Ask a Brit thread

[Storebought]

Can someone explain the British university system? I know that Oxbridge system has little in common with the 19th century 'red-brick' universities or the ones established after WWII. And also the grading system--'firsts', 'double firsts,' etc. The French educational system seems much better structured in comparision.

[Storebought]

Can someone explain the British university system? I know that Oxbridge system has little in common with the 19th century 'red-brick' universities or the ones established after WWII. And also the grading system--'firsts', 'double firsts,' etc. The French educational system seems much better structured in comparision.

Al is an expert on the university system. What, with his love for them and all.

According to this Scotsman article, children born in the UK's lower classes have less opportunity for social mobility than the children of immigrants to the UK.

Part of that reason, the article suggests, is lack of university access by the working class poor.

[Storebought]

Hmm...

In the US, like you likely know already, you can apply to any school you choose (just as well, you will be rejected by them if you don't meet certain criteria like SAT score, GPA, etc.). Limiting to specifically six seems harsh, but I guess it cuts down on weed applications from prestige whores (who apply to every elite school in the country) and slackasses (who do likewise for the party schools).

About "university system", I should have said, specifically, the college system of Oxford/Cambridge vs. the college structures of the less ancient schools.

From what I've read, OxBridge colleges are independent institutions within the university itself. But Oxford makes itself a bit clearer on the relation between the university itself, the ancient colleges, and the academic divisions (e.x. "college of physical sciences"). At Oxford, the colleges exist mostly for student support. At Cambridge, I think, the colleges determine your educational career exclusively.

By comparison, the University of London (not quite "old" by UK standards, but a lot older than the other urban universities) has 'colleges' much as the American usage of the word.

But I don't know--that's why I wanted to "ask a Brit"