Text 3 the open university

The Open University was founded in 1964 by the Labour Government for those people who, for some reason, had not had a chance to enter any of the other universities, especially those above normal student age. It takes both men and women at the age of 21 and over. No formal academic qualifications are necessary for entry to these courses, but the standards of its degrees are the same as those of other universities. The first course began in 1971, and in a decade the number of undergraduates reached 65,000. It's a non-residential university. In teaching the university uses a combination of television and radio broadcasts, correspondence courses and summer schools, together with a network of viewing and listening centres. Lecturers present their courses on one of the BBC's television channels and by radio. They have also produced a whole library of short course-books, which anyone can buy at bookshops. Students write papers based on the courses and discuss them with tutors at meetings or by correspondence once a month.

Degrees are awarded on the basis of credit gained by success at each stage of the course. Six credits are necessary for a BA degree and eight credits for a BA Honours degree. The time of staying on at the Open University is unlimited.

At the beginning of the 1990s some 150,000 students followed the Open University courses.

Notes:

non-residential — без постоянного помещения

viewing and listening centres — видео- и аудиоцентры

credit — «успешно» (оценка за сданные экзамены)

BA degree - Bachelor of Arts degree

Text 4 students' life in britain

British Universities and colleges have Students Unions which are concerned with students' life and studies. Unions have their Presidents, their role is basically to represent the interests of the students. Almost all power rests in the hands of the whole membership as expressed at General Meetings. For practical purposes the decision-making is delegated to Union Council.

Each Union Council has sub-committees each of which has the job of overseeing a small area of the Union's work. For example, the Union Council of the University of Leeds has the Cultural Affairs Committee, Executive Committee, Freshers Committee, General Athletics Committee, House Committee, Overseas Committee, Women's Affairs Committee, etc. They help to settle various students' problems in the academic year — with grants, accommodation, rents. They are also responsible- for the coordination and organization of extra-curricular activities. If at any time a student needs advice, members of the Union Council will be glad to be of assistance. All these committees are open - any may take part in the elections to them.

There are numerous societies working within university and college Unions covering a wide range of interests and activities. The above mentioned Leeds University Union has 150 Societies of the following categories: political, religious, national, cultural, recreational; among them Agricultural Society, Archaeology, Arts, Ballet, Biological, CND, Chinese, Christian Unity, Computer, Film, Green, Law, Music, Vegetarian, Yoga, etc.

Notes:

are concerned — зд. заботятся '

rests in the hands — находится в руках

decision-making — принятие решений

overseeing — зд. наблюдение

freshers — первокурсники

overseas — зарубежные

the abovementioned — вышеупомянутый

CND. (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) — кампания за ядерное разоружение