Right up to the 19th century,Oxford and Cambridge were the only two universities in England.Royal patronage and aristocratic money confirmed them in their position,and attempts to found new universities elsewhere all met with failure.In the 19th century, however, new universities were at last established,though by private efforts and not through government policy.The first was in London; then in Durham and Manchester.(1)_______________________.They got less influence from the established church and welcomed Catholics and even no-Christians such as Jews as students.A large number of provincial universities were established following their lead;these are the so-called “red brick universities”.Many of them were dependent on older universities at first,especially the University of London,but soon they became independent and began giving their own degrees.Many also became well known for their excellence in a particular subject that was available anywhere else in the country.After this first rapid increase in numbers and distribution,the number of English universities remained the same for nearly 40 years.But by the 1960s a new post war generation had grown up.Due to an increase in the birth rate following the Second World War,the school going population was bigger than ever before.Secondary education was better and the school leaving age higher.(2)_______________________.Seven new universities were planned, built and opened their doors to a new generation of students between 1961 and 1965.It was the greatest single expansion of higher education that England has ever known.
