II. Read and translate the text. Higher education in great britain

There are four stages of education in England: the primary education for children between 5 and 11, secondary education for children between 15/16, further education(16-18), and higher education.

Higher education is provided by universities. There are about 90 universities in Britain. Some years ago there were also polytechnics, but they were given university status in 1992. The course of study lasts three or four years. After successful final examinations a graduate gets his first degree B.A.(Bachelor of Arts) or B.Sc.( Bachelor of Science). The first postgraduate degree is Master's degree. The course lasts for two years and gives M.A. (Master of Arts) or M. Sc.(Master of Science). Ph. D. (Doctor of Philosophy) takes research studies for three years more.

The oldest of Britain’s universities are Oxford and Cambridge; they were founded in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries respectively. These universities developed from a great number of independent colleges and are unique in their traditions. Oxford consists of 48 colleges, Cambridge has 20 colleges. At some colleges only men are admitted, at others only women can study, but there are coeducational colleges too. Oxford and Cambridge use a special method of teaching. Each student has a tutor who helps him to organize the program of study and keeps close and personal contact with him.

Another unique feature of Oxbridge is a collegiate system which can be described as follows: a university is a federation of colleges where each college is independent. Each college has its own building, staff of teachers and sources of income. Colleges admit students, organize program, students’ studies and residence, laboratories, libraries and term examinations. The university organizes final examinations for all the body of college students and grants degrees on successful passing these examinations.

Modern Universities appeared when with the advance of industrialization the government needed technicians and scientists. The older universities did not produce them. Therefore, the government organized technical colleges in industrial centres: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, etc.

These new universities have various faculties, the number and type of which differs from university to university. In each faculty there may be a number of departments dealing with separate subjects. Though these universities concentrate on technology they may offer a number of courses in social studies, modern languages and other non-technical subjects.

University degree courses last three or four years, though in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science 5 or 6 years are required.

The most recently established university in Great Britain is the Open University. It was organized for those people who cannot go to an ordinary university as they have full-time jobs and are able to study only in their free time through correspondence and broadcasting. Students study about ten hours a week. They watch and listen weekly lectures on television and radio. They do written assignments during a year and take examinations once a year in October. The course of studies lasts six or eight years.