• LOGIN
• REGISTER

Confused by any education words and phrases you have come across? Use this glossary to find out what they mean.

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 to be marked.

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.

CAE
Certificate in Advanced English. Widely accepted English high-level language qualification. Managed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).
 
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.
 
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. Managed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).
 
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.

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.
 
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 (eg PhD, DPhil).
 
DSc
Doctor of Science. Higher doctorate qualification.

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.
 
EFC
English for Commerce. Widely accepted English test, on use of English in business.
 
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.
 
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.

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 or '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.

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.
 
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.

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.
 
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.

International Baccalaureate (IB)
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. Also known as freshers week.

JCR
Junior Common Room. Room or area set aside for use by students. Also an area within a hall of residence that holds 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.

KET
Key English Test. Basic English language qualification. Managed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

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, eg in a hall of residence.
 
live out
Living off campus, eg 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.

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 years of age 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 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.

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.
 
nightline
Student-run telephone service that offers information, listings and discusses personal issues in confidence.
 
NMAS
Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service. UK national organisation that administers applications for entry onto courses in nursing.
 
NUS
The National Union of Students. If an institution's Students' Union is affiliated to the NUS, their students automatically become members of the NUS.
 
NVQ
National Vocational Qualification. A first qualification related to an area of employment.

old university
Type of institution historically linked to the Church, and established between the 13th and 15th Centuries. Oxford and Cambridge are old universities.
 
open examination
Examination where the student can refer to books or notes and may be able to take the question paper away and return it by a certain time.
 
ordinary degree
Degree programme where successful students are not graded, but simply pass or fail. Sometimes also used in same sense as 'pass degree'.
 
ORSAS
Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme. Annual UK governmental scheme making awards annually to pay the difference between  'home' and  'overseas' fees for selected research students.
 
overhead projector
Device that projects and enlarges acetates on a white screen or wall using an overhead mirror.

part-time
Course where students attend a limited number of days or evenings each week. Any course that requires less than 15 hours attendance a week is part-time for the purposes of visa regulations.
 
pass
Satisfactory mark in examination or course.
 
pass-degree
Bachelor's degree grading with insufficient marks to earn honours.
 
PET
Preliminary English Test. English test managed by UCLES. Not advanced enough to meet university entrance requirements.
 
PG Cert
Postgraduate Certificate.
 
PG Dip
Postgraduate Diploma.
 
PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Qualification allowing holder to teach in primary or secondary schools in the UK. Taken as a one-year full-time programme after completing a Bachelor's degree.
 
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy.
 
plagiarism
To take the work, words or ideas of someone else and pretend they are your own. Universities and colleges heavily penalise anyone caught plagiarising.
 
polytechnic
Former type of degree-awarding higher education institution in the UK. All polytechnics were elevated to university status in 1992.
 
portfolio
Collection of original work. May be assessed to contribute to the mark a student receives on their course.
 
practical
Non-written work that is performed by a student either alone or as a member of a group.
 
pre-degree course
Any course, especially an Access, Foundation or Certificate course taken to meet university entry requirements for a degree programme.
 
pre-sessional
Short course that runs before another longer course. For example, a pre-sessional English language course may run in July and August, to prepare students for a degree programme beginning in September.
 
private college
College that is not subsidised by the government but is owned and run by private individuals.
 
professor
Title sometimes given to a senior academic following several years successful teaching and research, and election by the senior academics at an institution.
 
prospectus
Brochure published by a university or college advertising their institution and courses and to encourage student recruitment.

QTS
Qualified Teacher Status. Necessary qualification to teach in primary or secondary education in the UK, obtained by taking a Bachelor's degree in education or Bachelor's degree in another subject followed by a PGCE.

Rag
Student society that raises money through holding fund-raising events, often taking place during an annual 'rag week'.
 
reading list
List of books students are expected to read for their particular course.
 
reading week
Week during term-time when students are expected to concentrate on reading and studying for their course. There are usually no lectures or seminars during this period.
 
redbrick
Universities that were founded in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.
 
refectory
Any cafeteria, restaurant or dining room for general use in a college or university.
 
referee
Person to whom enquiries about your academic and other abilities and character can be made.
 
reference
Statement (usually written) about a person's abilities and character.
 
research assistant
Person (usually a postgraduate student) appointed to help an academic or team on a research project.
 
research associate
Co-worker on a research programme. Often someone who already has a research degree.
 
