HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN The term "higher education" is not often used in Britain. When it is used it refers to degree courses at universities after 12 years of elementary and secondary schooling.
In order to get higher education school leavers may hand in applications to different universities. The final decision is taken by, Universities and Colleges Admission Service which, in accordance with the student's results of the "A" level exams, offers a place to this or that university. The better results of the exams are the better university or college place can be offered.
After three years of studies at the university a student may get a first degree, it is Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. The first degree is usually an honours degree. The letters BA or BSc are often added after the graduates' names. However, the title of a degree does not necessarily reflect the field in which the student has studied. For example, at some universities the Bachelor of Arts is awarded to students in all, or almost in all, disciplines - Science, Engineering, etc. - as well as in Arts subjects.
Those graduates who want to continue their studies at the university may work for a master's degree or, a doctorate. To get a master's degree a student needs one more year of study. After that he or she gets the degree of Master of Arts, Master of Science or Master of Business Administration. Doctorate is the highest degree in Britain's universities. The letters "Dr" before a person's name indicate that he or she has the title of "Doctor", the highest title at the university -PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).
University teaching combines lectures, practical classes (in scientific subjects) and small group teaching in either seminars (discussion groups) and tutorials or supervisions (run by tutors or supervisors). The teachers at the university may be: a professor (a senior member of staff or the person in charge of a department), lecturers (teaching and research staff) and research associates (junior academic staff).
The oldest and most famous universities in Britain are Oxford and Cambridge. Other not less famous and respected universities are London, Durhum, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and some others.
At the most universities in Britain the academic year is divided into three terms. Examinations are not necessarily taken annually, ax many universities students study one or two main subjects throughout their degree course. Most courses end in a series of exams called finals. At some universities the students' work may be assessed at regular intervals, and the results of these assessments are taken into consideration in determining the degree classification. If the student's results are not up to the standard for an honours degree this student may be awarded a pass degree.
University education may be not only full-time but also part-time. Some people want to get a degree but they need only evening or correspondence courses. At some universities there is a department of continuing education which runs four, five or even more year courses for students combining their work and education.
There is no single body or organization responsible for the planning and development of university education in Britain. All the universities and colleges are independent, self-governing institutions, although they receive substantial aid from the state through the University Grants Committee.
British universities are known to have high standards of professors and lecturers. Technical equipment, made on a solid production base, different kinds of visual aids, the internet service, TV and computers are widely used in university teaching. Students have every opportunity for discussing, brainstorming, critical thinking and self -assessment so necessary for a person with university education.
Answer the following questions.
1. What do BA and BSc mean?
2. What may the teachers at the university be?
3. How many terms do they have in the academic year?
4. Do they have evening or corresponding courses?
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POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PORTRAIT OF GREAT BRITAIN
Great Britain has a parliamentary government based on the party system. Parliament has two parts: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 650 constituencies. The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, is a Member of Parliament ( MP ), usually the leader of the political party with a majority in the House of Commons. The chief officer of the House of Commons is the Speaker. The House at the beginning of each Parliament elects him. His chief function is to preside over the House in its debate. When elected the Speaker must not belong to any party.
The House of Lords is composed of about 1,200 members. They are the Lords Spiritual, and the Lords temporal, consisting of all hereditary peers, all life peers and 21 law lords, to assist the House in its judicial duties, because for a long time the House of Lords was the highest court of law in the land, and it still is the supreme court of appeal.
A Cabinet of about twenty other ministers advises the Prime Minister. The Cabinet includes the ministers in charge of major government departments or ministries. Civil servants, who are permanent officials, run departments and ministries. Even if the Government changes after an election, the same civil servants are employed. In the performance of its functions the Cabinet makes considerable use of a system of committees. The Cabinet is the centre of the political power of the United Kingdom at the present time. Normally it meets for about two hours once or twice a week during parliamentary sitting.
The main political parties in the UK are the Conservative party ( right wing ), the Labour party ( left wing ) and the Liberal Democrats ( centre).
The Conservative party believes in free enterprise and the importance of a capitalist economy, with private ownership preferred to state control. The Labour party believes that private ownership and enterprise should be allowed to flourish, but not at the expense of their traditional support of the public services. The Liberal Democrats believe that the state should have some control over the economy, but that there should be individual ownership.
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy, and the Crown is a permanent and continuous institution. The Queen is the official Head of State and, for many people, a symbol of the unity of the nation. According to the Constitution the powers of the Crown are very great. Every action of the government is carried in its name. But the Queen cannot act independently. She reigns but does not rule. Although the Queen is deprived of actual power, she has retained many important, though formal functions.
Answer the following questions.
1. How many parts are there in British Parliament?
2. What power does the Queen have?
3. What are the main political parties?
4. How many members are there in the House of Lords?
5. How are members of the House of Commons chosen?
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