Higher Education in Britain

In Great Britain, universities enjoy almost complete autonomy from national or local governments in their administration and the determination of their curricula, despite the fact that the schools receive nearly all of their funding from the state. Entry requirements for British universities are rather complicated. A student must secure a General Certificate of Education by taking examinations in various subjects and receiving passing marks in them. The greater the number of “advanced level” passes, rather than “ordinary level” passes, that a student acquires, the better his chances are of entering the university of his choice. This selective admission to universities, combined with the close supervision of students through a tutorial system, makes it possible for most British undergraduates to complete a degree course in three years rather than the standard four years. Great Britain’s academic programs are more highly specialized than their European continental counterparts. Most undergraduates follow an “honors” course (leading to an honors degree) in one or, at the most, two subjects, while the remaining minority of students take “pass” courses that cover a variety of subjects. Great Britain’s model of higher education has been copied to varying degrees in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.