The Blog - Page 2 of 2 - Universities

Oxford University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, located in Southeast England. Oxford University is one of the seven “ancient universities” of Great Britain and Ireland and is considered to be the first university in the British Isles. Oxford is part of the elite Russel Group, which consists of 24 of the best universities in England. Today Oxford University is number 1 in the world according to the international rating of Times Higher Education (THE) and number 4 after IMT, Stanford and Harvard according to QS rating. More than 70 Nobel and other prize winners have worked within its walls at different times. With the exception of medical specialties, the university has no quotas for foreigners.

Faculties and Colleges at Oxford University

Oxford looks like a small federative state: besides the central university there are 38 colleges (Oxford Colleges) and 6 private hostels (Permanent Private Halls), which have self-government and financial independence. Oxford Colleges are unique multidisciplinary academic communities: they have no particular areas of specialization, and students at one college can study in any of the approximately 100 academic departments: from Theology and Oriental Studies to Genetics and IT. All of them are organized into four major divisions:

• Humanities;
• Social Sciences;
• Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences;
• Medicine.

Oxford usually does not fall below the tenth position in any of the academic disciplines in international rankings.

The University also has a Department for Continuing Education which offers online or part-time courses, summer schools, continuing education programs, etc.

There is a division of roles between the central university and its departments:

• Admissions Management. The university oversees the admissions process at all levels of training. However, the selection and admission of undergraduate students rests entirely with the colleges. In the case of master’s degrees, the University first enrolls students, after which the colleges make their own selections.
• Facilities. The colleges provide housing, meals, recreation, and other facilities for students. The university provides centralized services, including guidance counseling, and access to libraries, laboratories, and museums.
• Instructional process. Much of the educational process is overseen directly by the University: the content of curricula, lectures, seminars, labs, examinations and dissertations, and the awarding of degrees. The colleges are responsible for the tutoring system.

The setting for Oxford University

The territory of the University is truly vast: each college has its own dining hall, bar, library, common room and dormitories. Most are in or near the center of the city, so you’ll find churches, stores, cafes, pubs and restaurants close by. In addition to entertainment venues, there are theaters, museums and libraries on campus. Moreover, Oxford University has its own publishing house, where the world-famous Oxford Dictionary is printed. There’s also an arboretum and England’s oldest botanical garden.

Classrooms and canteens at some colleges can be seen in a series of films about the young wizard Harry Potter. The Christ Church College dining hall was the most often seen in them.

Prospects after graduation from Oxford University

Statistics show that 91% of Oxford University graduates find a job within the first 6 months after graduation or go on to further studies. The university’s Career Service provides assistance in finding employment – it selects suitable vacancies, teaches students how to correctly prepare documents for employment and plan their career.

The Oxford University Career Center has developed a special mobile application called Oxford Careers Fair Plus, which can be downloaded for free from the university’s official website. It allows you to learn all the necessary information about employers, new vacancies and future dates of job fairs.

It is worth bearing in mind that it is not so easy for foreigners to stay in the UK after graduation. Until recently, the only option was to find a job with a licensed sponsor in just four months. However, since autumn 2020, the British government resumes issuing UK post-study work visa for graduates, which allows you to look for a job within 2 years after graduation c and the subsequent transition to the normal work visa.

University College London or UCL is the oldest university in London and supposedly the third oldest university in Great Britain. It is one of the three Golden Triangle universities along with Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

History of University College London

Ironically, University College London has a similar history to many ancient universities, as it was founded in opposition to other institutions (just as Cambridge University was created in opposition to Oxford, Yale University by disgruntled Harvard graduates).

Two Scotsmen, the poet Thomas Campbell and the lawyer Henry Broom, inspired by the ideas of the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham and his words that the only universities in existence at the time, Oxford and Cambridge, were “two public troubles… nurseries and nurseries of political decay”, decided to found a new university, originally named London University.

Since its founding, University College London has opened its doors to all students regardless of creed, nationality, or gender, distinguishing itself significantly from the two oldest English universities and becoming the first liberal, in keeping with the ideas of its “spiritual father” Bentham.

