The system of higher education in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The structure of higher education in Great Britain is very complex. The main sources of higher educational institutions are: universities (including the Open University1), teacher-training colleges and polytechnics. British universities come in all ages, sizes and shapes.

The oldest of them, Oxford and Cambridge, founded in the 12-th and 13-th centuries took the students from all over the country.

The younger civic or “Redbrick” universities serving the needs of their cities were organized in the 19-th century. The newest “Whitebrick” universities came into existence during the 1960s. Admission to universities is by examination or selection in the for of interviews.

Applications from candidates for admission to nearly all universities are submitted to the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). It is the UCAS that sends the copies to different universities and each university selects its own students.    

British universities are independent, self-governing institutions. Although they all receive financial support from the state (about 79 per cent), the Department of Education and Science has no control over their regulations, curriculum, examinations and the way in which the money is spent.

Teacher education includes all forms of education provided mostly by teacher-training colleges which receive their grants directly from the Department of Education and Science. The great majority of colleges are maintained by the Local Education Authorities. The most usual route to a teaching qualification is by way of three or four year course, leading to the Bachelor of Education Degree.

The universities and teacher-training colleges are classed as higher educational institutions because they awarddegrees. The normal duration of a first degree course is three of four years. At the end a Bachelor Degree is awarded on the results of examinations. A Master Degree is usually awarded after a further year or two years of studies.

The highest degree is the Doctor of Philosophy. It is awarded for research and submission of a thesis-normally after Bachelor and Master Degrees.

Apart from the Universities and teacher-training colleges there are 30 polytechnics in England and Wales and 14 Scottish central institutions. The work of the Polytechnics is of university level. But the universities, funded directly by the state, are less controlled than the Polytechnics.

Local Education Authorities are responsible for the budgets of the Polytechnics. Their work is planned and financed by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.

Most degrees in Polytechnics are awarded by a national body called the Council for National Academic Awards. The Council ensures that the degrees awarded in polytechnics are equal to the degrees awarded by universities. Polytechnics award the Diploma in Technology.

The usual course for the diploma is 3 years for full-time students and 4 years for “sandwich” course ones. The “sandwich” course students alternate periods of full-time education and full- time employment. These courses provide many people with the opportunity of receiving higher technical education.

Вопросы к теме:

Why are British universities independent and self-governing institutions?

What are the main traditions of British higher education?

Why are universities and teacher training colleges classed as higher educational institutions?

Are there any differences in awarding degrees in our country and in Great Britain? What are they?

What is a “sandwich” course in British higher education?

University or institute you have graduated from

Rostov State University of Civil Engineering

Rostov State University of Civil Engineering is the largest University in the south of Russia with the dynamic development. It is a leading institution of national higher education and it is considered to be the center of education, science, culture and sport in Russia. It was established as Civil Engineering Institute in 1944 and in 1997 it got the status of a University.

Rostov State University of Civil Engineering is dynamic at present. Nowadays it has 6 institutes, 3 faculties, a lyceum, a preparatory center, a center of scientific and technical construction examination, a certification center, two scientific research institutes: “Dortrans Scientific research Institute” and “Scientific research Institute of territorial management and city planning» and other departments.

At present Rostov State University of Civil Engineering is the center of modern and highly qualified vocational higher education. More than 10,000 students get training here. They get qualifications in 33 special subjects, 17 programmes for masters in the fields of «Building», «Economics», «Transport systems», «Environmental protection» and others.

Modern technically equipped classrooms, computer and training laboratories provided with up-to-date facilities and software are available to students. 

The University provides access to new learning opportunities, scientific research and creative work. Students and young scientists participate in a number of degree project competitions, subject competitions and All-Russian and regional conferences.

The modern university institutes provide opportunities to ensure high quality training and research. The University has 14 buildings, 13 research departments and a library of 800,000 volumes, 5 reading rooms, an IT centre and 40 computer rooms.

Non-resident students live in three comfortable hostels. Students improve their health at the University Sanatorium and the Health Center.

The Academic body of the University has always been interested in extension of scientific and technical cooperation with other leading higher educational institutions and business companies in Germany, Great Britain, France, Spain, Mexico, China, India, Finland and Austria. Most of them belong to the International Corporate Technical University established in Rostov State University of Civil Engineering.

Foreign scientists and researchers give lectures to the students of the University. They also take an active part in different joint educational projects.

The University has gained the reputation for patriotic, cultural and intellectual development of students. The University is famous for being not only the educational and scientific center, but also the cultural center which offers a wide range of spare time activities for students.

The slogan of the University «Glorious in the Past, dynamic at Present and aimed at the Future» reflects the higher education philosophy with the combination of traditions, innovations, experience and creative research in its concept. 

Вопросы к теме:

When did our University get its status of a University?

What institute of our University did you graduate from?

How do you understand the slogan of our University?

What are the fundamental subjects of the first-year study?

Did you take part in the student’s life of our University? How?

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