Research Councils
UK national councils which administer funding for research programmes in their respective disciplines.
 
research fellow
Senior academic whose work at an institution is mainly research and supervision of other researchers.
 
resit
To re-take an examination, usually because of failure or gaining a low mark in the previous examination.
 
RSA
Royal Society of Arts. UK national organisation that validates several vocational qualifications.

sandwich course
Course that includes a long period of work experience. Degree sandwich courses usually last four years, with one whole year spent on a work placement.
 
SAT
Scholastic Aptitude Test. US test used as college entrance examination.
 
SCE
Scottish Certificate of Education. Equivalent to a GCSE.
 
scholarship
Money award made to support a student's education. It is often awarded on the basis of academic achievement.
 
SCR
Senior Common Room. Room or area set aside for staff within an institution. Social organisation for staff of an institution.
 
second-class honours
Most graduates of Bachelor's degree programmes achieve second-class honours. This grade is therefore divided into two divisions, upper and lower, written 2 i and 2 ii, or 2:1 and 2:2, and called; 'two-one' and 'two-two'.
 
SEFIC
Spoken English for Industry and Commerce. Type of English language test. Widely accepted.
 
self-catering halls
Halls of residence where students have to prepare their own meals. These residences have kitchens that students share.
 
self-contained
Accommodation in a larger building which has its own kitchen and bathroom and a private entrance.
 
semester
Term lasting half an academic year.
 
seminar
Small class where students discuss a topic with a lecturer or tutor. Questions are encouraged, but discussion is less free than in a tutorial, and not everyone present will necessarily be expected to contribute to the discussion.
 
single honours
Type of first degree awarded for study in only one subject, such as law or medicine.
 
SOCRATES-ERASMUS
Exchange scheme which enables European students to spend time studying or working in another European country.
 
special needs
General term for any condition, physical or mental that results in someone needing special educational facilities.
 
sponsor
Person or organisation that accepts responsibility for all or part of a student's fees or expenses.
 
SQA
Scottish Qualifications Authority. Body that is responsible for accrediting, awarding and developing academic and vocational qualifications in Scotland.
 
student societies
Groups with a shared general interest that students join, eg rowing, Christian, Sociology. Student societies can be political, cultural, departmental, religious or sports-related.
 
SU
Abbreviation for Students' Union. Also called Union of Students.
 
summer school
Courses and lectures that are held during the summer vacation.

taught masters
Postgraduate degree that is taught in a similar way to first degrees, and does not include original research.
 
TEMPUS
The Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Students. Encourages students to study part of their course in a different European country.
 
term
Period of continuous study without vacations. In the UK, the academic year is normally split into three terms. In universities, these terms are between eight and twelve weeks long, with a long vacation in the summer months.
 
TESOL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. High-level Certificate and Diploma qualifications validated by Trinity College London.
 
thesis
Dissertation containing results of original research to support a particular argument, usually written by a candidate for an academic degree.
 
third-class honours
Lowest honours grading for a Bachelor's degree. Called a 'third'.
 
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language. Internationally recognised English test, available in over 100 countries. Widely accepted by UK institutions.
 
transcript
Detailed list of classes or courses a student has taken at college or university, with marks or grades for each subject.
 
tutor
University or college lecturer who supervises the welfare and studies of assigned undergraduates.
 
tutorial
Class for a small number of students, led by a tutor, where one topic is discussed in depth. The topic may be introduced by a student, and everyone is expected to contribute to the discussion.

UCAS
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. UK national organisation that administers applications for entry onto full-time first degree and similar programmes.
 
UCLES
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. Examination board that validates and manages several English language and other tests.
 
UKCOSA
The Council for International Education. UK organisation offering advice to international students.
 
unit
Single item or element which is part of a whole. Many courses in the UK are divided up into units.
 
university college
Degree-awarding institution equivalent in status to a university.

Validation
Process of defining academic level of a course, and of setting the syllabus and standards for marking and grading. UK universities validate their own degrees.
 
viva (voce)
Interview between members of an Examination Board and a student, on the material studied on a course to confirm a degree grading.
 
vocational qualification
Qualification aimed at preparing students for employment, usually with practical experience as part of the course.