6. Some Aspects of British University Life

1. Read the text and make a list of topical vocabulary.

Of the full-time students now attending English Universities three quarters are men and one quarter women. Nearly half of them are engaged in the study of arts subjects such as history, languages, economics or law, the others are studying pure or applied sciences such as medicine, dentistry, technology, or agriculture.

The University of London, for instance, includes internal and external students. Actually most external students at London University are living in London. The colleges in the University of London provide instruction chiefly by means of lectures, which are attended mainly by day students. The colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, however, are essentially residential institutions and they use a tutorial method which brings the tutor into close and personal contact with the student. These colleges, being residential, are far smaller than most of the colleges of the University of London.

Education of University standard is also given in other institutions such as colleges of technology and agricultural colleges, which prepare their students for degrees or diplomas in their own fields.

The three terms into which the British University year is divided are roughly eight to ten weeks. Each term is crowded with activity and the vacations between the terms - a month at Christmas, a month at Easter, and three or four months in summer, are mainly periods of private study.

A person studying for a degree at a British University is called a graduate. B. A. or B. Sс. stands for Bachelor of Arts or of Science, the first degree. M. A. or M. Sс. denotes Master of Arts or of Science. One can become a B. A. after three years of hard study and an M. A. at the end of five years.

2. Supply answers to the questions.

1. What is the percentage of men and women students in British Universities? Of students studying arts and sciences?

2. What is a graduate?

3. What is the duration of terms and vacations in a British University?

4. What do the abbreviations B.A., B.Sc., M.A. and M.Sc. stand for?

5. When can these degrees be received by a student?

7. Us University Education

1. Read the text.

There are no National Universities in the USA. Each state controls and supports at least one University. The National Government gives no direct financial aid to them. The students do not go to the University free of charge. Everyone must pay a tuition fee. The amount varies from state to state. Students' total expenses throughout the year are very high. This creates a financial hardship for some people. Though each University offers a number of scholarships many of the students have to work to pay their expenses.

Most of the US Universities have a central campus. Colleges of Law, Business, Medicine, Engineering, Music, and Journalism can be found on one campus. Thus a student can attend courses at various colleges.

The students do not take the same courses. During the first two years they follow a basic programme. It means that every student must select at least one course from each of the basic fields of study: English, science, modern languages, history or physical education.

After the first two years every student majors in one subject and minors in another. A student can major in history and minor in sociology. In addition to these major and minor courses he can select other subjects according to his professional interest.

After completing four years of study the students receive a Bachelor Degree (either B.A. or B.S.) with an additional year of study he may receive a Master's Degree and after two or three years of graduate work and writing a dissertation he receives a Doctorate Degree.