- •Education system in the uk
- •1. Primary education
- •2. Secondary education
- •2.1. Types of secondary schools
- •2.2. The main school examination
- •3. Further education (Sixth Form)
- •4. Higher education
- •4.1. Uk Universities admission
- •4.2. Types of universities in the uk
- •Ancient universities
- •London Universities
- •Red Brick Universities
- •Plate Glass Universities
- •The Open University
- •New Universities
- •The University of Buckingham
- •4.3. Types of degrees in the uk
- •4.3.1. “First degrees”.
- •4.3.2. “Higher degrees”:
- •4.3.2.1. Master’s degree
- •Master of Philosophy (mPhil)
- •4.3.2.2. Doctorate’s degree
- •Honorary Doctorate is awarded to those who deserve special recognition either for academic work or other contributions to university or society.
- •5. Teaching styles in uk higher education
- •6. The structure of the academic year in the uk
- •7. Students’ finance
- •8. Teacher training in the uk
- •Glossary
- •Comprehension
New Universities
The term has recently been used to describe any of the former polytechnics,Central Institutions, or colleges of higher education that weregiven the status of universitiesbyJohn Major’s government in 1992, or colleges that have been granted university status since then, also calledpost-1992 universitiesormodernuniversities.
The University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is the only private university in the United Kingdom.
Its two campuses are both located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. The upper campus is devoted mainly to Law, while the other, the riverside campus (in the centre of town), focuses on Business, the Humanities, and Science.
4.3. Types of degrees in the uk
A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such asuniversities, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study.
Degrees are divided into “first degrees” (undergraduate degrees) and “second degrees” (postgraduate degrees).
4.3.1. “First degrees”.
The standard first degree is the Bachelor’s degree with honours (e.g. BA (hons) for arts subjects*, BEng (hons) for Engineering and BSc (hons) for science). This usually takes three years’ full-time study.
Honours degrees are usually categorised by one of four grades:
First class honours (1st)
Second class honours, divided into:
Upper division, or upper second (2:1)
Lower division, or lower second (2:2)
Third class honours (3rd)
Students who do not achieve the standard for the award of honours may be given an ordinary or pass degree which is without honours.
Some students study an integrated Master’s, which is still a first degree. This takes four years of study and is usually designated by the subject, such as MEng for engineering, MPhys for physics, MMath for mathematics, and so on. The 4-year MEng degree in particular has now become the standard first degree in engineering in the top UK universities, replacing the older 3-year BEng.
4.3.2. “Higher degrees”:
4.3.2.1. Master’s degree
In order to study a course at Master’s level, one typically needs to have a Bachelor’s degree. Broadly speaking, Master’s degrees can be classified as either Taught Master’s Courses or Research-based Master’s Courses.
Taught Master’s Courses
Teaching and learning on taught Master’s courses may be in the form of essays, project work, industrial or business placements, lectures, tutorials or discussion groups. Taught Master’s courses usually include a project or short research dissertation, which one works on individually or as part of a group. Taught Master’s programs are typically one to two years in duration and are very specialised. The Master of Arts (MA) and the Master of Science (MSc or MS) degrees are the basic degree types that cover most subjects.
Master of Arts (MA)
The MA is typically studied in the Arts, Humanities, Theology and the Social Sciences (although some universities will award a Master of Science for some Social Sciences Masters degrees). MA degrees typically take one-two years to complete.
Master of Science (MSc or MS)
This is a graduate academic Master’s degree awarded in the pure and applied sciences and takes one to two years to complete. The Master of Science is usually studied to obtain a higher qualification for employment prospects or in preparation for doctoral studies.
Research Master’s Courses are usually in the form of a thesis in any subject and are mostly self-directed work with few taught elements. A Master’s degree by research is typically offered as a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and a Master of Research (MRes).