Higher education in the UK topic. Topic: Education in Great Britain

2015-12-23

Hello, my dear readers!

If you ask yourself which school is the most famous in Great Britain, the answer is simple - Hogwarts! We, of course, can hope that one day the dreams of millions of children and even hundreds of adults will come true, and this school will actually appear in England, but for now we have to make do with little - an ordinary English education.

And today I would like to talk to you exactly what secondary education is like in the UK, how it is received and what stages of education an ordinary British schoolchild goes through. And at the end I will present a topic on this topic in English.

Obtaining secondary education

The British are sure: their education is the best! After all, little has changed in the British system over the past decades. All schools are divided into public and private. If the former are free, then for the latter you will have to pay, and not a little. In addition, there are regular schools where students come in the morning and leave in the afternoon. Is there boarding schools, where children stay either until the end of the week or until the end of the semester.

Remember those pictures of children standing in school uniforms with a school in the background? Yes, in most cases these are boarding schools, for which the UK is so famous.

Education for children is considered compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16 and is divided into periods: pre-school education, primary school, secondary school and preparation for education. Let's start in order!

Preschool education:

This is something similar to our kindergartens, only children are educated here from 3 to 4 years old. And here is the most important feature of this stage of education: the child can only be there for 3 hours a day. You will have to pay for the rest of the time. Classes are held in the form of group and thematic games, and the main task is to identify the child’s abilities.

Primary education (primary school):

In most UK schools, primary education begins from 5 to 11 years of age, and in some schools at 13 years of age if the first two years were preparatory. From the age of 5, education in England becomes compulsory for each. At the preparatory stage, the child must study English and mathematics, and depending on what the parents choose, he can study geography, history, music and other subjects. From the age of 7 to 11 (or 13), the sciences mentioned before are joined by natural sciences, design and information technology. In total, children study about 12 subjects.

Secondary school:

This stage runs from the age of 11 (or 13) to the age of 16, when the student takes the exam for a certificate of secondary education. Until the age of 14, children study a huge range of school subjects. Then, 2 years before graduation, they choose 5-10 subjects and purposefully prepare to pass the exam. Having received a certificate (General Certificate of Secondary Education), their compulsory education ends and they can go, for example, to a vocational college.

Those who want to get quality education stay in school for another 2 years. Here they select about 5 items. These are the subjects they will specialize in at university. At the end of two years of training, students take an exam, after which they can enter the university.

Private education in the UK

Naturally, many would like their children to go to a private school in England. Studying in private schools in the UK is considered one of the most prestigious, but also one of the most expensive. Not everyone can afford such an education. The estimated cost of training is somewhere between 4-10 thousand pounds sterling per semester. In this case, the academic year is 3 terms. So calculate how much training can cost.

Of course, even the most prestigious and expensive schools in the UK provide scholarships to talented students. They can cover from 5 to 50% of the cost of training. But to get such a scholarship you have to try very hard.

Some features of studying in the UK

It is necessary to monitor the time of receipt of documents very carefully. For example, in order to enroll a child in a preparatory class at an elementary school, the director must have the documents six months before the start of the semester! And this does not guarantee that your child will graduate from this particular school in the future. Usually all good primary schools are overcrowded for years to come.

Topic on the topic

Today I also want to help you and have prepared a text in English on this topic. I hope that my topic today will help you write a topic on the topic of education in England, as well as practice it in conversation.

Education in Great Britain.

Education in England is obligatory for those who are at the age from 5 to 16. Schools in Britain are state (that usually are free) or private (that require a lot of money).

Pupils in Britain usually take primary school and secondary school.

They enter the school at the age of 5. It is called primary school. Here they study such subjects as English, math, and music and so on. They enter secondary school when they turn 11. Here they have a lot of subjects such as geography, history, chemistry, IT and so on.

In Britain boys and girls visit the same classes and are not separated.

At 16 they must pass the exam that states that they have finished the school. After getting the diploma (GCSE) they can either stay at school for preparing for the university, or go to college.

Here the obligatory part of education comes to an end. Those who stay at school for 2 more years chose 4-5 subjects that they are going to study at university and prepare for the exam called A-level. They need it to enter university.

Those who want to enter private school should be ready to pay a lot of money. The cost of the school is about 4-10 thousand pounds for the semester. Some private schools provide scholarships for very talented students that cover from 5 to 50% of the cost. But it is very difficult to get the scholarship.

