The UK has a vast variety of higher education opportunities. Nowadays higher education in the UK is provided by universities, colleges of education, colleges of arts and colleges of further education.
There are 46 universities in Britain. The universities can be divided into three groups: the oldest universities (Oxford and Cambridge); the redbrick universities and the new universities.
Oxford & Cambridge Universities are known all over the world and are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Britain.
All British universities are private institutions. Every university is in-dependent, and responsible to its own governing council.
University students are carefully selected. The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and good A-level results in at least two subjects are necessary to get a place at a university.
The academic year in Britain is divided into 3 terms.
The general pattern of teaching at the universities remains a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Each student has a tutor who is responsible for the student’s progress. Tuition fees are high. The students receive grants from public and private funds to pay for their tuition.
After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Later the graduate may continue research to get Master's Degree. It is necessary for a postgraduate to spend three years carrying out research and writing thesis for getting the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
