Vocabulary Notes:

1. royal house – королевская династия

2. descend (from) – происходить (из)

3. broadcast (зд.)- выступление по радио

4. Duke of Edinburgh – герцог Эдинбургский

5. the Commonwealth – Содружество (государственное объединение

Великобритании и большинства ее бывших доминионов и колоний)

6. charity – благотворительная организация

7. the Royal Navy -военно-морской флот Великобритании

8. extinction - вымирание

9. heir - наследник

10. affection – любовь, привязанность

11. line of succession – очередность престолонаследия

12. the Royal Marines –морская пехота Великобритании

13. earl -граф

14. countess – графиня

15. viscount – виконт

Text 6 Differences Between British and American Universities

The exact same percentage, 70, of citizens of higher education age enrolled in higher education in both the United States and the United Kingdom, according to UNESCO. The U.S. and Britain account for all but two of the top 20 universities in the world, according to The World University Rankings.

British and American universities have some similarities - hardly surprising, considering that many of the founders of the US's earliest colleges were graduates of the British system. Over the centuries, however, the two systems have diverged considerably. Modern British and American universities have many differences, not only in their organization and funding but in the typical student experience.

Public and private

One of the most important differences between the British and American higher education systems is the role of the state. In the UK, as in most of the world, universities are founded, funded and run by the state, with private education making up only a small percentage of the total number of students. In the US, the system is much more evenly divided between private and public universities. Many leading American universities, such as Harvard, Stanford and Yale, are private.

Time To Earn Degree

In Britain, undergraduate degrees take three years to complete, while master's degrees are finished in one or two years. A doctoral degree can be finished in three years, according to the British Council. In the U.S., undergraduate degrees are completed in two to four years, with associate degrees earned in two and bachelor's degrees in four. In the U.S., many master's degrees are earned in two years, while doctoral degrees can take anywhere between one to eight years to be completed.

Specialization

The British undergraduate system is much more highly specialized than its American counterpart. British undergraduates typically apply to study a particular subject and spend their three-year courses working on that one topic. American undergraduates, on the other hand, do not have to choose a subject until well into their university careers. They usually spend the early part of their four-year courses taking a wide variety of classes. This both helps them choose a specialization - or "major" in American terminology - and gives them a well-rounded basic education.

Classroom Experience

Much like the U.S., British universities offer lectures, or formal presentations, to large groups of students. British universities also feature seminars for smaller groups of students. However, British universities focus more on tutorial education than U.S. schools. British schools emphasize lectures rather than interactive learning, a focus of the U.S. In Britain, undergraduates are expected to motivate themselves outside of the classroom. Much like the U.S., however, British universities feature continuous assessment, where coursework, exams and projects are expected throughout the year for each degree field. Final exams and dissertations are a prominent feature in both countries.

Culture

Cultural differences between British and American universities are highly subjective, and the high variation between universities in both countries means that one American university may be as different from another American university as it is from any overseas institution. Still, many who have experienced both nations' universities say that American universities are more structured institutions, while British universities tend to give students the tools they need to do their research but expect them to show a great deal of initiative.

Cost

Undergraduates from Britain and the rest of the European Union (EU) pay tuition fees of up to $4,500 (3,290 in Euros) a year, according to the "Economist." The cost is higher for those coming from outside the U.K. In the U.S., the cost of attendance and tuition varies greatly. However, nearly half of all full-time undergraduate students attend four-year institutions that charge less than $9,000 per year for tuition and fees, according to College Board.