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.
