What are they all talking about?

Here is a break down some of the most common jargon associated with universities and colleges in the UK.

Academic Year
The university year.

Access Course
A course for mature students (over 21), who lack the appropriate formal qualifications to enter HE. Successful completion will enable them to commence a course in higher education.

Access Funds
Money given to universities to assist students in financial difficulty.

Alumni
A community of graduates, or people who have passed a course at university.

BA
The title Bachelor of Arts e.g. BA (Hons) Sociology, awarded to students who have successfully graduated (passed) their degree course in an Arts subject.

BSc
Bachelor of Science e.g.: BSc (Hons) Chemistry.

BEd
Bachelor of Education (Teaching degree).

Campus
The 'base camp' of a university. Refers to the buildings and grounds where a university or college is based. This is only used to refer to buildings grouped together in one area.

Clearing
A system that operates after A Level results are known which allows prospective students without a university place to apply for places which are still vacant.

CATS
The Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) determines the level which a student has reached and allows students to transfer more easily between institutions and take their qualifications/level reached with them.

Combined Honours
A degree in which a student studies a combination of two or three different subjects.

Diploma
A qualification awarded for a course of Higher Education.

Dissertation
An enormous essay! Usually of several thousand words on a specific subject area completed during a course of study.

Distance Learning
This is where students study from home with materials provided by the institution.

Faculty
A group of several related departments within an academic area that are jointly administered.

FE
Further Education provides education and courses in a wide range of subjects and levels for those over 16. Courses include A Levels, AS Levels Vocational A Levels, national diplomas and key skills.

Fees
Students now have to make a contribution towards the cost of their studies. The level set varies each year, and universities will be able to advise you of the level.

Foundation course
A course designed to prepare students who have qualifications which are acceptable for entry in general, but are not appropriate to a specific course of study.

Graduate
A person who has completed and passed his or her degree.

Halls of Residence
University owned accommodation in which students often live while studying.

HE
Higher Education provides education and training for students of 18 years of age and older, who have completed the required amount of study at school, or in Further Education.

Higher degree
A degree at a higher level than a Bachelor degree, such as a masterŐs degree or doctorate.

Honours Degree
A course taken at university, normally the first degree and lasting three or four years.

HNC
Higher National Certificate.

HND
Higher National Diploma. Lasts for approximately two years and are usually in vocational subjects, such as Business and Finance. At the end of the course you can often add a top up year, to gain a degree.

Joint Honours
An honours degree where two subjects are studied in the same depth.

Key Skills
Key skills are the skills which will be required in the world of work and are important in all aspects of life. These include communication, IT, numeracy, team work, problem solving and self-management.

LEA
Local Education Authority.

Lecture
A formal instructive talk given by a subject specialist to a group of students. Students listen and make notes although some involve interaction between the lecturer and students.

MA/MSc/MPhil
Masters courses. MA/MSc degrees are taught courses whereas an MPhil is awarded after a period of research.

Major/Minor Honours
A degree where a student studies two subjects, but concentrates on one, which is their major subject, the other is their minor subject.

Mature Student
Students who are over 21 when they start their course.

Module
A unit of study that explores a specific area within a subject. Some courses are made up of a number of modules.

Mentor/Personal Tutor
A member of university staff, who discusses progress and problems with individual students.

Open/Flexible Learning
Open or flexible learning allows students to study at their own pace.

Placement Year
A year of work experience which is part of a university course.

Postgraduate
A student, who has completed his/her first degree and progresses onto a more advanced course at university.

Prospectus
A brochure giving details of a university/college and its courses.

Semester
Some universities divide the academic year into two semesters, or blocks of study.

Seminar/ Tutorial
A small class of varying levels of formality where students can discuss with their lecturers and fellow students aspects of the course.

Sandwich year
A course of study which includes a year of practical work undertaken in an organisation outside the university, but which has some relevance to the studentŐs programme of study.

Single Honours
An honours degree course during which a student studies a single subject.

Student Loans Company
Provides financial assistance in the form of loans to students. These loans are not paid back until after the course has ended, and students have started earning.

Tuition Fees
Course fees, which are payable to the university to cover tuition costs.

Trimester
The academic year is split into three terms or blocks of study.

UCAS
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which is responsible for processing applications for courses at universities and colleges in the UK.

Undergraduate
A person, who is studying for a first degree.

University
An institute of Higher Education, which has the authority to award bachelors and higher degrees, and which usually has research facilities.