So that is the way English pupils get the education.

Useful expressions:

to be obligatory for smb- to be obligatory for someone

at the age from 5 to 16 years old -V age from 5 before 16 years

to take primary school -go V initial school

when you turn 11 years- when you turn 11 years old

to be separated -to be divided

to come to an end -come up To end

be ready to do sth- be ready to do something

to get education -get education

the cost of the school -price schooling

state and private school- public and private schools

With this, I say goodbye to you today. I will be glad to answer all your questions in the comments, and also see you among the subscribers of my blog in order to share with you all the most interesting and relevant things.

In contact with

Every year a large number of foreign students, including Russians, come to England. The popularity of studying in this country is due to the thoughtfulness of the educational system and the unique methodology of conducting classes in English. The only negative is the high cost of training, which is explained by the prospects of obtaining a prestigious one in large organizations.

The cost of such classes depends on the intensity of the course and the financial policy of the institution.

Language courses in English schools

Many foreigners prefer to first go to England for one or two years to visit. Thus, you can improve your knowledge to the required level for admission to an English university. There are simply a lot of language schools in the homeland of the English language, and the country itself helps to learn the language - signs, local speech, the need for communication and much more have a positive effect on knowledge.In English language schools, groups are divided according to language level. This is how students will be more comfortable learning English and improving it. The level of knowledge is usually checked by a short introductory test.

In addition to language schools for youth and adults, there are various camps for schoolchildren in England. Parents can send their child to learn English during the summer holidays for several weeks. Typically, fees for such schools include both accommodation and meals.

The cost of completion directly depends on the chosen program: it can be intensive, in-depth or for beginners. Learning English in the UK is a cherished goal for many. If you need to quickly prepare to take a test in a foreign language (for example, or), you should contact any school or college that offers appropriate educational services.

University rankings in England

In total, there are about 600 universities in England, many of which occupy the top positions in the rankings of educational institutions not only in the country, but also in the world. Sometimes it is difficult for an applicant to make a choice in favor of one institution or another, because there are really many options.

  1. Oxford is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the UK. The campus is a whole complex located in the city of the same name, Oxford. Currently there are about 22,000 students studying at the university, approximately half of whom are foreigners. The University of Oxford offers a simply huge selection of programs. You can study medicine, law, management, physics and mathematics - it all depends on your desire and budget. Studying at a prestigious university costs a lot of money: one academic year will cost from 24,000 pounds sterling. The university itself advises you to start preparing for admission a year in advance and decide on the course in June. You must submit your application before October 15 (Attention! To start your studies in a year) and register for the tests that are required for the chosen program. The future student is given until November 15 to pass all exams and send their results to the university. Interviews with candidates are usually scheduled for the first two weeks of December and you can receive an official response with approval or refusal as early as January.

    The University of Oxford is one of the most prestigious and oldest universities in England.

  2. Cambridge - the second oldest university, which was founded a few years after the opening of Oxford. Like its big brother, Cambridge offers a large number of study programs to choose from. The cost of studying at a university starts from 20,000 pounds and increases depending on the chosen direction. The most expensive place to study medicine in Cambridge is from 55,000 pounds sterling for one course. As at Oxford, your application must be sent to Cambridge no later than October 15, and the decision on admitting a student is announced at the end of January. This also applies to funding for studies - future students can find out whether they have received a grant only after an interview and announcement of accepted people to the university.
  3. , located in the center of the capital of Scotland, opened its doors back in the 16th century. The university has a rich history and deservedly ranks third in the UK rankings. There are a lot of undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Edinburgh. In addition to the main areas, you can also study highly specialized ones, for example, Japanese or Italian. It is worth noting that you do not have to move to England to study at the University of Edinburgh - the university also provides online courses that are no worse than full-time study. The procedure for enrolling in online programs is no different from regular ones, but they cost much less. Also, for students from Russia and CIS countries, additional documents may be required for admission to some programs, so the University of Edinburgh strongly recommends that you write an email and clarify the requirements.

    The University of Edinburgh is one of the first universities to offer online study

  4. University of Bristol, the same one that Winston Churchill graduated from, has been operating for more than two centuries and annually accepts not only English but also foreign students. Everyone will be able to find the desired program and receive a bachelor's or master's degree. Biochemistry, engineering in various fields, pedagogy, philology and even music - all this can be studied at the University of Bristol.
  5. University of London is a prestigious metropolitan university, which consists of 9 colleges in different fields, where about 180,000 students from different countries, including Russia, study. In addition to the usual full-time faculty, the university also offers distance learning. A rather unusual form of receiving education via the Internet is gaining popularity every year, because you can study at any time and anywhere. The cost of one year at the University of London starts from 20,000 pounds sterling.