University College London was founded with a department of chemistry and several departments of foreign languages. Later departments of mathematics, geography, North London Hospital, engineering, psychology, phonetics, and the famous Slade School of Fine Arts opened.

In 1940, the University’s Main Hall and Library was severely damaged by a bomb hit. Fortunately, all students and professors were evacuated from the building as early as 1939.

Until the early 21st century. University College London was part of the University of London and only began to issue degrees in its own name in 2005. Since then the School of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Teaching have been opened.

Faculties of University College London

As of 2015, University College London offers 200 undergraduate programs, 398 master’s programs and 122 doctoral or master of philosophy (MPhil) research programs in 11 faculties, each comprising several schools:

• The Faculty of Arts and Humanities
• The Bartlett, Faculty of Built Environment
• Faculty of Brain Sciences
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Teaching and Education
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Physics and Mathematics
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Department of Population Health Sciences
• Social and Historical Sciences

Why choose University College London?

UCL is a member of almost all major university networks in Europe – Russell Group, UNICA, G5, League of European Research Universities, Association of Commonwealth Universities and the famous Golden Triangle (Oxford-Cambridge-UCL).

University College London has the best student/teacher ratio in the UK (number of students relative to professors) of 10:1. This allows the creation of small classes, where progress is much higher than in large ones.

The main campus of the University is located in the heart of London (Bloomsbury district). UCL has 17 major libraries (total volume of approximately 1.5 million volumes), 7 museums, 21 student residences and 50 sports clubs across London.

The University of Cambridge is the second of the seven “ancient universities” after Oxford. Cambridge is one of the leaders in authoritative international rankings, such as QS or THE, on a par with Harvard and Stanford universities, both in general indicators and by individual criteria and areas of study. Students from more than 140 countries study here.

Faculties and Colleges of the University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge, like its eternal rival Oxford University, is a confederation of colleges, faculties, and departments.

In total at the University of Cambridge there are 31 autonomous colleges, each guided by its own charters and rules, including self-selection of prospective students. What makes the colleges of Cambridge unique is that they do not specialize in a particular academic area, but are interdisciplinary communities implementing student support through a system of individualized tutoring.

In general the University offers education in six so-called Schools, or fields of knowledge:

• Arts and Humanities;
• Biological Sciences;
• Clinical Medicine;
• Humanities and Social Sciences;
• Physical Sciences;
• Engineering and Technology.

Each school includes several Faculties, which teach and research one or more subject groups. The latter, in turn, are divided into more specialized Departments. A full list of the departments that make up the University of Cambridge can be found on its official website.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), which offers all sorts of part-time programs, summer schools, internships, short-term courses, including online.

The setting of the University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge is not only an educational institution, but also a powerful research center with many laboratories and classrooms. The campus is home to one of the largest libraries in the world, the Botanical Gardens, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Zoological Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum of Art, the R. R. Fitzwilliam Institute for Polar Research, and the University of Cambridge. Р. Scott and many other attractions. In addition, Cambridge University boasts majestic architectural structures. The King’s College Chapel occupies a special place among them, which was under construction for 69 years.

With Cambridge University buildings scattered chaotically across the city, they’re often next door to stores, restaurants, cafes, and loud, atmospheric pubs.

Sport occupies a special place in the lives of Cambridge students, so the campus has several sports complexes (fitness rooms, gyms, weight rooms), stadiums for soccer, baseball, rugby, basketball and golf grounds, tennis courts and much more. The most popular sport among students of Cambridge University is rowing. Quite often rowing competitions are held between colleges and faculties of the University, and in May the University of Cambridge team competes against the main rival – the team of Oxford University.

The University of Cambridge runs a student-run radio station and several newspapers giving the latest news about the life and research taking place in the University. Cambridge also has a drama society, a student council that helps solve students’ pressing problems, and the Footlights comedy club.

