University life

Origin, development

Universities UK is the collective voice of 139 universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland
Classifications

UK universities can be categorised in a number of different ways. 

There are no great distinctions between different types of universities in Britain. But still there are
some categories of them.

1. Oxbridge
2. Scottish universities
3. Redbrick university
4. Open university

Let’s go through the overview of four categories.

First of all, Oxbridge.

Oxford and Cambridge were founded in the medieval period. These Universities consist of semi-
independent colleges, each of them having its own staff, known as “fellow” . The «Fellows» teach
the college students either one-to one or in very small groups. This system is unique in the world and
known as tutorials in Oxford and supervisions in Cambridge.

Then, Scotish universities.

Scotland is proud of its four ancient universities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and St Andrews, all
founded in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. St. Andrews resembles Oxbridge very much. In the
other three most of the students live at home or find their rooms in town. The process of study at
these universities is very close to the continental Europe they followed their longer and broader
course of studues.

Even today Scottish universities provide four-year undergraduate courses, compared with usual
three-year courses in England and Wales.

Redbrick universities

During the 19th century various institutions of higher education (usually technical ones) were
founded in the industrial towns and cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
Their buildings were of local brick, so they got the name «redbrick» universities. They contrasted
chiefly with Oxford and Cambridge. At first, they prepared students for London University degrees,
but later they were given the right to award their own degrees. They became universities
themselves. Now they accept students from all over the country. These universities are financed by
local authority.
Open universities

One of the developments in education in Britain is certainly the Open University. It was founded in
1971. Some people don’t have an opportunity to study full-time, and this university allows them to
study for degree. The university’s courses are taught through television, radio and course books. Its
students work individually and with tutors, to whom they send their papers. The students discuss
their work at meetings or through correspondence. In summer they attend short courses.

More students from across the globe are choosing to study at UK universities, according to an
international study on the world’s best education systems.

Now, I will tell you some knowledge about one of the most famous university in the world.

The most famous universities in Britain are Oxford .It is oldest English universities and have a long
and eventful history of its own.

Oxford

University of Oxford, English autonomous institution of higher learning

at Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, one of the world’s great universities. It lies along the upper course
of the River Thames (called by Oxonians the Isis), 50 miles (80 km) north-northwest of London.

Sketchy evidence indicates that schools existed at Oxford by the early 12th century. By the end of
that century, a university was well established, perhaps resulting from the barring of English
students from the University of Paris around 1167. Oxford was modeled on the University of Paris,
with initial faculties of theology, law, medicine, and the liberal arts.

The university is actually a collection of 38 individual colleges, and over 100 libraries, making it the
largest academic library system in the UK. Besides, Oxford operates the world's oldest university
museum, as well as the largest university press in the worl

There are four academic divisions within Oxford University: Humanities, Mathematical, Physical and
Life Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Social Sciences. The university’s particular strength is the
sciences, and it is ranked number one in the world for medicine.

The university is associated with 11 winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, five in physics and 16 in
medicine. Notable Oxford thinkers and scientists include Tim Berners-Lee, Stephen Hawking and
Richard Dawkins. The actors Hugh Grant and Rosamund Pike also went to Oxford, as did the writers
Oscar Wilde, Graham Greene, Vikram Seth and Philip Pullman.

The two requirements of Oxford for a candidate are:

* University level: A-level must achieve A * A * A

 IELTS> 7.0 (no band below 7).

* Master degree: Must have a First class honor degree (with first class honor)

Or graduate Bachelor with GPA> 3.7

IELTS> 7.5 (no band below 7).

Eligible candidates who pass the pre-qualification round will be invited to a face-to-face interview.
Especially, for candidates outside of Europe, the school will arrange Skype interviews