Theme: Higer Education system in Great Britain. Plan

Theme: Higer Education system in Great Britain.


Plan:

1. 
   The structure of the educational system.
   
2. 
   Higher education in Great Britain.
   
3. 
   Combination of work and study in Great Britain.
   

The education system of the United Kingdom is a collection of educational institutions of the British Empire, which includes the constituent parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and, before that, the British Isles, as well as the dominions and British colonies on various continents.

Education in the UK is compulsory for all citizens between the ages of 5 and 16. There are two education sectors in the country: public (free education) and private (paying educational institutions, private schools). In Great Britain, two education systems can easily coexist: one in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the other in Scotland.
According to UNESCO and OECD data, 3.5 million students studied in the country in 2012, 427 thousand of them are foreign citizens .
The structure of the educational system
There are many different schools in the UK. Different directories, online, magazine and newspaper articles may use different criteria to classify schools. A common type of school in the UK is boarding schools, where students both study and live. The first boarding schools appeared in Britain in the early Middle Ages, mainly in monasteries. In the twelfth century, the Pope forced all Benedictine monasteries to open charity schools with them. After some time, tuition in such schools began to be paid. Although aristocratic families preferred home schooling to convent schools, over time the belief spread that it was more beneficial for teenagers, regardless of social background, to study with their peers. This belief was the basis for the establishment and development of the privileged boarding schools (public schools), which have educated, educated and shaped the elite of modern British society for over a thousand years. British boarding schools were included in the list of the most expensive and prestigious schools in the world.
Classification of schools by age of students
Full-cycle schools — children of all ages from 3 to 18 study here.
Preschool educational institutions are called kindergartens for children aged 2 to 7 years. Here they teach reading, writing, counting and development through games. Usually, such schools are organized together with schools for younger students. The age of the students is 2 years 9 months to 4 years.
Institutions for young students
Primary school - the age of students is from 4 to 11 years. SAT is administered in 2 stages, in the second and sixth year of study. The results of the second exam are important for admission to High School.
Secondary school is for children from 7 to 13 years old. Here, children go through a special initial general education cycle in various subjects, which ends with general entrance exams. Successful passing of such an exam is the main condition for admission to secondary school.
Institutions for high school students
Senior schools are for teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18. Here, children first undergo two years of training to sit their GCSEs, followed by a further two-year programme: A-Level or International Baccalaureate.
Secondary school is education for children aged 11 and up.
Grammar School is an intensive program of education for children aged 11 and over. In the same schools you can prepare for university (sixth form).
Preparatory schools for universities - for older teenagers aged 16-18.
Preschool education
Preschool education can be obtained in both public and private educational institutions. Parents usually send their children to kindergarten when they are 3-4 years old.
Preparatory education
Children from the age of 5 are admitted to preparatory or primary classes in private schools. Foreign students enter the school at the age of 7 and at the age of 11-13 they are immediately transferred to the secondary classes of the same private school.
Primary school education
Most British children enter state primary schools at the age of 5 and then at the age of 11 move on to secondary education classes in the same school or go to college. In primary school, children study English, mathematics, history, geography, music, industrial technology and art. Topics are chosen by parents. In some counties and districts, 11-year-olds can take an extended exam called "11+" to widen their choice of school for secondary education. Previously, this test was used in England and Wales, but has been replaced by a standardized test.
Students at a private school for girls in Winchester
Education from the age of 16
From the age of 16, after completing the compulsory cycle of education, students can leave school and start working or continue studying to enter university. Two-year A-level courses are offered to those wishing to enter university. AS exams are taken after the first year of study and A2 levels are taken after the second. The first year of study includes compulsory study of 4-5 subjects, and the second 3-4 subjects. Compulsory subjects are not required for delivery - the student individually chooses all subjects from 15-20 offered by the school, thereby determining the specialty for the next 3-5 years of study at the university. Most international students who come to study in the UK start their studies with A-levels
Education from the age of 18 Oxford University students After completing a two-year A-level course, students can pursue vocational or higher education.
Further education includes vocational training courses and some courses for higher education (bachelor's degrees). The term "Vocational Education" refers to courses for those who leave school at the age of 16. There are over 600 public and private further education colleges in the UK. These institutions offer a range of study programmes, including English language courses, General Certificate of Secondary Education and A-level, vocational courses.
Higher education includes undergraduate, graduate (master's, doctoral) and MBA programs. The term "higher education" refers to studies at universities, colleges, and institutes offering graduate or doctoral degrees.
Until the 1960s, higher education in the country was conducted in 23 institutions, 16 of which were in England, 1 in Wales, 4 in Scotland, and 2 in Northern Ireland. However, due to changes in higher education, by the early 1970s, the number of universities doubled and the number of students enrolled in them increased even more.
Great Britain is a small country located in the northwestern part of Europe. The full name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Despite its size, Great Britain is one of the most influential countries in the world, a nuclear power, and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The population of the United Kingdom consists of 58 million people, the largest cities are: London (6.8 million people), Birmingham (935 thousand people), Glasgow (654 thousand people), Sheffield (500 thousand people), Liverpool (450 thousand people) , Edinburgh (421 thousand people), Manchester (398 thousand people), Belfast (280 thousand people), Cardiff (272 thousand people). The average population density is 238 people per square meter.

