Private university
From Freepedia
A private university is a university that is run without the control of any government entity. Private universities are common in Japan and the United States, but do not exist in some countries. Tuition at private universities tends to be much higher than at public universities.
Private universities sometimes run condensed courses with shorter vacations allowing students to complete a three year degree in two years for example. This reduces living costs and allows students to start full time work sooner, but some would argue that it does so at the expense of the overall student experience.
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United States
In the U.S. most of the presitigious universities - including most of those belonging to the so-called Ivy League - are private. These include Harvard, Yale, Princeton University, Columbia University and Cornell University. However, although Cornell is a private university, it is unique in that some of its colleges and schools are state-supported statutory colleges. Many smaller or less prestigious private universities are run by religious orders, such as Notre Dame University and Brigham Young University.
Because private universities are not an extension of the government, they can engage in behaviors that the government is not allowed to. For example, religious institutions can expressly forward their own beliefs, and teach that other religions are incorrect. Private universities also have a freer hand to discriminate on the basis of race, religion or gender. For example, Bob Jones University in South Carolina refused to admit African-American students until 1971, and until the year 2000 it was noted for prohibiting inter-racial relationships based on the belief that they were forbidden by the Bible.
Australia
Bond University is Australia's first private university, founded in 1987. It runs three semesters per year (correlating exactly with the Northern and Southern Hemispheres' schedules), which allows a student to complete a six semester degree in two years and an eight semester degree (e.g. Law) in under three years.
China
China's first private university, Sanda University, was founded in 1992.
United Kingdom
The private university/public university split does not fit the United Kingdom university system very well. British universities have institutional autonomy, which is well respected as it has developed over centuries, but in the first half of the 20th century they came to rely on the government for most of their funding. The only university which is wholly privately financed is the University of Buckingham, which has a low profile within the UK and caters largely for overseas students.
