In the United Kingdom, higher education is given in five main types of institution: the universities, polytechnics, the Open University (which operates by means of radio and TV, correspondence and vocation courses, and by part-time tutors and study counsellors), teacher-training colleges, art and music colleges.
Higher education has evolved in a very diversified fashion within the United Kingdom, and as a result there is no codified system of regulations to cover all varieties of institutions. Nor is there anyone authority which directs higher education as a whole. The administrative structure of higher education for Scotland, for example, differs considerably from that of England.
Universities in Britain get their legal rights and powers from royal charters or some Acts of Parliament. Each university has the right to award its own degrees. All universities are autonomous institutions, particularly in matters relating to courses and programmes. The main task of the University Grants Committee, members of which are appointed by the Secretary of State for Education end Science, is to distribute between university institutions the financial allocations determined by the Government.
Most universities are organized into faculties, which may be sub-divided into department.
The teacher-training colleges are specialized institutions which give courses of training for intending teachers Some polytechnic institutions prepare not only for teaching, but allied professions, such as social work. Many universities also have a department of educational studies which gives courses of professional training only for those who are holders of a bachelor's
degree.
Art and music colleges prepare students for various diplomas, one of which is of the same level as the bachelor's degree. The Royal College of Art possesses the same status as a university.
Access to higher education normally takes place after a minimum of 13 years of primary and secondary education. A pre-condition is success ("passes") in a certain number of subjects in the general certificate of education (GCE) examinations. The conditions vary according to the disciplines in higher education that the candidate wishes to study and according to the level of the examinations themselves: ordinary level ("0" level) or advanced level ("A" level). Most institutions of higher education require passess in the following subjects: English, mathematics or one scientific subject and a foreign language. These represent the minimum for a general education to equip the student for n branch of higher education.
Most universities select their students on the results obtained by them in the general certificate of education. They also take into account reports, from head teachers of the secondary schools at which the candidates have studied. Oxford, Cambridge and Durham universities organize their own competitive entrance examinations. Because of the competition for places further criteria of selection other than examination results usually taken into consideration.
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The main stage of higher education is devoted to study in depth of one or more subjects or fields. It leads after three or four years to the award of a first degree in arts, science or other fields (law, engineering etc.). This degree is normally the bachelors degree.
In some universities and in some polytechnics a new two-year course is being introduced leading to a diploma of higher education (DipHE). This qualification may be terminal or may lead, after one year's further study to a bachelor's degree.
A second stage of studios following upon the first degree (postgraduate studies) consists of a deepening of knowledge and greater specialization. At a university this leads to the master's degree or in some institutions to a bachelor of philosophy degree. According to the subject chosen, the course for this postgraduate degree lasts one, two or even more years and ends in a formal examination or the presentation of a thesis or both.
The third stage is that of a specialization proper and of personal research. At a university it leads, after two year's additional study and the successful presentation of a thesis to the master of philosophy degree or after some more years of additional studies the candidate may present a
thesis for the doctorate of philosophy (DPhil or PhD).
Two Kinds of doctor's degree exist:
1. Doctorate of philosophy (DPhil or PhD). This is awarded in a large number of fields, after two, three or four years of study and research and after presentation of a thesis, in addition to which there may sometimes be a written examination. In the faculties of medicine the corresponding degrees are the doctorate in medicine (MD or DM) and the doctorate in surgery (ChM or MCh).
2. Senior doctorate or higher doctorate (e.g. doctor of letters, DLitt; doctor of science, DSc; doctor of laws, LLD). This doctorate is conferred in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scholarship in a particular field and is usually awarded to persons of high academic distinction and on the basis of previously published work.
(World Guide to Higher Education).
Second Edition, 1982.
Notes and words
1. tutor - ,
2. study counsellor - ( )
3. to evolve - ()
4. in a diversified fashion - a
5. not is there anyone authority -
6. codified system of regulations-
7. to direct higher education -
8. to get legal rights and powers from royal charters -
9. to award a degree -
10. to appoint
11. to distribute -
12. allocation -
13. sub-divide -
14. intending teacher -
15. allied professions - .:
16. department of educational studies -
17. holders of bachelor's degree -
18. to possess
19. primary and secondary education -
20. pre-condition -
21. success ("passes") - ("")
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22. general certificate of education (GCE) -
23. to very - (.)
24. ordinary level ("" level) - ()
25. advanced level ("A" level) -
26. master's degree -
27. diploma of higher education (DipHE) -
28. doctorate of philosophy (DPhil or PhD) -
29. doctorate in medicine (MD or DM) -
30. doctorate in surgery (ChM or MCh) - ,
31. senior doctorate -
32. Doctor of letters (DLitt) -
33. Doctor of Science (DSc) - ( )
34. Doctor of laws (LLD) -
35. to represent
36. to take into account -
37. to take into consideration -
38. to devote to -
39. to lead - ,
40. terminal -
41. to consist of -
42. additional
43.... is conferred in recognition of en outstanding contribution to scholarship -...
