I. Complete the table about the types of British university degrees.
| First degree | On completion of a three-year course | |
| Higher degrees | ||
| Doctor of Philosophy |
II. Answer the questions about the text.
1. What are four types of universities in the UK?
2. What do Oxford and Cambridge have in common?
3. What is a tutorial system? How does it work?
4. How many terms does the academic year include?
5. What facts prove elitism of Oxbridge graduates?
6. How do other universities differ from Oxbridge?
7. What traditions of Oxford and Cambridge can you speak about?
8. What education do British Polytechnics provide?
9. What does a sandwich course mean?
III. Are the statements true or false?
1. The colleges of Oxford and Cambridge are essentially residential institutions and they mainly use a tutorial method which brings the tutor into close and personal contact with the student.
2. The two terms into which the British University year is divided are roughly twenty weeks.
3. British universities greatly differ from each other in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction, way of student life.
4. Degree-level courses are offered by universities, polytechnics and colleges of higher education.
5. Bachelor of Arts is the commonest degree awarded by a British university.
IV. Match the education terms on the left to their definitions on the right.
1) lecturer a) a teacher who directs the studies of a number of students;
2) PhD b) a person who gives lectures, esp. at a University or college;
3) college c) a university degree of a very high rank, above MA or MSc;
4) tutor d) a body of teachers and students forming a separate part of
certain universities;
5) department e) a college of higher education similar to a university,
providing training in many subjects;
6) polytechnic f) any of the important branches of a faculty.
V. Work in small groups and discuss the following questions. Remember to use the expressions introducing your point of view and asking questions (see the annex).
1. What are the main differences between university courses in Britain and Russia?
2. Is elitism in education a problem of only British system of education? What about your country?
3. Discuss the system of certificates and diplomas in both countries.
VI. a) Suggest Russian correspondences to the English proverbs. Explain their meaning.
1. A little learning is a dangerous thing.
2. Better untaught than ill taught.
3. To know everything is to know nothing.
4. The wish is the father to the thought.
5. Money spent on the brain is never spent in vain.
b) Learn the proverbs and illustrate one of them using a real situation.
VII. Find out additional information on interesting facts of British students’ life including their academic and extracurricular activities, prepare a report to deliver in class.