Budget British universities

Looking at the prices at prestigious universities in the UK, you may be disappointed that the dream of an elite education was not within your budget. However, not all English universities are so expensive. Of course, we are not talking about free education, but you can get higher education on a budget at the following universities (the cost is indicated for one academic year):

  • University of Stirling- from 12,000 pounds sterling;
  • Queen Margaret University— from 13,000;
  • Admission to a British university

    UK universities are considered among the best in the world, which is why they have a fairly strict student admission procedure. Each university can set its own rules, required documents and tests that an applicant must pass. Typically, the requirements for admission to a British university are as follows:

    1. Certificate and diploma (if any).
    2. Certificate of language proficiency.
    3. Test results (if required for admission).
    4. Motivation letter and resume (sometimes you also need recommendations from teachers/professors/employer).
    5. International passport to confirm your identity.

    Most English universities require preliminary tests, the results of which will play a key role in choosing a student for a vacant place. Typically, such exams are taken by specialty: future doctors must pass chemistry and biology, and engineers must pass physics and mathematics.

    As for the language proficiency certificate, British universities accept IELTS, TOEFL and UCLES.

    After passing the required exams and submitting documents, they are reviewed by the university, after which the candidate is scheduled for an interview. Typically, interviews with future students from abroad take place via the Internet, Skype or other video platform.


England is one of the top countries which offer excellent education. English educational system is quite different from the system in many other countries. It is class-divided into state and private schools. For children aged between 5 and 17 full-time education is compulsory. Primary education starts at the age of 5. Before that children may attend a nursery school. Secondary education starts at the age of 11 and continues up to 18. After that children receive tertiary education. Almost 93% of English children attend state-funded schools, which are without charge. Only some activities such as theater visits or field trips may require voluntary payment. All state schools in England are divided into six categories:

  1. Community schools, in which the local authority is responsible for school staff and admissions.
  2. Free schools are newly established institutions in England, which are set up parents, businesses, charities. These schools are free to attend and funded mainly by tax-payers.
  3. Academy schools have recently replaced poorly-performing community schools in economically challenged areas. They are monitored by the Department for Education.
  4. Foundation schools are institutions in which the governing body or a charitable foundation is responsible for the admissions and staff.
  5. Voluntary Aided schools can be linked to various organizations, such as churches, trade associations, etc. They can be faith schools or non-denominational schools.
  6. Voluntary Controlled schools are almost always linked to the church. While their lands and buildings are owned by charitable foundations, the local authority is responsible for the staff and admissions.

Some English children attend private or independent schools, which require additional fee. Children with particular skills are sometimes offered scholarships for studying in such schools. Private schools do not follow the National Curriculum. Both private and state-funded schools hold GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations for children aged 14-16. It’s a group of tests taken in a number of subsequent subjects. From age 18 children normally enter university to receive an academic degree.

The typical first degree offered in British universities is the bachelor’s degree, which usually takes three years. There are universities which offer a master’s degree as well. Such education usually lasts for four years. British universities have a certain hierarchy. The most prestigious universities in the country are Oxford and Cambridge. They are also world-famous. Although the state doesn’t control the syllabuses of higher education institutions, it does influence admission procedures. Undergraduates, who have already completed a first degree education, may continue studying in postgraduate to achieve a Master’s degree or a Doctorate.

Education in England

England is included in the list of the best countries offering excellent education. The English educational system is quite different from the system in many other countries. It is divided by class into public and private schools. For children aged 5 to 17 years, full-time education is compulsory. Primary education begins at the age of 5 years. Before this, children can attend kindergartens. Secondary education begins at age 11 and lasts until age 18. After this, children receive higher education. Almost 93% of English children attend state-funded schools, which are free. Only some activities, such as going to the theater or hiking, may require voluntary contributions. All public schools in England are divided into six categories:

1. Public schools in which the local authority is responsible for employees and students.
2. Free education schools, newly created institutions in England, which were formed thanks to parents, business institutions, and charitable organizations. These schools are free to attend and are funded primarily by taxpayers.
3. Academic Learning Schools are newly created replacements for underperforming public schools in economically distressed areas. They are controlled by the Department of Education.
4. Foundation-funded schools in which the governing body or charitable foundation is responsible for the staff and students.
5. Voluntary aid schools may be affiliated with various organizations such as churches, trade associations, etc. These may be religious or non-denominational schools.
6. Schools controlled by voluntary organizations are almost always associated with a church. While their lands and buildings are owned by charities, local authorities are responsible for staff and students.

