They appoint their own staff, decide which students to admit, provide their own courses and award their own degrees. The number of universities has increased considerably since 1992, when polytechnics were given degree-awarding powers and were allowed to call themselves universities. First degree courses are mainly full-time and usually last three years. However, there are some four-year courses, and medical and veterinary courses normally require five years. Universities offer courses in a wide range of subjects, including traditional arts subjects and science and technology.
Many universities have close links with commerce and industry.
Institutions suffer financial penalties if the number of students laid down for them by the funding councils is exceeded, but the individual university or college decides which students to accept. In practice, most offers of places require qualifications in excess of this, with higher requirements usually reflecting the popularity if a course. All universities and most colleges providing higher education courses in the UK are members of Ucas. Ucas sends the application to each of the chosen universities and colleges at the same time. Each one then decides whether to offer the applicant a place, usually made conditional on their getting certain exam grades.