Say if the following statements are true or false. If the statement is false, give the correct variant.
1. Nowadays almost all British universities are state-universities, that’s why they hardly differ from each other.
2. The academic year at British Colleges of education is divided into 3 terms.
3. Universities in Britain can’t decide on their own which students to admit, what and how to teach, and which degrees to award.
4. Oxford and Cambridge universities called collectively Oxbridge have common teaching staff and the same admission regulations.
5. After two good exam passes and attending the interview students can get a place at a British university.
6. The State and the government of Great Britain try to support students in covering the costs of university life.
7. Every full-time student must attend all the lectures not to be sent down.
8. Most university courses last three or four years in Britain.
9. An individual "tutorial" system organized by the colleges and universities in Britain is based on regular individual work of the student and his tutor.
10. The undergraduate courses don’t require original research.
Complete the sentences.
1. After finishing secondary school or college in Great Britain you can apply to … .
2. Universities in Britain enjoy the complete academic freedom choosing … .
3. The two oldest and most prestigious universities in Britain are … .
4. If you want to go to a British university, you must first pass … .
5. Most students at British universities have to …, some students get … or need … .
6. The general pattern of teaching and learning on full-time courses remains … .
7. Attendance at lectures isn’t …, and any student may … .
8. An individual "tutorial" system means that each lecturer … .
9. Each student has a tutorial once or twice a week when he … .
10. Thanks to the recognized quality of British education … .
5. Answer these questions. If possible, compare your answers with someone else from your own country and\ or someone from a different country.
1. Do you need to pass examinations before you can go to university?
2. Do some students get a grant to study at university?
3. Is the tuition free if you go to university?
4. Do most degree courses last three years?
5. What is your equivalent of the British BA or BSc?
6. Do you have similar postgraduate degrees in your country?
Conversation practice
Ex. 1. This year your friend finishes the school and is going to enter the British university. You know that Russian and British Higher education systems greatly differ from each other. Try to compare them and to draw your friend’s attention to some differences between studying in Russia and in Great Britain. You can highlight such details which you see in the table below:
| Details | Russian Universities | British Universities |
| 1. The academic year is divided into … (amount of terms). | … two | … three |
| 2. To get a place at a university students must usually take … entrance exams (amount of exam passes). | … | … |
| 3. Most students have to pay … (part of\ in full, without receiving any financial help) their tuition fee. | … | … |
| 4. Most university courses last … years (amount of years). | … | … |
| 5. Attendance at lectures is … (compulsory or not). | … | … |
| 6. … (Add some more details!) | … | … |