Prospects after graduation from Cambridge University

The University of Cambridge has a 100% reputation among employers, according to QS rankings, which shows the wide prospects of graduates both in Britain and around the world. 90% are employed or continue their studies within 6 months of graduation. The rest are either looking for work (4%, compared to a national average of 5%) or are temporarily not planning to study/work (6%). Examples and employment statistics for different programs can be found on this website.

Of course, in the case of international students, the employment and immigration process can be somewhat complicated by visa requirements. Until recently a graduate had only 4 months to find a job with a student visa. However, with the return of the UK post-study work visa for graduates in 2020, international students will have more time (2 years) and chances to stay in the UK.

The Careers Service, which organizes internships and job fairs, conducts consultations and workshops on careers and related processes (CV writing, interview preparation), and offers job matching services, can be of great help in finding a job.

The British educational system is considered ideal, and some countries are guided by it. A striking example is Canadian and Australian education.

All educational institutions in England are divided into private and public – this is a distinctive feature of the British system. Schools are different from Russian schools: they do not follow the same program. The student has the opportunity to choose the one in which he can better prepare for admission to a particular department.

The education system in England has the following structure:

• Elementary School – primary education, from 5 to 11 years;
• Secondary School: secondary education, from 11 to 16 years;
• Further Education: post-secondary education, from 16 to 18 years;
• Higher Education: higher education from the age of 18.

An important feature of the British system is strong pre-school education. Here children acquire knowledge and learn discipline. In higher education it is possible not only to complete a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, but also to obtain other types of diplomas. For example, Sandwich courses are awarded after one year of practical training at the end of two university courses. They are awarded to students of technical specialties.

Pre-school education

Pre-school education in Great Britain is not compulsory. From the age of two to five a child can stay at home or attend Nursery. Pre-school educational institutions may be of different orientation: linguistic, and religious. In the first, education is conducted in several languages, in others children are told about religion in an accessible way. But everywhere children are taught to read, write and count. The English believe that going to a good preschool is an important part of their upbringing. The state pays only 15 hours a week – for the rest of the time, parents pay out of their own pockets.

Pre-Kindergarten Education

Preparatory education is available to children in fee-paying schools. A child may enter at age five and later transfer to secondary school. Private education is considered better, but not everyone can afford it. That is why most children go to municipal schools after kindergarten.

Elementary school education

In public schools, royal subjects receive a primary education between the ages of 5 and 11. Here the pupil has to study basic subjects:

• mathematics;
• music;
• Geography;
• English;
• art;
• industrial technology;
• history.

Education in England takes place in trimesters. English schoolchildren go to school on September 1, and the study ends on June 30. Pupils have holidays in July and August. In addition to summer holidays, there are Christmas and Easter vacations in Britain.

Secondary school education

This education is a compulsory level. It is compulsory for all British children under 16 years of age. In secondary school they learn the basics, play sports, music, and develop leadership skills. Many choose to study in private boarding schools, where the child is on full board. Upon completion of training, students take an exam, the results of which depend on whether the child is accepted in high school or not. High school in England ends with the General Certificate of Secondary Education. With this certificate you can go to college or get an official job.

Post-Secondary Education

After completing the basic education cycle, those who want to become a university student continue to study. At age 16 a person begins a two-year A-levels course. In the first year he studies 4-5, and in the next year – 3-4 disciplines, and he chooses which of them he will take. At this stage, he already determines what specialty he will get at university. For example, those who go to medical school, take biology and chemistry.

The system of higher education in England is considered one of the best in the world – this is demonstrated by the world rankings of higher education institutions and the demand for specialists who graduated from the universities of Foggy Albion. The British educational model is considered to be the foundation of the Bologna educational system.

The higher education sector in the country includes:

• classical universities and university colleges (University Colleges), in which great attention is paid to research activities.
• Polytechnics and Colleges of Higher Education, which train specialists in applied specialties.

There are three levels of training: bachelor (3 years of study, except in Scotland), master (1-2 years) and doctorate (2-3 years). The academic year consists of 3 trimesters. Classes are held both in classical lecture and seminar formats, and in the form of independent work and tutorials (work in small groups with a tutor). The progress of students is assessed by intermediate works (essays, term papers, projects) and by the results of final examinations. The system for calculating the average grade depends on the university and can be either point or percentage.

