Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine

Uman State Pedagogical University named after Pavel Tychyna

Faculty of Foreign Languages

Department of Theory and Practice of Foreign Languages

Education in Great Britain

IV year student 3 groups

Field of study:
Philology
Specialties:
Language and literature (English)
Bushuyev B.M
Supervisor:
Biletska I.O.

Uman - 2020
 CONTEXT

INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................2
I. STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN............................4
II. THE UK EDUCATION SYSTEM LEVEL OF COURSES.................................................6
III. UK TUITION FEES AND COSTS.......................................................................................8
IV. TOP 5 UNIVERCITIES IN THE UK...................................................................................9
V. HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREATE BRITAIN...............................................................13
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................16
APPENDICES..............................................................................................................................18

3
 INTRODUCTION

There are about 90 universities in Britain. They are divided into three types:
the old universities (Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities), the 19th
century universities such as London and Manchester universities, and the new
universities. Some years ago there were also polytechnics. After graduating from a
polytechnic a student got a degree, but it was not a university degree. 31 former
polytechnics were given university status in 1992.
Full courses of study offer the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. Most
degree courses at universities last 3 years, language courses 4 years (including a
year spent abroad). Medicine and dentistry courses are longer (5-7 years).
Students may receive grants from their Local Education Authority to help
pay for books, accommodation, transport and food. This grant depends on the
income of their parents.
Most students live away from home, in flats or halls of residence.
Students don't usually have a job during term time because the lessons,
called lectures, seminars, classes or tutorials (small groups), are full time.
However, many students now have to work in the evenings.
University life is considered "an experience". The exams are competitive but
the social life and living away from home are also important. The social life is
excellent with a lot of clubs, parties, concerts, bars.
There are not only universities in Britain but also colleges. Colleges offer
courses in teacher training, courses in technology and. some professions connected
with medicine.
Lectures, seminars and tutorials are all one hour in length, laboratory classes
last two or three hours. Each student has a tutor whom he can consult on any
matter whether academic or personal.
The academic year is split into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in
the first two terms which last for twenty four weeks in total. The third term is Re-
served for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks.
4
 Universities teach in all major subject areas: arts, science, law, engineering,
medicine, social sciences.
University staff are chosen for the best knowledge in their subject. The
teaching encourages students to learn in the most effective way. University degree
courses extend from three to four years. After three years of study at the University
graduates will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. They can
continue to take their Master's Degree and then the Doctor's Degree.

5
 I. STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

There are more than 60 universities in Britain. . But not all universities are
equal. They differ from one another in history, tradition, academic organization.
Not all British universities have a well-known reputation. Oxford and Cambridge,
the oldest universities, are world known for their academic excellence. The
University of London has the size and breadth to rank among the UK's top
universities. A university usually consists of colleges. The departments of the
colleges are organized into faculties.
University teaching in the UK differs greatly at both undergraduate and
postgraduate levels from that in many other countries. An undergraduate program
consists of a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes which in
total account for about 15 hours per week.
Following a particular program students take series of lecture courses which
may last one academic term or the whole year. Associated with each lecture course
are seminars, tutorials, laboratory classes which illustrate the topics presented in
the lectures.
Lectures are given to large groups of students (from 20 to 200). Seminars
and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and in some departments саn be
one a one-to-one basis (one member of staff and one student).
Students prepare work in advance for seminars and tutorials. And this can
take the form of a topic for discussion by writing essays or by solving problems.
Lectures, seminars and tutorials are all one hour in length, laboratory classes
last two or three hours. Each student has a tutor whom he can consult on any
matter whether academic or personal.
The academic year is split into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in
the first two terms which last for twenty four weeks in total. The third term is re-
served for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks.
Universities teach in all major subject areas: arts, science, law, engineering,
medicine, social sciences.
6
 University staff are chosen for the best knowledge in their subject. The
teaching encourages students to learn in the most effective way. University degree
courses extend from three to four years. After three years of-,, study at the
University graduates will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science.
They can continue to take their Master's Degree and then the Doctor's
Degree.