Ethnic groups: English (English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh) — 94%, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Arabs, Africans.
Great Britain is a country with a temperate climate, warmed by the Gulf Stream and South-West air masses, but not too hot due to its proximity to Northern latitudes. Winter and spring are mostly mild, but temperatures drop significantly to the north. Northern England, the mountains of Wales and Scotland get heavy snow in winter. A temperature below 0°C is cold and above 25°C is heat. In recent years, a general warming of the climate has been observed.

There are three countries in Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales, each of which has its own national characteristics.

The standard of living in Great Britain, especially in London, is one of the highest in the world, but with proper budgeting and saving, costs can be reduced.
As in any country in the world, costs in the UK are directly related to lifestyle and place of residence. Prices in large cities such as London are higher than in the country's regions and rural areas. However, there are exceptions: for example, in Scotland, the cost of living in the outskirts of the country is higher than in some parts of England.

Higher education in Great Britain.

Education in Great Britain has been leading the European and world rankings for several decades. One of the most prestigious and ancient universities - Oxford and Cambridge universities are located here. But besides them, there are dozens of well-known educational institutions and research centers in England. Every year, thousands of international students come to study in a country known for its traditional and quality education system.
Along with US universities, British universities are currently the most popular among foreign students. At the same time, taking into account the similarity of educational systems in the Anglo-Saxon world, the higher education system in Great Britain has its own characteristics and advantages compared to other countries.
Ancient traditions. One of the main features of education in England is respect for ancient traditions and rules. Conformism in this good sense favors a well-established system that has been considered the most effective for centuries. Stephen Hawking, Vladimir Nabokov, Oscar Wilde, Isaac Newton and many others - he raised the most brilliant ideas in the history of mankind appear before the same modern students. The education system of Great Britain, while maintaining its traditional values, maintains competitiveness with the education system of other countries in the world.
Diversity. Although faithful to ancient traditions, English universities are very different from each other. For example, at the University of Cambridge, discipline is highly valued, it gathers young people from the most famous English families, and London Metropolitan University is the most dynamic and progressive among creative young people. The University of Bath has a strong research base and is an important academic centre. Even the most famous University of London consists of dozens of different colleges, so don't think that all British universities are the same because of tradition. On the contrary, it is not difficult to go a little into the description of each educational institution, see and evaluate the variety of approaches in each of them, and choose what you want.
Friendly atmosphere. The last difference of British higher education institutions, especially compared to America, is a very positive atmosphere during education. Compared to the US, education there means primarily competition. Of course, the competitive environment has a good effect on the result, but not everyone can match the strong rhythm that comes out of it. In British universities, the student is completely self-sufficient and has the right to independently choose the system process. Therefore, this country is an excellent choice for people who are not hungry for competition, but are strictly focused on results.
According to the experience of many students, you can definitely say that it is not difficult to get into an English university. And the same goes for the admissions requirements and application process. Still, it's important to know a few things and prepare ahead of time if possible. So how do you get into an English university.
Learn English. The first and most important thing is to learn English. Unfortunately, many applicants ignore language proficiency and focus more on the entire admissions process. But you don't need anything safe - just start preparing in a few months: read articles in English, independently look at the websites of higher education institutions, start watching movies in the original language with subtitles, spend a few hours on free courses , one day. As a result, it will make itself felt in a few weeks, and language knowledge will be useful not only at the time of entry, but also in other areas of life.
Choose a university and a program. The next step is to determine your future specialty and university. No one can help you with the first choice better than yourself. Do not re-read dozens of articles on "The most popular professions of the 21st century" - they are usually intended for a wide audience and do not help to identify a specific person. To work as an accountant for 40 years is to bury the talent of an archaeologist in the ground, but it should not be forgotten that good specialists are always and everywhere in demand. In turn, when choosing a university, you should not rely only on intuition - in this case, student ratings, forums and personal stories will help.