Despite the inherent conservatism of the English, they are constantly working to improve the education system by introducing innovative teaching methods and actively using modern technology. For example, influenced by market demands, many universities have introduced so-called “sandwich courses,” periods of work experience that can last up to a year and are considered part of the curriculum.

But of course, what makes British institutions of higher learning famous is their strong academic background, which incorporates the best of the country’s centuries-long history of education. Students from all over the world come here for this quality and are ready to pay a lot of money for their diploma: a year of study at an English institute costs from 10,000 to 25,000 pounds.

Understanding the importance of higher education not only in terms of reputation, but also in terms of economic benefits, the government regulates the quality of education at the state level. For this purpose, the country has a Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) which checks the “academic standards” and “academic quality” of universities. Thus, a student of any educational institution in Great Britain can be sure that he or she will receive a relevant education, and his or her diploma will be quoted in any country of the world.

The education system of England combines tradition and advanced educational technology. Its aim is not so much encyclopedic knowledge of students in any field, as all-round development of personality, focus on gaining knowledge and professional development. It is not surprising that graduates of British educational institutions are in great demand on the global job market and show excellent career development.

Education in England is one of the most expensive in the world. There is no free education for foreign citizens in England. This applies to both the university sector and private secondary and language schools.

The cost of short-term courses for children and adults varies greatly and depends on both the length of the program and the location. Of course, the most expensive programs offer the “distinguished” universities and language schools located in major cities, where the cost of accommodation itself is high. Also the number of students in the group influences the course cost. On average, the price of studying English in Great Britain starts from 1200 pounds for a 2-week course.

The price of studying in England in private boarding schools is about 20,000 British pounds for a year of training, including accommodation and meals. In some particularly prestigious schools it can reach up to 40,000. In addition to the status of the educational institution the cost affects the course itself: thus, training in high school is always cheaper than in High School.

If we talk about higher and second higher education in Foggy Albion, then we should count on the price of about 15,000 pounds for a year of study. This is certainly expensive. However, it is impossible not to mention the timing of training: the English system allows you to get a higher education in just three years (bachelor’s degree). Thus, even with the rather high cost of studying in England per year, the total cost of higher education may be lower or at the level of studying at a university in another country.

When calculating the upcoming costs of education, it is important to consider the cost of living in the country: a year of accommodation and meals for a student of one of London’s universities can be at a cost correlated with the price of the study program itself.

Studying in England – whether it is higher, secondary education or language courses – provides a lot of advantages. Even at high costs, the demand for educational services in the Foggy Albion speaks for itself. Certificates and diplomas obtained here offer excellent academic and career opportunities. If you also dream of becoming an in-demand specialist, who will be welcome in any country of the world – your choice is definitely studying in the UK!

Few would argue that a British university degree is an indicator of the highest quality of education. It opens up many avenues for life and work in any country in the world. The UK is renowned for its huge range of institutions and fields of study, from research to practice.

And British universities give you the opportunity to study faster than in other countries, and the level of training does not suffer in the least. All thanks to the high intensity: students spend a lot of time studying and doing practical work on their own. The essays, reports, research papers, group and individual projects – all this requires extreme responsibility, independence and diligence.

But in the end, all these efforts pay off: a graduate of a British university has a high chance of getting a dream job almost anywhere in the world.

But like everything in this world, education in Britain has its disadvantages. These include the difficulty of combining study and work because of the same high intensity of study. In addition, most universities do not welcome such practices. And of course, most students the main disadvantage of studying in the UK called the high cost of both teaching and living in the country.

Despite these nuances, it is a British education is considered the benchmark around the world. And parents in different countries dream to see their children as students of one of the universities of Great Britain. In conclusion, we want to say that to go to study in the UK is quite realistic, both for secondary, tertiary or postgraduate programs. The main thing is to choose the right strategy – and our experienced specialists will help with this.