Re: At College In College At the Univeristy In the University For British English:
1. Mark is in College = Mark is at present within the grounds of the college he attends.
— This would require a certain context: one of the British universities (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge) which are composed of separate colleges. The speaker would also very probably be in (the vicinity of) the college.
2. Mark is at College = either:
a) Mark is at present within the grounds of the college he attends, e.g.
"Where's Mark today?"
"Mark? Oh, he's at college."
b) Mark is enrolled on a course at a college. He isn't necessarily there now, e.g.
"What about Mark? What's he doing these days?"
"Mark? Oh, he's at college."
3. Mark is in the University = Mark is at present within the grounds of the university.
4. As #2; but both speaker and addressee must know which university it is, e.g.
a) "So Mark's living in Manchester now, is he?"
"Yes, he's at the university."
b) "Where's Mark? I haven't seen him today."
"Oh, he's at the university."
Cf. however
c) "What about Mark? What's he doing these days?"
"Mark? Oh, he's at university."
All the best,
MrP |