 A
A - level
Qualification
normally first gained in the UK at the age of 18, but without a formal
age limit. Available in many subjects. Two or three A-levels are often
used to meet university entrance requirements.
academic
Any member of
teaching or research staff at a degree-awarding institution; or
sometimes used as a general term for any study which is not related to
preparing for a career
academic year
Year running from
September to September of the following year. Most UK courses start in
September or October.
access
course
One-year full-time
course for students who are not ready to enter degree programmes.
Usually features study and writing skills, English language and some
study of the subject to be studied at degree level.
accreditation
Process of
examining various aspects of a course, such as teaching methods and
facilities, to ensure they meet agreed standards.
accredited
Describes a course
that has been examined and approved as meeting an agreed standard.
admissions
tutor
Academic officer,
such as a lecturer, at a college or university who decides which
applicants will be offered places. Each course or discipline at an
institution has its own admissions tutor.
alumni
association
Association of the
graduates of an institution. Means of keeping in touch with
fellow-students, and getting news about the college where you studied.
Some associations have overseas branches.
APEL
Accreditation of
Prior Experiential Learning. Establishes the equivalent in formal
qualifications of knowledge and ability gained through work and other
experience. Can be used to assess whether an applicant meets entrance
requirements, or whether they may be allowed to directly enter the
second year of a degree programme.
APT
Advanced Placement
Test. Graded test taken in the US for university entrance.
ARELS
The Association of
Recognised English Language Services. Organisation that jointly runs
(with the British Council) a scheme of accreditation for private English
Language schools.
AS
level
Qualification
equal to one half of an A level.
assessment
Process of
considering a student’s academic ability and work through essays,
examinations, interviews or other methods.
assignment
Any piece of work,
such as an essay, which a student must complete and submit by a
specified time for marking and grading.
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BA
Abbreviation of
the first-degree qualification Bachelor of Arts.
Bachelor’s
degree
First degree
usually obtained after three years or more of full-time study.
BACIHFE
British
Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education.
Organisation that runs an accreditation scheme for UK private colleges.
BALEAP
British
Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes. Organisation
that works to develop the provision of English-language teaching for
international students in higher education institutions in the UK.
BASELT
The British
Association of State English Language Teaching. Association of state
universities and colleges in the UK. Responsible for quality assessment
of English-language courses for international students and teachers.
Accredits numerous courses.
block
release
Continuous period
(usually several weeks) where an employer allows an employee time away
from work to attend an educational institution.
bridging
course
General name for
any course preparing students who need to improve their academic study
skills or language ability before they progress to higher level study.
BSc
Abbreviation of
the first-degree qualification Bachelor of Science.
BTEC
Business and
Technician Education Council. Body which validates BTEC Certificates and
Diplomas.
BTEC
Certificate and Diploma
Vocational
qualifications available at various levels.
bursary
Financial award
granted by an institution to a student. Bursaries have strict selection
criteria, and are usually for a fixed amount, very often less than the
full cost of a course.
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CAE
Certificate in
Advanced English. Widely accepted English high-level language
qualification.
campus
University or
college grounds.
CELTA
Certificate in
English Language Teaching to Adults. Teaching qualification validated by
Cambridge University.
certified
Of educational and
other documents, officially stamped and signed by an authorised officer
to prove that a document is genuine and accurate.
CFE
College of Further
Education. College that offers academic and vocational courses ranging
from GCSEs or equivalents to Diploma or Certificate courses that
approach the level of first degrees. May also offer degrees validated by
other institutions.
chaplaincy
Christian
organisation within a college or university, holding meetings and
religious services.
CHE
College of Higher
Education. College that offers academic and vocational qualifications
from A levels and equivalents to HNDs. Some also offer degrees validated
by a partner university.
CIFE
Council for
Independent Further Education.
City
& Guilds
Broad range of
vocational qualifications, validated by City & Guilds Institute. These
qualifications are not generally used to meet university entrance
requirements.
civic
university
One of the
universities established in the 19th and early 20th centuries in major
industrial centres such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and other big
cities.
clearing
(recruitment)
Process allowing
applicants with no offers of places for degree programmes to secure
places at institutions, which have vacancies, shortly before the start
of the academic year. Begins mid-August each year.
closed
examination
Examination where
students are not allowed to refer to books or notes and have a specific
time to complete a certain number of questions.
common
room
Room used by
students or staff for relaxation.
continuous
assessment
System whereby
academic work is marked and graded throughout a course, rather than just
at the end.
core
Compulsory
subjects or modules as opposed to optional subjects or courses.
course
materials
Any material or
items used on a course of study. Includes printed matter, stationery,
and items specifically used for one subject, such as oil paint for Fine
Art.
coursework
Work that is done
in the student’s own time, rather than in seminars or tutorials.