7
 II. THE UK EDUCATION SYSTEM LEVEL OF COURSES

Based on the actual education regulations in the UK education system, the

Higher Education comprises these levels of courses:
Postgraduate courses that lead to a Doctorate, a Master’s degree (Taught or
Research), Postgraduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates of education (PGCE)
and professional degrees. To enter this level, it is usually required to have a first
degree (Bachelor).
Undergraduate courses which include a wide range of first degrees
(Bachelor’s): honours and ordinary degrees, qualified teacher status, enhanced first
degrees, intercalated degrees (first-degree students in specific study fields may
interrupt their ongoing studies and spend a year studying a field related to their
major study subject).
Other undergraduate courses: Foundation degrees, SVQ, NVQ, Higher
National Diploma HND (or equivalent), NHC (or equivalent) etc.
An undergraduate course it usually takes 3 years to finish, while Scotland
makes an exemption because it takes 4 years to finish an undergraduate course.
The higher education in the UK education system is having an extended number of
universities that are offering 4-year undergraduate courses, also known as
“sandwich courses”. This program includes one year in a workplace, usually in
your third year.
Some British universities offer fast-track programs where you can obtain a
Master’s degree at the undergraduate level. By contrast to traditional
undergraduate levels, students in these programs can attend an additional year of
studying instead of taking a Bachelor degree and then admit to a Master program.
Besides, it costs much less than usual 3-year undergraduate courses, it’s normally
much intense because there are shorten holiday breaks and the schedule is heavy.
Some of the more prestigious universities in UK offer postgraduate degrees.
If schools offer postgraduate degrees, they offer Master’s Degrees (typically one
year, sometimes two years if your degree is research-based) and/or Doctorate
8
degrees (three-year degrees). These are only available if you have obtained a
bachelor’s degree at an accredited university (not necessarily one in England).
In the United Kingdom education system, most syllabi are set by the
universities which are offering them and are not controlled by the government or
certain British educational institution. The only exception to this is teacher
education programs, which the government has a lot of say over. The British
government has established the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s
Services and Skills (Ofsted) to maintain those standards. Most countries have
specific regulations for their teachers, so this isn’t any different than studying
teaching in your home country. Because of their strict regulations and high
standards for teacher education programs, the UK is considered to have some of
the best teacher education programs in the world.
Even though the syllabi are set by universities, the Office for Fair Access
(OfFA) in the British school system, has a lot of say on the admission procedures
of each university. This office was created so that everyone who wishes to attend
university in UK has the ability to do so. They also promote fair access to higher
education, even for those who are attending university as international students.
Fair access also includes those of different cultures, different races, different
nationalities, and those who have disabilities.

9
 III. UK TUITION FEES AND COSTS

The reputation of the British higher education goes hand to hand with its
costs. Tuition fees may vary from university to university and in which zone of
administration you’re looking at (England, Scotland, and Wales), so it’s always
advisable to check the university’s website before making any further plan for your
studies. For sure, to attend a British university you need a lot of money packed in,
whether you’re a native or not, but since there are many scholarship schemes you
can seek one.
International students are a substantial part of the student population in
British universities. The UK is the second most popular study destination for
international students following the US at the top. If you decide to be one of more
than a million foreign students in the US, you’re definitely one step far from a
guaranteed brighter future.
In the end, it must be emphasized that despite being hardly affordable, if you
decide to study in the UK will surely worth the cost. The UK education system and
its higher education degrees are valued by academics and employers all over the
world.
The UK has a rich history of quality higher education and each university
has great options for any student.

