начинается с основания в 12 в. Старейших университетов Оксфорд и Кембридж.

2. В 19 в. Появились так называемые «краснокирпичные» университеты, которые строились из кирпича, в то время как древние стены Оксфорда и Кембриджа были сооружены из камня. Эти университеты, в отличие от Оксбриджа, имели практическую, а не академическую направленность.

3. Заявления, составленные на основе характеристик, полученных от школьных учителей, и предполагаемых экзаменационных оценок, подаются через национальную Службу приема в университеты и колледжи.

4. Так как на момент подачи заявления результаты экзаменов еще не известны, любое предложение от университетов следует рассматривать как условное.

5. Основные формы занятий – это лекции, семинары и индивидуальные консультации с преподавателем.

6. Методика преподавания в Великобритании подразумевает не только заучивание как можно большего количества информации, но и самостоятельную исследовательскую работу.

7. Многие курсы дают возможность пройти производственную практику во время обучения. В этом случае общая продолжительность учебы возрастает на год.

8. Высшее образование в Британии многоступенчато. После второго курса выдается диплом, позволяющий работать по специальности, после третьего – присваивается ученая степень бакалавра. Дальнейшие программы считаются последипломными.

9. Обучение иностранных студентов ежегодно приносит в бюджет Великобритании несколько миллиардов фунтов стерлингов, а по количеству иностранных студентов страна занимает ведущие позиции, несмотря на то, что стоимость обучения одна из самых высоких в мире.

10. Современное британское образование дает квалификацию международного уровня и имеет высочайшее качество по широкому спектру предметов.

Task XII. Dwell on the similarities and differences between the educational systems of Britain and Belarus (Russia).

C. Follow-up Activities

Task XIII. Role-play the situations:

2. A Belarusian (Russian) student exchanges information about admission procedures in Belarusian (Russian) and British universities with his British friend.

3. You want to know the requirements for the course in History of Management. You find out that there are two options in the course: to take a final examination or write a research paper. Clarify the details and make up your mind.

4. A first-year student is discussing the classes he is taking during his first semester at the University with a senior student who is eager to give some useful advice.

Task XIV. Translate the following statements into English and prepare to discuss them expressing your support or disagreement:

1. Я знаю только то, что ничего не знаю. Сократ – древнегреческий философ (4-5 в. До н.э.)

2. Лучше совсем не знать чего-либо, чем знать плохо. Публилий Сир – древнеримский поэт (1 в. До н.э.)

3. Историю цивилизации можно выразить в шести словах: чем больше знаешь, тем больше можешь. Эдмонд Абу – французский писатель (1828-1885)

4. Ошибочно думать, что многознание есть достоинство. Важно не количество, а качество знания. Л.Н. Толстой (1828-1910)

5. Хочешь быть умным, научись разумно спрашивать, внимательно слушать, спокойно отвечать и переставать говорить, когда нечего больше сказать. Иоганн Лафатер – швейцарский писатель (1741-1801)

D. Optional Reading