1
British and American Universities
1. Can you name some famous British or American Universities?
What do you know about them?
2. Read the text on British University Qualifications and complete the chart.
University degree Length of the course Abbreviation
British University Qualifications
British universities offer a number of different undergraduate and postgraduate degree awards.
The commonest undergraduate degree is called a bachelor's degree. The best known bachelors' degrees
are the BA (Bachelor of Arts) and the B.Sc (Bachelor of Science).
A bachelor's degree usually marks the completion of three or four years of undergraduate study.
There are four divisions of the bachelor's degree award:
* first class honours (I)
* upper second class honours (II i)
* lower second class honours (II ii)
* third class honours (III)
* pass
A postgraduate degree is called a master's degree or a doctorate (doctor's degree). The commonest
masters' degrees are the MA (Master of Arts) and the M.Sc (Master of Science).
Master's degree programmes usually involve one or two years of postgraduate study.
Most departments in British universities also offer the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D). This
degree is usually granted after three or more years of postgraduate study (depending on the individual
student), and involves some original research. People who have been awarded a doctor's degree can be
called "Doctor" (instead of Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms).
Every British university produces undergraduate and postgraduate prospectuses with precise details of
every degree awarded in every department. The name given to a degree award varies. For example,
people who have been awarded a BA degree from Oxford or Cambridge University can obtain an MA
degree simply by paying a fee. Some universities do not award any BA and MA degrees, and others do
not award any B.Sc and M.Sc degrees. In some university departments the name of the degree gives a
more precise indication of the subject specialism - an undergraduate degree in Music, for example, is
sometimes called a B.Mus.
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/EAP/bulletin_board/tests/index.html Accessed 26.9.2005
2
3. Admission to universities in Britain.
Listen and decide which of the statements are true and which are false (T/F)
1. Each university has a separate entrance exam. T/F
2. National school ­ leaving exams are called A levels in Britain? T/F
3. The students choose the universities and the courses they are interested in by looking at
prospectuses. T/F
4. The prospectuses are available only in the school careers offices. T/F
5. UCCA stands for Universities Central Council on Admissions. T/F
6. The students apply directly to the universities themselves. T/F
7. You can apply for admission to more than 5 universities. T/F
8. The academic year starts in September. T/F
Based on ´Study Speaking´, T.Lynch,K.Anderson, CUP 1992
4. Search the internet to find a university of your choice. Then answer the following
questions. Be ready to present the university to your colleagues.
What is the name and location of the University?
What is the official position of the head of the University?
What is the structure of the University? (faculties, colleges, schools)
What degrees does the University offer?
What and why would you like to study there?
How much will you have to pay as an overseas ("international") student.
How, when and where will you apply for admission?
Are there terms or semesters? When do they start?
3
5. Work in pairs. One of you is a Czech student (giving information on MU), the other is a
British student (giving information on the university from the internet). When finished,
swap the roles.
Ask your partner about:
the age people go to university
the admission to a university (entrance exam)
the degrees you can obtain, the length of courses
the course fee, scholarships
the beginning and organization of an academic year
the kind of lessons you have
assessment
accommodation
etc.
4