1. Reading

Task 1:

Read the text abut British university students. Choose the correct answers to the questions.

1. British degree courses are usually

1. five years long

2. three years long

3. two years long

1. The British government gives loans to help students pay for

1. their education

2. their living expenses

3. both

3. a. Every student receives

b. Some students receive loans of £4,000 per year

c. No student receives

4) Students have to pay back their loans as soon as

a. they finish their degree

b. they get a job

c. they start earning a certain sum

5) a. There is always

b. There is sometimes a time limit on the repayment of

c. There isn’t student loans

Students at home and abroad

At 18, British school-leavers with A-levels can apply for a degree course at university. Most of these courses last for three years, and students must pay all of their own accommodation and living costs, and some of their tuition fees. Since 1990, the government has offered student loans to help the situation. The loans are between £3,000 and £5,000 per year depending on whether students live with their parents or away from home, and also whether or not they live in London.

Students have to pay back their loans when they leave university, but not until their income* reaches £10,000 per year. The interest rates are low and there is no deadline* for repayment. However, most students find that the loans do not fully meet their needs, so many have to stay in the family home to avoid accommodation costs, or take part-time jobs while they are studying.

It is common these days for 18-year-old school leavers to take a “gap year”. Instead of going to university immediately after their A-levels, they go travelling for a year or do charity work abroad, often in exotic locations. Popular destinations for British gap year students are Australia, India and South Africa.

WORD BANK

Afford – have enough money for

Apply for – ask for

Deadline – time limit

Grant – money given to you by an official body that you don’t have to pay back

Income – the amount of money you earn

Row - disagreement

Task 2:

Read Amanda’s diary and answer the questions.

1. What accommodation does she live in?

2. How much money will she owe the government when she

leaves university?

3. How much is the rent on her friend’s flat?

4. How was the situation different when her mum was at

university?

Monday 15^th March

Had a big row* with mum and dad today. They still treat me like

I’m at school even though I’m 20 now. It’s not my fault that I have to live at home.

I would have loved to have gone to university in Scotland –

Glasgow or St. Andrew’s – but there’s no way we could have afforded* it.

Tuesday 16^th March

Went to the job center today to look for a part-time job. I have to

start saving some money for my future – after all, I’ll have a £12,000 loan to pay off when I graduate. I’ve got interviews with McDonald’s and a pub, so I can work after my lectures are finished. And then I can do more studying when I finish work.

Wednesday 17^th March

Went into the uni library to study, then went to see Kate and Ali in their flat. They’re really lucky – I’m really jealous of my friends who have their own accommodation. But their rent’s £120 a week!

Thursday 18^th March

Another row with mum. To be honest, I think she resents me being here. She thinks that I’m too old to be living at home. It was OK when she was a student in the 70s. She got a grant* from the government, so she had more freedom to choose her university and her accommodation. Anyway, I’ve got my interview at Mc Donald’s tomorrow. Perfhaps something will come of that.