10
 IV. TOP 5 UNIVERCITIES IN THE UK

1. University of Oxford
One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, the
University of Oxford attracts top scholars and students to its 44 colleges and halls.
Entry standards are high and admission is competitive; on average, it receives five
applications for each available place.
As is common in the UK, the university offers a number of joint honours
programmes that combine two subjects at undergraduate level. In total, there are
250 undergraduate degree combinations. The combination of philosophy, politics
and economics is a particularly prestigious degree course on offer, although it is no
longer unique to the University of Oxford.
Undergraduates and postgraduates belong to a college and often live in the
college building or college-owned accommodation. Social life and recreational
activities – such as rowing, cultural events and societies – also revolve around the
college. Undergraduates are taught almost exclusively by tutors in their college,
while postgraduate students are primarily served academically by a centralised
faculty.
There are more than 100 libraries at Oxford, the most famous of which is the
Bodleian, built in 1602. The city also boasts a number of museums, including the
Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which houses the remains of a
dodo, and the Museum of the History of Science, which displays a blackboard used
by Albert Einstein.
More than 30 world leaders, 27 British prime ministers, 50 Nobel
prizewinners and 120 Olympic medallists were educated at Oxford. Stephen
Hawking, Hugh Grant and Indira Gandhi are among the most famous alumni.
Within six months of graduating from the university, 95 per cent of Oxford
students are in employment or further study.
Tips for acing your University of Oxford interview
2. University of Cambridge
11
 Like Oxford, the University of Cambridge is fundamentally collegiate and is
also one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. The town is
just an hour away from London.
The university is home to more than 18,000 students and 9,000 staff. There
are 31 colleges, some of which date back to the 13th century, and more than 100
academic departments.
Cambridge is particularly renowned for excellence in mathematics and has
educated some of the most famous British scientists. In total, 117 Nobel laureates
are affiliated with the university and Cambridge-affiliated mathematicians have
won 11 Fields medals.
Getting an undergraduate place at the university is extremely competitive;
the acceptance rate is less than 25 per cent and more than half of rejected
candidates have received A grades for all of their final school exams.
Undergraduates are taught via lectures and supervisions – intimate tutorials
with only a couple of other students at most. The workload is heavy but terms are
shorter than at many other universities in the UK.
Cambridge libraries are home to extensive collections of medieval
manuscripts and the university museums display collections of archaeological
artefacts and zoological specimens.
Notable graduates include actors, politicians, royals, athletes and cultural
figures, including biologist Charles Darwin, environmental broadcaster David
Attenborough, conservationist Jane Goodall and actress Olivia Colman.
What life is like at the University of Cambridge
3. Imperial College London
Imperial College London is consistently ranked among the best universities
in the world for science, technology, engineering, medicine and business.
It was formed in 1907 from a merger of three colleges in London and now
has 16,000 students and 8,000 staff. The student cohort is extremely international
and is made up of more than 125 nationalities.

12
 In addition to top scientists, Fields medallists and Nobel prizewinners,
Imperial also produces influential government advisers and policymakers. Many
graduates go on to achieve breakthrough innovations in industry and business, and
are highly sought after by blue-chip companies and start-ups.
Imperial is based next to Kensington Palace in the Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea, with other campuses around the city.
The author H. G. Wells and Sir Liam Donaldson, head physician to the
Queen, are among Imperial’s famous alumni.
10 things every foreign student in London should know
4. UCL
UCL was the first university in England to admit students irrespective of
class, race or religion, and the first to admit women on equal terms with men,
following the educational philosophy of Jeremy Bentham – the university’s
“spiritual founder”.
It is one of the most selective British universities and is thought to produce
some of the most employable graduates.
UCL’s main campus is in the central London area of Bloomsbury.
For undergraduate admission, candidates generally have all A grades at A
level or a grade equivalent of 6, 6, 6 in subjects studied at higher level in the
International Baccalaureate. The most competitive degree is the BSc in philosophy,
politics and economics, which receives 30 applicants for every place.

Close to half of all UCL students are from outside the UK, with significantly
more from Asia than from continental Europe. Famous alumni include Mahatma
Gandhi, Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, and Coldplay’s
Chris Martin, who met the other members of his band at the university.
How to find your community and settle in as a student in London
5. London School of Economics and Political Science
Of all UK universities, the London School of Economics and Political
Science has the highest proportion of international students, at 70 per cent.
13
 The university has particular strengths in law, economics, history,
philosophy and politics. Currently, 26 per cent of all Nobel prizes for economics
were awarded to alumni or affiliates of the LSE. Famously, economic theorists at
the LSE have long disputed with theorists at Cambridge, particularly over solutions
to economic problems in society.
LSE’s campus is in the Clare Market area in London, close to important
institutions such as the Royal Courts of Justice, Lincoln’s Inn, the Royal College
of Surgeons and the British Museum.
Like other top universities in the UK, LSE generally requires entry standards
of A grades or higher.
Many of the postgraduate courses, such as in those in economics,
management and law, have an acceptance rate of less than 7 per cent.
Prominent cultural, political and academic figures, including Nelson
Mandela and George Soros, have given public lectures at the LSE as part of the
university’s prestigious lecture series.
The main architect of the Indian constitution, B. R. Ambedkar, worked on a
doctoral thesis at the LSE while enrolled on the Bar course at Gray’s Inn in
London.

