Read and translate the beginning of the dialogue between former groupmates. Make your own one. Use the questions from the previous exercise.

Olga: Hello, Igor.

Igor: Oh, Olga! Isn’t that you? Nice to see you again! What are you doing here? Let me guess. You do a master!

Olga: You are quite right. This year I’ve become a graduate student of the Tyumen State University.

Igor: Well done! What field are you going to take master's degree in?

Olga: I do hope to become a Master of Science in chemistry, to be exact, petrochemistry and ecological safety. I’ve already been working in this sphere.

Igor: Oh, you combine work and study, this is decided step forward!

Olga: And what about you? As I remember you’ve always been interested in research work when an undergraduate. Are you still engaged in nanochemistry?

Igor: Absolutely right. I have a particular interest in this very field. In some months I’m going to present my Master thesis.

Olga: What’s the subject of your dissertation?

Igor: ……..

Task 11. Read these extracts and pay attention to the similarities and differences in an academic status in different countries. Discuss them in small groups. Here are some issues you can discuss:

Great Britain

All B.A. programmes are collectively called undergraduate level. A student training for a Bachelor degree is called an undergraduate.

The next-level university degree is a Master. An Master’s programme typically requires one or two years of study and some independent research. Typically Bachelor’s. programmes cover general scope of knowledge, while being graduate students they can choose any certain area for in-depth study and investigation. Master’s Degree students are to present their theses as partial fulfillment of the graduation requirements.

The next level up is the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.). The M.Phil. programmes are only found in England and in ex-British colonies such as India, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. A M.Phil. programme typically takes two years to complete and requires a research thesis. Some students would go from a B.A. to an M.Phil. while other students would go from an M.A. to a Ph.D., it depends on the available " tracks".

All programs of study and research beyond the B.A. degrees are called postgraduate.

Europe

In Europe, degrees are being harmonized through the Bologna process which is based on the three-level hierarchy of degrees: " Bachelor" (Licence in France), " Master" and " Doctor". This system is gradually replacing the two-stage system used now in many countries.

This system is also currently used in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Croatia.