Some English children attend private or independent schools, which charge additional fees. Children with special talents are sometimes offered scholarships to attend such schools. Private schools are not subject to the National Program. Both private and public educational institutions provide the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exam for children aged 14-16 years. This is a group of tests administered in several specific subjects. After the age of 18, children usually go to university to obtain a degree.

Typically, British universities offer a bachelor's degree as a first degree, which takes about three years. There are also universities offering master's degrees. This education usually lasts for four years. British universities have a certain hierarchy. Oxford and Cambridge are considered the most prestigious universities in the country. They are also world famous. Although the state does not control the curricula of higher education institutions, it has a certain influence on the admission process. Students who have already completed their first degree can continue their studies in graduate school to obtain a master's or doctorate degree.

For seven hundred years Oxford and Cambridge universities dominated the British education. Scotland had four universities, all founded before A. D. 1600. Wales only acquired a university in the 20th century; it consisted of four university colleges located in different cities (Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor, and Aberystwith). The first English university after Oxford and Cambridge (sometimes referred to as Oxbridge) was Durham, in the North of England, founded in 1832. The University of London was founded a few years later in 1836.

During the nineteenth century institutions of higher education were founded in most of the biggest industrial towns, like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield (sometimes called the Redbrick Universities). At first they did not have full university status but were known as university colleges; since 1945, however, all have become independent universities, and in recent years a number of other universities have been founded: Sussex, Essex, Warwick, and others.

In the middle 60s there was a further new development. Some of the local technical colleges maintained by local authorities had gained special prestige. By 1967 ten of these had been given charters as universities. Many of them are in the biggest cities where there were already established universities; so now we have the University of Aston (Birmingham), Salford (close to Manchester), Strathclyde (Glasgow), Herriot-Watt University (Edinburgh), Brunei University (London).

When we add all these together we find that the number of universities in England increased within ten years from nineteen to thirty-six, and in Scotland from four to eight.

Oxford university is a federation of colleges, and it is impossible to understand its structure unless one first understands the nature and function of these colleges, which have no resemblance whatever with the institutions called "colleges" in America.

Oxford has twenty-three ordinary colleges for men, five for women. All these are parallel institutions, and none of them is connected with any particular field of study. No matter what subject a student proposes to study he may study at any of the men's colleges.

Each college has a physical existence in the shape of a dining-hall, chapel, and residential rooms (enough to accommodate about half the student membership, the rest living in lodgings in the town). It is governed by its Fellows (commonly called "dons"), of whom there are usually about twenty or thirty. The dons are also responsible for teaching the students of the college through the tutorial system. The Fellows elect the Head of the college (whose title varies from college to college).

The colleges vary very much in size and extent of grounds and buildings.

Colleges choose their own students, and a student only becomes a member of the University by having been accepted by a college. Students are chosen mainly on academic merit, but the policy of colleges in this respect varies from college to college. Some tend to be rather keen to admit a few men who are very good at rugby or some other sport, or sons of former students or of lords, or of eminent citizens, or of millionaires.

The colleges and university buildings are scattered about the town, mostly in the central area, though the scientific laboratories and the women's colleges are quite a long way out.

The university teachers are mostly Fellows of colleges, who may at the same time hold university appointments as lecturers or professors. Part of the teaching is by means of lectures and any student- may attend any university lecture. At the beginning of each term (there are three terms in the Oxford academic year) a list is published showing all the lectures being given during the term within each faculty, and every student can choose which lectures he will attend, though his own college tutor will advise him which lectures seem likely to be more useful. Attendance at lectures is not compulsory, and no records of attendance are kept.

Apart from lectures, teaching is by means of the "tutorial" system, which is a system of individual tuition organized by the colleges. Each Fellow in a college is tutor in his own subject to the undergraduates who are studying it. Each student goes to his tutors room once every week to read out an essay which he has written, and for an hour he and the tutor discuss the essay. A student does not necessarily go only to his own tutor but may be assigned to another don in his own college or in another college when he is studying some particular topic which is outside the special interest of his own tutor.

