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Текст 5. The Academic Year. Admission Procedures in the UK. Higher Education in Great Britain
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Текст 5
The Academic Year
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For most colleges and universities in the USA, the academic year begins in late August or early September and ends in May or June. The semester system divides the academic year into two equal terms of approximately 16 weeks each. The quarter system divides the academic year into three equal terms of approximately 11 weeks each. Usually there is also a fourth " summer quarter". The trimester system has three equal terms of approximately 16 weeks each, including a summer term.
Most students take the summer off. Some students, however, choose to go to summer school and earn credits which may help them to complete their degree work in a shorter length of time than normally is required.
Текст 6
Admission Procedures in the UK
Students are admitted to British Universities largely on the basis of their performance in the examinations for the General Certificate of Education at ordinary and advanced levels. The selection procedure is rather complicated.
A student who wants to go to university usually applies for admission before he takes his advanced level examinations. First of all, he must write to the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA), and they send him a form which he has to complete. On this form, he has to write the names of universities in order of preference. He may put down only two or three names, stating that if not accepted by these universities he would be willing to go to any other. This form, together with an account of his out-of-school activities and two references, one of which must be from the headteacher of his school, is then sent back to the UCCA.
The UCCA sends photocopies of the form to the universities concerned. Each applicant is first considered by the university admission board. In some cases the board sends the applicant a refusal. This may happen, for example, if the board receives a form in which their university is the applicant's sixth choice and the university already has many candidates. If there are no reasons for immediate refusal, the university admission officer passes the candidate's papers on to the academic department concerned. One or two members of this department will then look at the candidate's application: see what he says about himself, look at his marks at the ordinary level examinations, see what his headteacher and the other referee say about him. On the basis of those, the department may make the candidate an offer (either a definite offer or a conditional one) or send him a definite rejection.
As a rule, the department makes a conditional offer. This means that the candidate will be accepted by the university if he fulfills the requirements stated in the offer.
In his turn, the student may accept the offer conditionally.
When the Advanced level examination results come out in August, the university admissions department sees whether the candidate has fulfilled his conditions and, if he has, sends him a definite offer. The candidate must accept or refuse within 72 hours.
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Students are accepted by British Universities largely on the basis of the results of their GCE examinations. On the form sent by the UCCA a candidate has to write down the names of the universities beginning the list with the ones he prefers most and ending it with those least preferred. He may state that if not admitted to these universities, he would be willing to go to any other. Each applicant is first considered by the office at the university responsible for admission procedures. In some cases the board sends the applicant a refusal. As a rule, the department makes an offer according to which the candidate will be accepted on certain conditions. When the university admissions department sends the candidate a definite offer, he must express his agreement or disagreement to be admitted to the university within three days and nights.
Ответьте на вопросы:
1. Where should school leavers in Britain apply to if they want to go touniversity?
2. What does a candidate write on the UCCA form?
3. What papers are sent to the UCCA along with the completed UCCA form?
4. What does the UCCA do with the applicant's papers?
5. What university groups consider the applications for admission?
6. What decision may be sent to the applicant?
7. When is a definite offer sent to the applicant?
8. How long is the time period within which the candidate must accept or refuse a definite offer?
Текст 7
Higher Education in Great Britain
" Higher Education" in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which currently consists of some 96 universities and 70 or so Colleges of Higher Education, means the stage of education which follows after one obtains qualifications equivalent to the Advanced Level of the General Certificate of Education.
In Scotland, the qualifying examinations are called " Highers", and some students take a Certificate of Sixth Year Studies, which is similar to A-levels. The/concept of universal education was accepted in Scotland as early as the sixteenth century, long before such views prevailed elsewhere in Britain. St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities were established in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Universities in Britain are divided into three types: 1. The old established universities, such as Oxford (founded 1249), Cambridge and Edinburgh. Oxford and Cambridge together are often called Oxbridge. 2. The 19th century universities such as London and Manchester. 3. The new universities established after World War II, such as Essex, Lancaster, The New University of Ulster.
The higher education system consists of Universities, Colleges of Higher Education and a number of small specialised colleges in areas of study such as Fine Art, Music and Agriculture.
Students or undergraduates can complete their first (Bachelor's) Degree in a minimum of three years. Law degrees and some others require four years of study, while medicine takes longer. Students awarded their Bachelor's Degree are called graduates.
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Universities, and to a limited extent Colleges of Higher Education, offer a wide range of one-year, or sometimes two-year, taught graduate courses leading to a Master's Degree.
Universities also offer research degrees (Doctor's Degrees), which have a very limited taught element, and are an opportunity to undertake research over a period of, generally, at least three years. The period for the award of a research degree is not laid out: it depends on the progress made. Students working for their Master's and Doctor's Degrees are called postgraduates.
Most UK universities are keen to increase their numbers of postgraduate students. Many of the leading UK universities are looking forward to the development of Graduate Schools, Major research-based universities, such as Birmingham, Durham, Manchester, Sheffield and Warwick, have taken the initiative in setting up Graduate Schools, reflecting the very high level accorded to postgraduate activities in these institutions.
UK universities offer full time programmes and also part-time and distance learning programmes. An academic year is divided into three terms of about 10 weeks each.
In 1971 the Open University was established, where the formal qualifications (GCSE A-levels) are not necessary. Nearly a quarter of all adult part-time students participate in its degree courses on radio and television.
Ответьте на вопросы:
1. How many universities and colleges of higher education are there in Great Britain?
2. What qualifications are necessary for admission to university in the UK?
3. What are " Highers"?
4. When were the first Scottish universities established?
5. What are three types of universities in Britain?
6. What is the minimum period of time for completing a Bachelor's Degree?
7. What is the difference between undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates?
8. How can one receive a Master's Degree?
9. What is the normal route for the award of a research degree (a Doctor's Degree)?
10. What major research-based universities have set up Graduate Schools of a very high standard in the UK?
11. How is the Open University different from other universities?
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