Text 2. Further or Higher Education

1. Read the text quickly and correct the plan below

1) Entrance to Universities, colleges

2) University degrees

3) Work and study at 16

4) Tutorial system

5) Money for education

At the age of sixteen people are free to leave school if they want to. Most school leavers do not find employment immediately and do not want to go to FE College. They may take part in training schemes (the Young Opportunities Scheme, YOPS) which involve on-the-job training combined with part-time college courses. Some young working people are given “day release” so they can follow a course to help them in their job.

The next stage is “further” education at university, college or Polytechnics. Polytechnics are similar to Universities, but the courses are more practically oriented. A number of Colleges of Further Education do vocational training courses for particular jobs and careers, for example in engineering, typing, cooking or hairdressing. There are 91 universities and 47 colleges of higher education. The availability of higher education and finding a university place is not easy. Universities, although financed by the government, have autonomy and each one has complete control over what to teach, how to teach it, and how to test the students. They make their own choices and accept only the better students on their courses. Universities normally select students on the basis of top grades in several A-level results and an interview, and competition for places is fierce.

The labour-intensive system of instruction known as tutorials has been polishing minds for 800 years. The strength of the tutorial system is that it’s almost impossible to be lazy under it. Within the first week the freshman meets the tutor to whom he is assigned and begins his work. Undergraduates, students who are studying for degrees, go to a large formal lectures, but most of the work takes place in tutorials, lessons in groups of ten or more when the students discuss their work with the lecturer.

The academic year in Britain’s universities is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the end of June or beginning of July. Universities offer three- and four-year degree courses. After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Science (B.Sc.), Engineering (B.Eng.), Medicine, etc. A degree is the qualification you get from the university when you pass your final exams. Later a university graduate may continue to take the Master’s Degree (M.A.) and then the Doctor’s Degree (PhD). Research is an important feature of university work.

Most British students choose to go to university a long way from their home town: university is seen as a time to be independent, to live away from home and develop new interests. Students need money to live away from home while they are studying. Some students whose parents do not earn a lot of money are given a grant (money) from the local educational authority. Some students borrow money from the bank which must be paid back after they leave university.

Not all students study full-time at university or college. Many people combine their studies with work. Some companies release their stuff for training one or two days a week or for two months a year. There is an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University, when people study in their own free time and “attend” lectures by watching television, listening radio, using Internet. They keep in touch with their tutors by phone, letter or on-line.

2. Read the text more carefully and complete the sentences.

a) If a school leaver doesn’t want to go to a college or cannot find a job he (she) can…….

b) Educational institutions of Further education include……… .

c) Polytechnics are…… .

d) The universities accept students on the…….

e) The university degrees are…….

f) There are several ways to get money for the education……….

g) Studying at the Open University students………….

3. Give full answers to these questions.

1) Why are some young working people given a “day release”?

2) What are the main characteristics of different higher educational institutions?

3) Are Universities controlled by the government?

4) Why is a tutorial system so efficient?

5) When do students get their first academic degree?

6) Why do most British students prefer to study away from their homes?

7) What should they do to get higher degrees?

8) Is a full-time study the only way to get higher education?

9*) What are advantages and disadvantages of studying at the Open University?

10*) What do you like and dislike about the British system of professional education?

4. Translate using the dictionary.