Higher education in the UK

For seven hundred years, Oxford and Cambridge universities were the main ones in the British education system. There were four universities in Scotland, all founded before 1600. The university in Wales was founded only in the 20th century, it included four university colleges in the cities of Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth. Next to Oxford and Cambridge (sometimes called Oxbridge) is Durham in the north of England, which was founded in 1832. The University of London was founded a few years later, in 1836.

In the nineteenth century, higher educational institutions were founded in the largest industrial cities - Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield (they are also called Redbrick universities). At first they did not have university status, but were known as university colleges and from 1945 all became independent universities. In recent years, universities such as Sussex, Essex, Warwick and others have been founded.

In the mid-60s, universities received a new development. Some of the local higher technical educational institutions supported by local authorities have acquired special status. By 1967, ten of them had been given university rights. Many are located in large cities where there were already universities. Today these are the universities of Aston (Birmingham), Salford (near Manchester), Strathclyde (Glasgow), Harriot-Watt University (Edinburgh), and the University of Brunei (London).

Having analyzed all this, we see that the number of universities in England has increased in ten years from nineteen to thirty-six, and in Scotland from four to eight.

Oxford University is a federation of colleges, and one cannot understand its structure without understanding the structure and function of these colleges, which have nothing in common with American "colleges."

Oxford has twenty-three regular men's colleges and five women's colleges. All of these are institutions with a common program, and none of them is associated with any particular field of science. Whatever subject a student is offered to study, he can study in any of these colleges.

Each college has a dining hall, a church and living quarters (enough to house half the students, the rest live in apartments in the city). The university is governed by college council members (faculty), usually twenty or thirty people. They are also responsible for the studies of college students through the advisory system. Council members elect the college chairman (this title is called differently in each college).

Colleges vary in size and area of ​​land and buildings.

Colleges select their students, and a student becomes a member of the university only after being accepted into the college. Students are selected primarily on academic merit, but college policies on this issue also vary. Some colleges tend to admit those students who are good at rugby or some other sport, or the sons of former students or lords, or distinguished citizens, or millionaires.

Colleges and universities are scattered throughout the city, usually in the central part, although science laboratories and women's colleges are located far from the center.

University teachers are typically members of the college council who hold positions as lecturers and professors at the university. Part of the study is lectures, any student can attend any university lecture. At the beginning of each semester (at Oxford, for example, there are three semesters in the academic year), a schedule of lectures by department for the semester is published, and each student can choose which lectures he will attend. Typically, his university advisor can advise him on which lectures are most important. Attendance at lectures is not required, and no attendance records are kept.

In addition to lectures, teaching is carried out using a consultation system - this is a system of individual training organized in colleges. Each college teacher is also a supervisor in his own subject for final year students. Each student comes to their teacher once a week to read the paper they have written and discuss it with their mentor for an hour. A student does not have to attend only the lectures of his mentor. He can study with any teacher in his own or in another college, if he is studying a topic that is not within the circle of interests of his mentor.

Topic: Universities of Great Britain

Topic: UK Universities

Education is a process of teaching and learning, gaining new knowledge, experience, and practice. It is a very valuable possession for every person, as the earlier you start, the deeper knowledge you are going to have. We have been taught for all our lives since the birth. Our first teacher is our mum, later we receive useful information in the kindergarten, then we develop our skills at school, but eventually each intelligent person makes a decision to enter a higher educational establishment. If you desire to become a student of the university, you should work hard to prepare for it. Usually the choice of the university is a very serious decision, so no wonder that more and more school graduates want to study in the best educational establishments. Many European teenagers head for Great Britain, as its universities are famous all around the world and their diplomas are valued everywhere.

Education is a process of learning, gaining new knowledge, experience, and practice. It is very valuable for every person, because the sooner you start it, the deeper the knowledge you can gain. We are taught all our lives, starting from birth. Our first teacher is our mother, later we get useful information in kindergarten, then we develop our skills in school, but ultimately every reasonable person decides to go to higher education. If you want to become a university student, you must work hard to prepare for it. Choosing a university is usually a big decision, so it's no surprise that more and more school leavers want to study at top institutions. Many European teenagers head to the UK as its universities are renowned throughout the world and their degrees are valued everywhere.

British universities have their own peculiarities: all of them but one, receive the State financing and have considerably higher fees, usually students have only a major specialty without a minor one and almost all students attend establishments far away from their native towns, so universities provide students with accommodation.

