Glossary
Bursary: Money given to you from your chosen university that you don’t pay back. Bursaries, or sometimes they are called scholarships, are given to you on top of any student loans or grants you may receive. Each university has their own bursary scheme with different eligibility criteria so it’s important to make sure you do your research to find out what’s on offer.
Campus: The site a university is situated on which makes up the academic (lecture theatres, classrooms, library etc) and non academic buildings (Student Union, Halls of Residence, etc).
Clubs and Societies: These are groups set up within the Student Union made up of people sharing common interests who met on a regular basis to socialise.
C.V. or Curriculum Vitale: A Curriculum Vitale or C.V. for short, is a document that summarises your education background (including your grades attained) and relevant work experience. Employers will often ask for a C.V when applying for their jobs to see if you have the relevant skills they require.
Degree: A degree is a level 6 qualification which you study for at university. Your first degree is called an undergraduate degree. There are two common types of degrees you can study for depending on the subject you choose and the university you go to. You can either study for a Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA), this would include subject such as English, History and Geography or a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc), which would include subjects such as Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
Entry Requirements: This is the grade or mark you need to get from your studies at school or college to be able to get onto your chosen course. Each university and course have different entry requirements so it’s important to make sure you know what grades you need to get for each of your choices. Your personal statement and overall suitability for a course will also be taken into consideration when universities offer places on their courses.
Graduate: A student who had finished their university course.
Halls of Residence: The name given for university accommodation.
Lecture: A big class, sometimes up to 300 students, sitting in a large room (lecture theatre) listening to one person (a lecturer) at the front of the room.
Maintenance Grant: This is money from the government that you don’t have to pay back. The money is to help you pay for your living costs, such as food and accommodation while you are study on a full time course.
Masters: A further qualification after a bachelors (first) degree, usually lasting for a year.
Non means tested: Not dependant on your family income.
Open Day: A day where you can go and visit the university yourself to see firsthand what it is like. Typical open days include tours of the site, subject specific talks and general information and guidance talks. It is also a good opportunity to speak to academics about a particular course you may be interested in.
Personal Statement: This is a piece of writing, written by you, about yourself that you have to include in your UCAS application form to prove your suitability for your chosen course. Universities will look at this, along with your grades, to assess whether they will offer you a place.
PhD: A further qualification after a Masters degree, usually lasting 3 year if full time.
Private renting: Taking out a contract with a landlord to rent a property independently from your university. Usually students studying in their 2nd and 3rd year decide to rent privately.
Prospectus: A book containing all the information you need to know about a particular university or college. It includes information about courses, entry requirements, accommodation and activities. Most universities now have an on line prospectuses you can look at too.
Seminar: A small class of about 5-10 people where you have the opportunity to discuss lectures and do group work.
Student Union: The Student Union organises all social aspects of university life, from putting on special event nights to managing the bars. It is also responsible for all the clubs and societies, and Frehsers week which is an induction event for all new students. It is run by students for students and has political representation as well as providing pastoral support.
Transferable skills: Skills you will pick up during your time at university in addition to the knowledge you gain from your degree, regardless of the course you are studying on. These skills include presentation skills, time management, I.T , problem solving and working with others, which you will be able to transfer into the working world once you have graduated.
Tutorials: A small group of students from the same department meeting on a regular basis with a tutor to discuss any academic or personal needs.
UCAS: This stands for University and College Admission Services, and it is the organisation you normally apply though to get into university as an undergraduate student.
Undergraduate: A student who is studying for their first degree.
Undergraduate courses: Courses available for students studying their first degree. See degree for more information.
Vocational: A course of study that relates to a particular profession, i.e. leisure studies or Law.
