When people start talking about HEIs, UG Courses, LEAs and DipHEs its hard to find out what they are talking about. This glossary should help you find out what all the abbreviations and new words mean which will help you speak the lingo!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Alumni - Past students (and staff) of a university.
An academic - A person that is involved with some aspect of teaching or research at the university.
BA - Batchelor of Arts (degree title for arts based subjects eg BA (Hons) English Literature)
BSc - Batchelor of Science (degree title for science based subjects eg BSc Computing)
Campus - The site at which you study.
DipHE - Diploma of Higher Education
Doctorate - Post-graduate research qualification.
Faculty - Collection of study departments linked together by subject (eg. Engineering or Business)
Foundation Degree - A 2 year employment based course
Foundation year - Pre-degree level course to increase skills before starting on a degree- such as Art and Design Foundation.
Fresher - First year student
Gap Year - A year out of education before going to university.
Graduate - Someone who has passed their course
Grant - Money that is given to you and doesn't have to be paid back.
Halls of Residence - Accommodation block.
HE - Higher Education
HEI - Higher Education Institution
HNC - Higher National Certificate- a one year vocational course. Successful students can continue on to the second year of an HND course.
HND - Higher National Diploma- a 2 year vocational course. Can be topped up to a degree course with a further year of study.
Lecture - Large class, often listening to a tutor talking about a subject. Generally involves very little discussion.
Lecturer - Another word for teacher
Masters - Post graduate qualification.
NUS - National Union of Students
Open day - Day when you can visit the university or college and find out more.
Post Graduate - Someone who usually already has a degree and is studying at an advanced level.
Prospectus - Catalogue of courses and information about a university or college.
Semester - Half of the study year (usually Autumn to Spring and Spring to Summer)
Seminar - A small class based session discussing subject topics from lectures in more depth.
SLC - Student Loans Company
Student Loan - Money that is loaned to you whilst you are studying to help you pay for living / tuition costs.
Tutor - Another word for teacher
UCAS - University and Colleges Admissions Service - the organisation which deals with all application forms for full time undergraduate courses (except Healthcare courses) for UK universities.
Under graduate - Someone studying for a first degree.
Vocational - Work/Employment related learning.
