380 



THE POPULAR EDUCATOR. 



THE UNIVERSITIES. XVI. 



THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY, MANCHESTER. 



THOUGH the Victoria University, Manchester, received its 

 royal charter so recently as the 20th of April, 1880, it offers a 

 curriculum of study in the faculties of Arts, Science, Medicine, 

 and Law which will compare favourably with that of any of the 

 older universities. At present Owens College long recognised 

 as one of the most distinguished educational institutions in 

 England and University College, Liverpool, are the only col- 

 leges of the university ; but in course of time there is no doubt 

 that colleges at other large and influential centres will also be 

 admitted. Universities, in this country at all events, possess 

 characteristics more or less distinctive, and in this respect 

 Victoria University forms no exception to the rule. For ex- 

 ample, it differs from London and from Dublin Universities in 

 insisting upon residence in all cases, with this important pro- 

 viso, that residence means attendance upon certain prescribed 

 courses of lectures at a " college of the university " for a 

 definite period, and does not imply the supervision, or living 

 altogether in statu pupillari, which is essential at Oxford, 

 Cambridge, and elsewhere. The system thus briefly sketched 

 closely resembles, it will be seen, that in vogue in the Scottish 

 universities. The condition as to residence will grow much 

 more elastic in the future, when the number of federate colleges 

 shall have increased. In fact, a person resident in any town 

 or city possessing a " College of the University " will then be 

 aljle to prepare for his degree while beginning a profession or 

 business. This possibility the importance of which it is diffi- 

 cult to over-estimate, and which, moreover, must open up a 

 path to university degrees (subject, of course, to the condition 

 as to attendance upon lectures above noted) to many a student 

 of the POPULAR EDUCATOR accentuates still more the dif- 

 ference between the youngest and the older English universities. 

 Other points of interest may be mentioned before passing on to 

 more matter-of-fact particulars. As regards subjects, con- 

 siderable latitude of choice is allowed not only to those pre- 

 paring for the Honours Degree, but also to those aiming at an 

 Ordinary Degree, so that, while a certain amount of general 

 training is necessary, they are not, beyond reasonable limits, 

 compelled to take up uncongenial subjects. Then, again, the 

 question of the " lady graduate " has been met in the most 

 successful manner. At other of our seats of learning this has 

 proved a veritable qucestio vexata, but Victoria University, 

 under the provisions of its charter, has the power to confer 

 '^degrees upon all persons, "male or female," who have pursued 

 a regular course of study in any of its colleges and have passed 

 "the examinations. It may be added, that a perusal of the 

 ^university lists will show that advantage has been taken of 

 /this right. 



We will now proceed to supply information respecting the 

 principal statutes and regulations regarding degrees, examina- 

 tions, and courses of study. It should, however, be borne in 

 mind, that the latest particulars will always be found in the 

 Calendar of the current session. The Registrar will also, no 

 doubt, be glad to give further information upon any specific 

 point that may be submitted to him. 



Victoria University grants the following degrees in the facul- 

 ties of Arts, Science, Law, and Medicine, namely : B.A. and 

 B.Sc.; M.A. and M.Sc. ; D.Lit., D.Phil., and D.Sc. ; LL.B. ; 

 M.B., M.D., &c. The degree of B.A. or B.Sc. is either an 

 ordinary or pass Degree (implying a moderate proficiency in 

 several subjects in arts or in science), or a Degree with Honours 

 (implying a much greater proficiency in one subject). There 

 is no corresponding distinction in the case of the degree of 

 LL.B. or of M.B. 



MATRICULATION 



consists in placing the name of a student upon the register 

 of scholars of the university. This, then, is the first formal 

 step to be taken by a person who contemplates graduation, but 

 before he can matriculate he will be required to produce a 

 certificate of his admission as a member of some college of the 

 university (that is, at present, of Owens College, Manchester, or 

 of University College, Liverpool). Matriculation takes place 

 at stated times, in the Michaelmas term, or in June, and the fee 

 is 2. 



THE ORDINARY DEGREE OF B.A. OR B.SC. 



Candidates for an ordinary degree are required to pass three 

 university examinations, namely, the preliminary, the inter- 

 mediate, and the final. Between matriculation and graduation 

 the course of study extends over at least three years, with the 

 exception to be noted presently. The first year's course leads 

 up to the preliminary examination ; the second year's to the 

 intermediate ; and the third year's to the final. Before pre- 

 senting himself at these examinations, the candidate must 

 furnish (with the exception about to be mentioned) certificates 

 from the college authorities of having attended courses of 

 instruction in the subjects of the respective examinations. 

 Moreover, students must present themselves at the preliminary 

 not later than two years from the date of matriculation. These 

 examinations are held in June and October. At the latter, 

 only such students as failed in the examination of the previous 

 June may present themselves ; except that students who have 

 newly matriculated and (with the permission of the General 

 Board of Studies, which comprises the examiners of the uni- 

 versity for the time being) candidates for an honours degree 

 may be admitted to the October preliminary. The exception 

 already twice alluded to will be found in the following regu- 

 lation : Candidates may offer themselves for the preliminary 

 examination at the time of matriculation (either in June or 

 October), in which case no certificates of attendance on college 

 courses of instruction are required ; such candidates, if they 

 pass,* and are placed in the first division, are allowed to 

 graduate after two years' study from the date of matriculation, 

 presenting themselves for the intermediate at the end of their 

 first year, and for the final at the end of their second. A 

 student of Owens College who contemplates graduation in the 

 university, is not obliged to matriculate at the time of entering 

 the classes of the college ; but should he wish to count a given 

 year in the college as one of the three years required by the 

 university, he must matriculate at the beginning of that year. 



Preliminary Examination. f Candidates are required to 

 satisfy the examiners in: 1. English Language and English 

 History (including Geography) ; 2. Elementary Mathematics 

 (including Euclid I.-III. and VI., propositions i.-xix. and xxiii. or 

 the subjects thereof, and elementary Algebra) ; 3, 4, 5. Three 

 of the following : (i.) Greek (including translation of prepared 

 books, and translation of easy sentences from English to Greek) . 

 (ii.) Latin (including translation of prepared books, translation 

 of easy passage at sight, and translation of easy sentences from 

 English to Greek), (iii.) French (including translation of a 

 prepared book, translation at sight, and translation of easy 

 passages from English to French), (iv.) German (as in French), 

 (v.) Elementary Mechanics, (vi.) Elementary Chemistry. 



If, however, candidates take neither Greek nor Latin, the 



* A privilege of a somewhat similar character prevails in the Scot- 

 tish universities. 



f 1 Accepted by the General Medical Council and by the Incorporated 

 Law Society, provided that Latin be one of the subjects taken up, in 

 lieu of their preliminary examinations. It is also accepted, in lieu 

 of the preliminary or entrance examination, by the Council of Legal 

 Education and the Society of Chartered Accountants. 



