Education: School - University

1. Subjects:
You can normally do/study these subjects at university but not always at school:
medicine (n) y học
law (n) luật
philosophy (n) triết học
engineering (n) khoa học kỹ thuật
psychology (n) tâm lý học
sociology (n) xã hội học
architecture (n) kiến trúc, xây dựng
politics (n)
business studies (n)
agriculture (n) nông nghiệp
history of art

history (n) lịch sử
litrature (n) văn học
maths (n) toán
religious educaton (n) tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng học
english (n)
geography (n) (n) địa lý
science (n)
visual art (n)
physiology (n) sinh học
physical education (n) vật chất, thể chất
information technology (n)

school timetable (n)
As you can see, the pupils have five lessons every day, and altogether (adv-nhin chung) they do (= study) eleven subjects a week plus physical education. Every morning they have a twenty minute break. There are three terms (= periods of continuous work) in a school year, and the timetable changes every year.

some go to nursery school (age of 3)
everyone starts primary school. (age of 5)
pupils go to a secondary school (high school) (age of 11). This may be a comprehensive.
they leave school and get a job, or go to a college for training. (age of 16)
they leave school and get a job or go to university/college for further education. (age of 18)

2. Studying at university
If you want to go university, you must first pass examinations that most students take at the age of eighteen (called 'A' levels).
Most students take three 'A' levels (three examinations in three different subjects) and they must do well in order to get/obtain a place at university because the places are limited.
At the moment, approximately 30% of young adults go to university in Britain.
If you get a place at university, the tuition (n- học phí) is free, and some students also get (= receive) a grant as well. (=money to pay for living expenses: food, accomomodation).
Students at university are called undergraduates while they are studying for their first degree.

Most university courses last (= go on for/ continue for) three years, some courses last four years, and one or two courses, e.g. medicine, may be even longer.
During this period students can say that they are doing/studying history, or doing/studying for a degree in history, for example. When they finish the course and pass their examinations, they receive a degree (the qualification when you complete a university course successfully). This can be a BA (Bachelor of arts) or a BSc (Bachelor of science).

3. Postgraduate courses
When you complete your first degree, you graduated in S.T (in history/ in chemistry). Some students then go on to do a second course or degree (postgradute course/ postgraduate degree). There are usually three possible degrees:
MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of Science) - ususally one year.
MPhil (Master of Philosophy) - usually two years
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) - at least three years

Note: School vs. university
At school, you have teachers and lessons.
At university, you have lecturers and lectures. When a lecturer gives a lecture, the students listen and take notes, but do not usually say much, except to ask occasional questions.

Who is giving the lecture today?
Did she receive a grant for her course?
Is it more difficult to obtain a place at university?
You have to pass the exams before you can enter university.
He's studying physics, I think.
I think they're carrying out (v- tien hanh, thuc hien) some research into the cause of asthma (bệnh hen).
I didn't take any notes in the lecture yesterday.
The course goes on for three years.
Is the tuition free if you go to university?
Do most degree courses last three years?
What is your equivalent of the British BA or BSc?
Do you have similar postgraduate degrees in your country?