British universities have their own characteristics: all but one of them receive government funding and have significantly higher fees, usually students have only a major without minors, and almost all students attend universities far from their hometown, so universities provide students with accommodation.

There are several types of universities in Great Britain. The first type is the ancient ones. All of them were founded between and are very reputable. The top place of them is divided between two well-known universities: Oxford and Cambridge, both known as Oxbridge. Though they have rivalry, there is also a great cooperation between them. A lot of elite people are the graduates of these universities, though they have differences in the educational process. Each of them is divided into more than thirty colleges. Colleges at Oxford suggest only those subjects for the students that depend on the field of their study, but Cambridge colleges give a chance to choose the subjects from the list according to your preferences. Oxford University was founded in 1096 and now more than 20,000 students attend it. It offers a broad array of courses, cooperates with numerous organizations, but a degree there will cost you a pretty penny. Cambridge University is also known as the largest public research center and was founded in 1209 by scholars who had escaped to Cambridge from Oxford. There are more than 18,000 students there and some of the colleges admit only women. Students attend not only group teaching sessions, but also have supervisions. Each of the graduates remains a member of the college forever.

There are several types of universities in the UK. The first type is the most ancient. All of them were founded between the 16th and 19th centuries and are very reputable. The top places are shared by two famous universities: Oxford and Cambridge, known as Oxbridge. Although they have a rivalry, there is also great cooperation between them. Many elite people have graduated from these universities, although they have differences in the educational process. Each of them is divided into more than thirty colleges. Colleges in Oxford only offer subjects to students depending on their area of ​​study, but Cambridge colleges give you the opportunity to choose from a list of subjects according to your preferences. Oxford University was founded in 1096, and now more than 20,000 students attend it. It offers a wide range of courses and works closely with numerous organizations, but the degree there will cost you a pretty penny. The University of Cambridge is also known as the largest public research center and was founded in 1209 by scientists who fled Oxford for Cambridge. There are more than 18,000 students and some colleges only admit women. Students not only attend group classes, but also have personal communication with the teacher. Each graduate remains a member of the college forever.

The second type of the universities is red brick ones. They got their name because of the material they are built with and are located in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. They were established during Queen Victoria’s reign and before World War II. They differ from the ancient ones because of being non-collegiate and they have taught only locals. They used to admit only men and focus only on “practical subjects”. Red Brick Universities were started as preparatory courses, but nowadays they award with their own degrees.

The second type of universities are red brick universities. They get their name from the material from which they are built and are found in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. They were created during the reign of Queen Victoria and before the Second World War. They differ from the ancients because they were not cathedrals, and teaching was carried out only for local residents. They only allowed men to study and focused only on “practical subjects”. Red brick universities were founded as preparatory courses, but today they award their own diplomas.

New universities are subdivided into two types: the campus and the newer civic ones. They appeared after the Robins Report and the ones founded are considered "Plate Glass Universities". The Campus Universities are located in the countryside, have enough accommodation for international students, provide teaching in small groups and put an emphasis on relatively new disciplines. The New Civic Universities used to be technical colleges and . Gradually they were given the right to award with the degree. They are known as “polytechnics” and suggest “sandwich” courses (outside the establishment).

New universities are divided into two types: those located on campus and new civilian ones. They emerged after the Robbins report, and those founded in the 1960s are considered "Glass Slab Universities." Campus universities are located in rural areas, have ample housing for international students, offer small class teaching, and emphasize relatively new disciplines. The new civil universities used to be technical schools and are called universities After 1992. Gradually they gained the right to award degrees. They are known as “polytechnics” and offer “sandwich” courses (the opportunity to study outside the institution).

The last type of the universities is called the Open University. It centers on a distant learning. In 2005 there were more than 180,000 students and it became the largest institution of the UK higher education. The administration of it is based in Buckinghamshire and it has 13 regional offices all over the country. The students of this university get information on TV, radio, in the course-books or the Internet. The students have tutors, who check their works and discuss them. In summer they have short residential courses according to the field of study.

The last type of university is called the Open University. It is centered around distance learning. In 2005 there were over 180,000 students and it became the UK's largest higher education institution. It is headquartered in Buckinghamshire and has 13 regional offices throughout the country. Students at this university receive information from television, radio, textbooks or the Internet. Students have supervisors who review their work and discuss it. In the summer they have short courses in their field of study.