Coursework usually counts towards a student’s final mark in their course
or module. Coursework can be continually assessed.
CPE
Certificate of
Proficiency in English. Widely accepted English language qualification.
CSYS
(Scotland)
Certificate of
Sixth-Year Studies. Scottish school-leaving qualification, taken at the
age of 17 or 18. Equivalent to GCE A level qualifications.
CU
Christian Union.
Society in an educational institution for Christians working or studying
there.
D Top
day release
Arrangement
whereby an employer allows an employee to attend a part-time course,
usually by taking the same day or days off work each week for the length
of the course.
DELTA
Diploma in English
Language Teaching to Adults. Advanced teaching qualification validated
by Cambridge University.
DfEE
See DfES.
DfES
Department for
Education and Skills. Government department that administers and funds
education in the UK.
DfID
Department for
International Development. Government department responsible for
administering UK aid programmes for developing nations. Makes academic
awards to qualifying students each year.
Dip
HE
Diploma in Higher
Education. Qualification approximately equal to two years of a
three-year degree. Often available in work-related subject areas such as
nursing or accountancy.
dissertation
Long essay,
usually contributing to the overall mark or grade for a course.
distinction
Special honour or
recognition for excellent work, as an examination grading.
DLitt
Doctor of Letters.
Higher doctorate qualification.
doctorate
Any research
degree resulting in the successful candidate being able to use the title
Doctor (e.g. PhD, DPhil).
DSc
Doctor of Science.
Higher doctorate qualification.
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EAP
English for
Academic Purposes.
ECTS
European Credit
Transfer System. European system of grading academic work in different
countries so students can use work done abroad as a credit towards their
degree.
Edexcel
Examination board
that validates some vocational qualifications.
EEA
European Economic
Area. This comprises all 25 European Union (EU) countries (see below),
plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
EFC
English for
Commerce. Widely accepted English test, on use of English in business.
ELT
English Language
Teaching/Training.
enrolment
Process of
registering as a student at the start of a course.
entrance
examination
Examination or
essay test set by an institution to assess an applicant’s academic
ability.
ents
Student society
within an institution that organises entertainment events.
ESL
English as a
Second Language.
ESP
English for
Specific Purposes.
essay
Assignment
consisting of an extended piece of writing. May put forward an argument
and draw conclusions.
examination
board
1) Regional or
national board that validates qualifications such as GCSEs, A levels
etc. 2) Committee set up within a university to oversee the marking and
grading of examinations and other work by students on degree programmes.
extended
essay
Essay with a word
limit greater than a normal-length essay.
extension
degree
Four-year
Bachelor’s degree that includes a foundation or preliminary year.
external
examiner
Academic from
another institution who checks the marks and grading of degree awards,
in consultation with an institution’s own Examination Board.
EU
European Union.
The EU is made up of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
F Top
fellow
Senior member of
the academic staff of a college or university.
field
trip
Trip that students
go on as part of their studies. Students usually have to do practical
work while on the trip.
first-class
honours/first
Highest grade
given for first degree. An overall mark of at least 70% is needed to
gain first class honours.
foundation
course
One-year full-time
course to prepare a student for entry to a degree programme in a
particular subject.
freshers’
week
See ’intro week’.
full-time
For a study visa,
full-time means attendance for at least 15 hours of organised study each
week. Generally, a full-time course is one where you may be expected to
attend all or part of every weekday.
FE
Further education.
Non-compulsory education taken after school-leaving age (16-18 years).
Usually used to describe education between school and higher education
(university).
G Top
GCSE
General
Certificate of Secondary Education. The first qualification obtained by
students, at the age of about 16. There is no age limit, and mature or
international students may take GCSE examinations.
GMAT
Graduate
Management Admissions Test. Examination often taken to meet entrance
requirements for MBA programmes.
GNVQ
General National
Vocational Qualification. Vocational qualification, approximately equal
to A level standard.
GPA
Grade Point
Average , a grading system.
Grad
Dip
Graduate Diploma.
Qualification equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, awarded by a small
number of institutions.
graduation
Successful
completion of a degree or course. Also the ceremony where students are
officially given their awards.
grant
Money awarded to a
student or researcher to assist their studies.
GSVQ
General Scottish
Vocational Qualification. Scottish equivalent of GNVQ.