14
 V. HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREATE BRITAIN

The academic year in Britain's universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of

education is divided into 3 terms, which usually run from the beginning of October
to the middle of December, the middle of January to the end of March, from the
middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.
There are 46 universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known universities
are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool,
Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham.
Good A-level results in at least 2 subjects are necessary to get a place at a
university. However, good exam passes alone are not enough. Universities choose
their students after interviews. For all British citizens a place at a university brings
with it a grant from their local education authority.
English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of
foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction
and way of student life.
After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of
Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Some courses, such as
languages and medicine, may be one or two years longer. The degrees are awarded
at public degree ceremonies. Later he/she may continue to take Master's Degree
and then a Doctor's Degree.
The 2 intellectual eyes of Britain – Oxford & Cambridge Universities – date
from the 12 & 13 centuries. They are known for all over the world and are the
oldest and most prestigious universities in Britain. They are often called
collectively Oxbridge, but both of them are completely independent. Only
education elite go to Oxford and Cambridge.
The Scottish universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen & Edinburgh
date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
In the nineteenth and the early part of the twentieth centuries the so-called
Redbrick universities were founded. These include London, Manchester, Leeds,
15
Liverpool, Sheffield, and Birmingham. During the late sixties and early seventies
some 20 'new' universities were set up. Sometimes they are called 'concrete and
glass' universities. Among them are the universities of Sussex, York, East Anglia
and some others.
During these years the government set up 30 Polytechnics. The
Polytechnics, like the universities, offer first and higher degrees. Some of them
offer full-time and sandwich courses (for working students). Colleges of Education
provide two-year courses in teacher education or sometimes three years if the
graduate specializes in some Particular subjects.
Some of them who decide to leave school at the age of 16 may go to a
further education college where they can follow a course in typing, engineering,
town planning, cooking, or hairdressing, full-time or part-time. Further education
colleges have strong ties with commerce and industry.
There's an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University.
It's intended for people who study in their own free time and who 'attend' lectures
by watching TV and listening to the radio. They keep in touch by phone and letter
with their tutors and attend summer schools. The Open University students have no
formal qualifications and would be unable to enter ordinary universities.
Some 80,000 overseas students study at British universities or further
education colleges or train in nursing, law, banking or in industry

16
 CONCLUSION

All British universities are private institutions. Students have to pay fees and
living costs, but every student may obtain a personal grant from local authorities. If
the parents do not earn much money, their children will receive a full grant which
will cover all the expenses. Students studying for first degrees are known as
“undergraduates”. New undergraduates in some universities are called “fresher”.
They have lectures, there are regular seminars.
After three or four years the students will take their finals. Those who pass
examinations successfully are given the Bachelor’s degree: Bachelor of Arts for
History or Bachelor of Science. The first postgraduate degree is Master of Arts,
Master of Science. Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degree. It is given for some
original research work which is an important contribution to knowledge. Open
Days are a chance for applicants to see the university, meet students and ask
questions. All this will help you decide whether you have made the right choice.
The most famous universities in Britain are Oxford and Cambridge. They
are the two oldest English universities and they both have a long and eventful
history of their own. Oxford and Cambridge are regarded as being academically
superior to other universities and as giving special privilege and prestige.
Cambridge University consists of a group of 32 independent colleges. The first
students came to the city in 1209 and studied in the schools of the cathedral and
monasteries.
Further education in Britain is for people over 16 taking courses at various
levels up to the standard required for entry to higher education. The Open
University offers degrees for people who do not have a formal education and
qualifications, or who are older. Students study at home and then post them off to a
tutor for marking. Most courses take six years and students get a number of credits
for each year’s work. The Open University was founded in 1969 and started its
first course in 1971. About 120, 000 people have enrolled since then.

17
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APPENDICES

20