Before reading

5.1. Read and translate some international words: academic, typical, factor, location, home comfort, course, historically, normally, financed, maximum, international student, hierarchy, prestigious, technological, innovation, inspector, standard.

 

5.2 Learn new words for reading the text. Look through the text below, find the sentences with these words and translate them into Russian.

 

variety – разнообразие

various – различный, разный

to offer – предлагать

to go on – продолжать

to last for – длиться, продолжаться

to complete – завершать

eligible– иметь право

to undertake – предпринимать, брать

access – доступ

worship – поклонение, культ

to charge – установить цену

to entitle – давать право на

to maintain – поддерживать, сохранять

student loan – кредит на учебу

scholarship – стипендия

hierarchy – иерархия

to contain – содержать в себе

to date from –восходить к, датироваться

innovation – новшество

syllabus (singl.)– программа, учебный план; syllabi (pl.) – программы

peculiarity – особенность

collegiate – коллегиальный, состоящий из колледжей

 

5.3 Match the synonyms

tutorial	grant
access	to suggest
to deal with	different
scholarship	class
financed	supported
to offer	to finish
to go on	admission
various	new development
to complete	to continue
innovation	to handle

 

5.4 Complete the word-building table with words from tasks 2.1 and 5.2.

 

Verb	Noun	Noun (person)
to educate		educator
	entrance	entrant
to graduate	graduation
to teach		teacher
	application	applicant
to learn	learning
to research		researcher
to provide	provision
to innovate		innovator
	maintenance	maintainer

 

5.5 Think and answer.

How many universities are there in Great Britain?

What are the oldest English universities?

What degrees do English universities offer?

Is there any English university graduate among the people you know?

 

5.6 Listen to the text read by Virginia Martin from the University of Wisconsin (USA.) Try to understand as many details as possible. Read the text.

Text: Higher Education in Great Britain

The UK has a variety of higher education opportunities for students. There are over 100 universities which offer various degree programs. About one-third of all UK school graduates go on to some form of higher education. Students normally enter university from age 18, and study for an academic degree.

The typical first degree offered at English universities is the bachelor's degree. It usually requires three years. Many institutions now offer an undergraduate master's degree as a first degree, which typically lasts for four years. During a first degree students are known as undergraduates. Students who have completed a first degree are eligible to undertake a postgraduate degree, which might be a: Master's degree (typically taken in one year, though research-based master's degrees may last for two) and Doctorate (typically taken in three years).

Choosing the right school depends on a large number of factors such as: location of the school, tuition, size of the school, access to home comforts, place of worship, home food, courses available.

Historically, all undergraduate education outside the private University of Buckingham was largely state-financed. Most undergraduates paid tuition that was set at a maximum of £3,375 per year. At present fees of up to £9,000 per year are charged. These fees are repayable after graduation, at a certain level of income. The state pays all fees for students from the poorest families. UK students are generally entitled to student loans. The fees for international students can be up to £18,000 per year or more.
Postgraduate fees vary but are generally more than undergraduate fees, depending on the degree and university. However, full scholarships are available for postgraduates.

There is a distinct hierarchy among universities, with the Russell Group containing most of the country's more prestigious, research-led and research-focused universities. The two oldest universities in England are Oxford and Cambridge. These date from the Middle Ages. England had no other universities until the 19th century. The universities which were founded between 1850 and 1930 are known as ‘Red Brick universities’. They were called so because that was the favorable building material of the time. These universities were built to provide a liberal education for the poorer boys and to give technological training. The universities which were founded after the Second World War are called ‘the new universities’. The most interesting innovation is Open University.

The state does not control university syllabi, but it does influence admission procedures. It still has control over teacher training courses, and uses its inspectors to maintain standards.

 

5.7. Find English equivalents to the following word-combinations: степень бакалавра, учиться для получения академической степени, степень магистра, четкая иерархия, университеты, где проводятся и сосредоточены исследования, излюбленный строительный материал, курсы подготовки учителей, разнообразие возможностей, средние века, процедура приема, студентам дают право на получение ссуды.