Text C.
Universities
Today there are 89 universities in Britain, compared with only seventeen in 1945. They fall into four broad categories: the ancient English foundations, the ancient Scottish ones, the redbrick universities, and the 'plate-glass' ones.
13th 14th c.c. the ancient English universities (Oxford and Cambridge)
15th 16th c.c. the ancient Scottish universities (St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh)
19th c. 'redbrick' universities in the industrial centres (Birmingham, Nottingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol)
20th c.: the 60s 'plate-glass' universities (Sussex, Kent, East Anglia)
the 90s former polytechnics adopted a university title
All British universities are private institutions. Each has its own governing council, including some local business people and local politicians as well as a few academics. The state began to give grants to them 60 years ago. Students have to pay fees and living costs, but every student may obtain a personal grant from local authorities of the place where he lives. This is enough to pay his full costs, including lodging and food but the amount depends on the parents income. If the parents do not earn much money, their children will receive a full grant which will roughly cover all the expenses.
Students studying for first degrees are known as "undergraduates". New undergraduates in some
universities are called "freshers". They learn a new way of studying which is different from that of school. They have lectures, there are regular seminars, at which one of the students reads a paper he or she has written. The paper is then discussed by the tutor and the rest of the group. The students also see a tutor alone to discuss their work and their progress. Such tutorials take place once a week.
The Bachelor's degree. After three or four years (depending on the type of the university) the students will take their finals. Those who pass examinations successfully are given the Bachelor's degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA) for History, Philosophy, Language and Literature and sometimes Social Studies or Theology; or Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Commerce or Music. About 15% of students who start at universities leave without obtaining a degree, some of them after only one year.
The Master's degree. The first postgraduate degree is normally that of Master: Master of Arts (MA); Master of Science (MSc). In most universities it is only in the science faculties that any large numbers of students stay to do postgraduate work.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest degree. It is given for some original research work which is an important contribution to knowledge.
Vocabulary
Private
Academics
Grants ; ;
Fees .
Living cost
Obtain ; ;
Local authorities
Full cost
Lodging
|
|
|
Amount
Income
Expenses
Degree
Paper , ( , , , )
Tutor
Tutorial
Progress ( )
Finals
Postgraduate degree
Research work -
Contribution
Exercise 1. Answer the questions to the text:
1. What are the categories of British universities?
2. Who does the council consist of?
3. Can any student obtain a personal grant?
4. What are the provisions for getting a personal grant?
5. What students are called freshers ?
6. What is a tutor?
7. How is the process of education organized?
8. Who can get a bachelor degree?
9. What is the first postgraduate degree?
10. Which is the highest degree in Britain?
11. Do all the students obtain a degree?
Exercise 2. Give the definition of the following:
- grants
- expenses
- undergraduates
- tutorial
- paper
- finals
- postgraduate degree
- contribution
- original research work
Exercise 3. Complete the sentences:
1. The governing council includes
2. .. 60 years ago.
3. The amount of the grants depends on .
4. New undergraduates
5. There are regular seminars, at which
6. . take place once a week.
7. .. are given the Bachelors degree
8. About 15% of the students who start at universities .
9. In most universities it is only in the science faculties
10. is an important contribution to knowledge.
Exercise 4. Translate into English
1. , .
2. .
3. ?
4. , .
5. .
