Higher Education in The U.K.
There are more than 60 universities in the U.K. The leading
universities are Cambridge, Oxford and London. English universities
differ from each other in traditions, general organization, internal
goverment, etc. British universities are comparatively small, the
approximate number is about 7-8 thousand students. Most universities
have under 3000 students, some even less than 1500 ones. London and
Oxford universities are international, because people from many parts
of the world come to study at one of their colleges. A number of
wellknown scientists and writers, among them Newton, Darvin, Byron
were educated in Cambridge.
A university consists of a number of departments: art, law,
music, economy, education, medicine, engineering, etc.
After three years of study a student may proceed to a Bachelor's
degree, and later to the degrees of Master and Doctor. Besides
universities there are at present in Britain 300 technical colleges,
providing part-time and full-time education.
The organization system of Oxford and Cambridge differs from that
of all other universities and colleges. The teachers are usually
called Dons. Part of the teaching is by means of lectures organized by
the university. Teaching is also carried out by tutorial system. This
is the system of individual tuitio organized by the colleges. Each
student goes to his tutor's room once a week to read and discuss an
essay which the student has prepared.
Some students get scholarship but the number of these students is
comparatively small. There are many sociaties and clubs at Cambridge
and Oxford. The most celebrating at Cambridge is the Debating Sociaty
at which students discuss political and other questions with famous
politicians and writers. Sporting activities are also numerous.
The work and games, the traditions and customs, the jokes and
debates - all are parts of students' life there.
It should be mentioned that not many children from the
working-class families are able to receive the higher education as the
fees are very high (more than L1000 a year). Besides that special fees
are taken for books, for laboratory works, exams and so on.