GTTR
Graduate Teacher
Training Registry. UK national organisation that administers
applications for entry onto Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
courses.
H Top
hall of
residence
Institutional
accommodation for students. Also called ’halls’. Halls provide kitchens,
bed linen and other facilities. In some halls, meals are provided,
others are self-catering.
hardship
fund
Fund administered
by a UK university or college, making small payments to students with
financial difficulties.
HESA
Higher Education
Statistics Agency. UK national agency that collects and publishes
statistical information on higher education throughout the UK.
higher
doctorate
Degree
occasionally awarded some time after a PhD.
HE
Higher education.
Study for a degree or higher-level qualification at college or
university.
Higher
grade
Scottish
qualification that is taken by students aged between 16 and 18.
HNC
Higher National
Certificate. Vocational course approximately equal to two or three A
levels.
HND
Higher National
Diploma. Vocational course approximately equal to the first two years of
a three-year Bachelor’s degree.
honorary degree
Degree title
(usually a higher doctorate) awarded as an honour not for academic work,
but for an outstanding contribution in another field such as
entertainment, philanthropy or community work.
honours
Bachelor’s degrees
are generally awarded as honours degrees in one of three classes, First,
Second or Third, depending on the overall marks awarded. Those who reach
the pass mark, but fail to attain a high enough mark to gain honours
graduate with a pass degree.
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IB
International
Baccalaureate: a two-year course approximately equal to three A-levels.
It is available in several countries including the UK, and is accepted
as an entry qualification by British universities.
IELTS
International
English Language Testing System. English test managed by the British
Council and partner organisations. Available worldwide. One of the most
widely accepted qualifications in the English language.
IGCSE
International
General Certificate of Secondary Education. Equivalent to GCSE.
in-sessional
During a course.
For instance, you may take an in-sessional English language course
during term-time to complement your other studies.
intermediate
Level above basic
but below advanced.
internship
Employment a
student (especially of medicine) takes to gain experience for a
qualification.
intro
week
An introductory
week for new university or college students which enables them to become
familiar with their institution, its facilities, their course and the
town or city they will be studying in.
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JCR
Junior Common
Room. Room or area set aside for the use of students. Also an
organisation within a hall of residence that organises events for
student residents.
joint
honours
Type of first
degree where a student studies two subjects in equal depth. For example
English and French, or Maths and Computer Science.
K Top
KET
Key English Test.
Basic English language qualification.
L Top
LCCI
London Chamber of
Commerce and Industry. Examination board validating some English
language and other tests.
LEA
Local Educational
Authority. Part of local government in the UK that administers education
up to college level in a particular district. Universities are not
governed by LEAs.
lecture
Educational talk
given by a member of teaching staff to a (usually large) group of
students.
LEONARDO
Exchange programme
that enables students to study or work in another European country.
LINGUA
Part of the
SOCRATES programme which aims to increase people’s competence in modern
European languages.
live
in
Living on campus
e.g. in a hall of residence.
live
out
Living off campus
e.g. in a private house, or rented flat.
LLB
Bachelor of Law.
LLM
Master of Law.
long vacation
The vacation
between years of a first-degree course, usually lasting for three months
between July and October.
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MA
Postgraduate
degree qualification, or Scottish first degree, Master of Arts.
manuscript
Hand written
document. Completed set of examination answers, or other assignment.
mature
student
Students above the
age of 21 in England Wales and Northern Ireland, or above 20 in
Scotland.
MBA
Master of Business
Administration. Postgraduate degree in management, finance and other
aspects of business.
MEng
Master of
Engineering.
merit
Grade below a
distinction but above a pass.
modular
Programme of
studies that consists of a number of discrete units or short courses.
Students are given a mark or grade for each module, and accumulate
points for an overall grade for their course.
module
Short course taken
as part of some degree programmes. Students can customise their degree
programme by their choice of modules.
MPhil
Master of
Philosophy.
MSc
Master of Science.
N Top
NARIC
National Academic
Recognition Information Centre. UK NARIC is an organisation that gives
advice on the comparability of international and UK qualifications, and
promotes UK qualifications overseas.
new
university
Any of the
universities established in the 1960s.
newsletter
Small magazine or
booklet, describing events in a particular institution or society.
Alumni associations regularly send newsletters to members throughout the
world containing news items about their college.
NHS
National Health
Service. The UK’s state health service, providing treatment for UK
residents through a variety of means.
nightline
Student-run
telephone service that offers information, listings and discusses
personal issues in confidence.
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