also the laboratories of the university. Recent additions to the equipment include an elaborate range of new chemistry laboratories, extensive laboratories equipped for the study of technical mycology, and a mine-rescue station attached to the mining department. Arrangements have been made with leading firms of engineers in Edinburgh and elsewhere by which students of the college are allowed to begin their apprenticeship at the end of the second winter's session, returning to the college the following autumn to complete their third session. As a result of these arrangements, if a student on entering the college puts down his name as an apprentice with one of the firms, he can obtain his whole training, both theoretical and practical, as a mechanical or electrical engineer in from five to six years. Students of exceptional ability also have the chance of securing bursaries which greatly reduce the cost of tuition. The annual fees for day classes vary according to the number of lectures and the stage of advancement in the course. Composition fees for the complete winter courses in mechanical and electrical engineering and chemistry range from £12 12s. to £15 5s., not including the matriculation fee of 5s. The fee for the summer workshop courses is £2 2s., and for the summer laboratory course £3 3s. The arrangements with engineering firms referred to make it possible for a student to secure his training at the college for three complete sessions, plus the premium for apprenticeship, for a sum varying from £120 ($600) to £200 ($1,000) according to the firm chosen for the apprenticeship. Students who pass the university preliminary examination have the advantage of the provision for the payment of fees by the Carnegie trust, under the same conditions as those which apply to the university students. IRELAND. The University of Dublin, Ireland, established a school of engineering in 1842 for the purpose of affording to such students as intend becoming civil engineers systematic instruction in the branches of knowledge relating to their profession. Such students are required to register as members of Trinity College and subject to its regular discipline. The professional course in engineering covers three years; the instruction is conducted by means of lectures, laboratory and field work. An optional fourth year's course has been established for students wishing to make a special study of electrical engineering. The university confers a certificate in engineering upon students who complete the full three years' course and pass the final examination. A student who has not only completed his course in the engineering school, but has also completed the first two years in the course in arts and passed the final freshman examination (Littlego), is entitled to the license in engineering granted by the university. A student who has not only completed his course in the engineering school, but also graduated in arts, is entitled to proceed to the degree of bachelor in engineering. A bachelor in engineering who has been actually engaged upon engineering works for a period of three years is entitled to proceed to the degree of master in engineering. A diploma in electrical engineering is conferred upon those students who take the optional fourth year. 56 SWITZERLAND. POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL, ZURICH. Organization. The Polytechnic School is the only educational institution in Switzerland under the control of the Federal Government, and its organization is therefore a matter of unusual interest. The supreme executive and directive authority is vested in the Federal council, whose decisions respecting the affairs of the institution are based upon recommendations submitted by the minister of the interior. For the immediate administration of the Polytechnic School a body called "Swiss school council" is appointed by the Federal council. The Federal council, however, reserves for its own decision all important matters. It appoints, transfers, and retires professors and the auxiliary teaching forces of the school; issues rules and regulations of ordinary importance, to be observed by the institution, the fundamental statutory regulations being decided by the Federal Assembly. The Federal council also controls the finances of the school and examines the annual reports submitted by the school council. All gifts and bequests offered to the institution must be approved by the Federal council before they are accepted, and the expenditure of general funds of the school is supervised by that body. The school council is, however, freely consulted in all these matters. The authority of the school council comprises the supervision of instruction, the appointment of the director and vice director of the school, as well as that of managing officers, etc.; the assignment of salaries, within the limits imposed by the Federal laws; the award of scholarships, reductions of fees, bestowment of prizes and diplomas. In general, the school council attends to the current administration of the institution, aside from the weightier decisions, reserved to the Federal council, and the ordinary routine measures left to the autonomous organization of professors. At the head of the latter organization stands the joint conference of professors of all departments. This body nominates the director of the school for approval by the school council. The director, whose office corresponds to the rectorship in the universities, is appointed for two years and may be reappointed to serve for three successive terms. His deputy (Stellvertreter) is appointed in the same manner. The director or his deputy must attend the meetings of the school council and may take part in the deliberations. The joint conference convenes regularly once a year, but may be invited to extra sessions at any time when emergency occurs. The conference is composed of all the teaching forces of the school, including the private docents. Its task is designated as that of "keeping always in mind the good of the institution, proposing the necessary improvements, and bringing to the attention of the authorities the existing evil conditions." Departmental conferences, organized on similar lines and corresponding to faculty meetings at the universities, are held for the determination of matters pertaining to the proper conduct of instruction in the respective departments. Occasionally the departmental conferences are consulted by the president of the school council or the director of the school in matters of school discipline, etc. Admission requirements. Candidates for admission to the Polytechnic School must be 18 years of age and present the graduation certificate (certificat de maturité) of a Swiss middle school or submit to an entrance examination. Special students may be admitted for lectures in any semester on passing the required examinations. Men of mature years, who desire to attend lectures, may be exempted from strict conformity to the rules. Students of the Zurich University are admitted on presenting their card. Students who complete the course which they may have selected receive a certificate (abgangszeugnis) showing the average marks for the obligatory subjects. At the close of the courses in each division, students undergo an examination for the diploma. The fees, as expressed in United States money, are as follows: The dues for optional subjects are included in the yearly school fee of $30, but for lectures which are not obligatory and are given by the honorary professors and instructors (private docents) a special fee of $1 per weekly hour in the semester is charged. The annual term comprises two semesters, one opening April 15 and the other October 15. The standard of admission for all regular students is high, particularly as regards mathematics, and while liberal provision is made for various classes of special students in every case proof of ability to profit by the privilege is required. The institution is organized in the following-named divisions or departments of instruction: 1. School of architecture... In pharmacy course... 5. Agricultural and forestry division: (a) Agricultural school........... (b) Agricultural engineering school.. (c) Silviculture.... 6. School for special teachers in mathematical and natural science subjects: (a) Mathematical section.... (b) Natural science section.... Instruction. The languages of instruction are French, German, and Italian, in conformity with the special conditions of the country. Instruction is given by means of lectures, repetitions, seminaries, and practical occupations. In order to be admitted to the lectures and practical occupations of the higher semesters, which presuppose acquaintance with prescribed sciences, the student must produce proof that he has (1) completed the required preliminary studies, and (2) performed the practical exercises of the respective specialty. A student who, after a specified period of time, has not passed any examinations (semester or diploma examinations) may be prohibited by the school council, upon the advice of the departmental conference, from further attendance upon the lectures. Diplomas and degrees.-The technical departments confer diplomas of engineers, architects, chemists, etc. The departments of mathematics, physics, and science confer diplomas of "professional teachers” of these subjects (Fachlehrer). A special examination leads to the doctor's degree. Typical courses of instruction.-The department of civil engineering derives special importance from the difficult engineering problems that are presented by the topography of the country. The fundamental studies are the same in this department as in the department of mechanical engineering and occupy the chief place in the program for the first two years, the distribution of time between the subjects being the same for both departments and both years, as shown by the following conspectus: |