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Education after 16 is voluntary in the United Kingdom.
British universities are self-governing and are guaranteed academic independence.
Many of the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge universities were founded in the 12th and 13th centuries. All other universities in Britain were founded in 19th and 20th centuries.
Nowadays there are more than forty universities in Britain, of which 36 are in England, 8 in Scotland, 2 in Northern Ireland and 1 in Wales.
British Universities are private institutions. Every university is independent, autonomous and responsible only to its own governing council.
The number and type of faculties differ from university to university. Each university decides each year how many students it supposes to admit. The admission to universities is by examination or selection (interviews). The students receive grant. The have to pay fees and living costs but every student may receive from the local authority of the place where he lives personal grant which is enough to pay lodging and food – unless his parents are rich.
Students who pass examinations at the end of three or four years of study get Bachelor’s degree. The first postgraduate degree is normally that of Master conferred for a thesis based at least one year’s fulltime work. Universities are centres of research and many postgraduates are engaged in research for higher degree, usually Doctorates.