Preparation of documents. When the hardest part is behind you, all that remains is to collect some papers and pass the necessary tests. However, this takes time, so don't delay with the last step, otherwise there will be no time until the deadline. The entire selection process is done through the online application system, so there is no need to send anything by mail - scanned copies will suffice.
The list of documents for admission to an English university includes:
Official translation of a certificate or diploma. First of all, it is necessary to take care of the official translation of the received education document. You can do it yourself or contact a translation agency. Remember: grades obtained during the previous academic term are very important, as many universities require a GPA.
IELTS certificate. IELTS is a very important but very scary official test in English. It is very easy to pass with proper preparation, so do not wait for the test history with fear and dread. This test is important because the language proficiency requirements cannot be lowered even for the most academically bright applicants. Please read the language requirements page carefully - it shows the minimum score required for registration and which test results are required.
Certificate Foundation Year, IB (International Baccalaureate) or A-Level (for undergraduate programs)
GRE or GMAT certificate (for some graduate programs). Certain graduate programs (mostly MBA programs) require the student to take standardized tests such as the GRE or GMAT.
Research proposal (research proposal). For admission to PhD programs or master's programs, especially the MS / MA research student must provide an up-to-date proposal on the research it involves to carry out.
Recommendation letters from teachers and/or employers (2 letters)
Motivational letter
Preparation for studying at a British higher education institution - bachelor
To meet the standard qualification requirements, a Russian student must take one of the following programs: programe Foundation, International Baccalaureate or a-level.
Research category programs imply that most of the student's time is devoted to work in the field of research. Such programs are very difficult to get into because they require a research proposal (research proposal), and they are more difficult to study because they require excellent knowledge of the material and independent study. These programs are an ideal option for future PhD students.
UK student visa.
Except for short-term (up to 3 months) language courses, all foreign students must hold a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK. The list of documents required to obtain it includes:
Official offer from the university (CAS);
Certificate of financial solvency (a statement from a bank account or a copy of an official grant award letter);
Certificate or diploma of previous education;
Original copy of the certificate of passing the official English language exam (IELTS, UNKVI);
Passport copy;
Payment for the consular fee;
A certificate issued by an accredited medical center on the absence of tuberculosis.
Combination of work and study in Great Britain.
In most cases, university students are allowed to work full-time on weekends (up to 20 hours per week) and part-time during holidays (up to 40 hours per week). In addition to partially covering the cost of education, this is a great opportunity to improve your language skills and get to know the local community.
Program Fund. During the one-year preparatory course, the student must pay great attention to language learning, as well as to the study of special subjects necessary for entering the bachelor's program. These types of programs are offered by universities. The main requirements for admission to the Rgodgamme Foundation are: minimum age of 17 years, secondary education certificate and IELTS certificate result of at least 5.0 or 5.5.
For one year, students master 1-3 special subjects, necessary for admission to British higher education institutions. Successful completion of a program foundation course guarantees acceptance and in some cases discounts on training.

Foundation programs are usually available in several versions:

The business program is suitable for those who seek to enter specialties related to business, management, economics, finance;
The engineering program prepares students for admission to engineering majors;
The law program is intended for future sociologists, lawyers and political scientists;
Life Sciences is suitable for those engaged in research in physics, chemistry, biology or mathematics;
Art and Humanities should be passed on to future philosophers, historians, cultural scientists and other specialists in the field of humanities.
The start of the program corresponds to two months a year: September (end of June) and January (end of August).
International Baccalaureate. An international program in which you can easily enter almost any university in Europe, get the necessary points, usually 35, in prestigious universities - 38. This program is carried out under the supervision of the IBO organization, but its content does not differ from the preparatory program at the university. In addition, the IB diploma can be used to enter universities around the world.
"A-level". A kind of analogue of the International Baccalaureate, but of course in Great Britain. To enter Cambridge, Oxford or any medical school in the UK, you need to complete a two-year A-level program or a special IB program.
Bachelor in UK
Bachelor's degree is the first step in the higher education system in the entire academic world. In particular, undergraduate programs in Great Britain last only 3 years (except for medicine), because the basic knowledge usually obtained in the first year of European or American universities is obtained in preparatory programs in England.