Confused by any education words and phrases you have come across? If so, use this glossary to find out what they mean.
Any member of teaching or research staff at a degree-awarding institution; or sometimes used as a general term for any study that is not related to preparing for a career.
Year running from September to September of the following year. Most UK courses start in September or October.
One- or two-year full- or part-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.
Process of examining various aspects of a course, such as teaching methods and facilities, to ensure they meet agreed standards.
British Council-run accreditation scheme for UK English language-teaching centres, with nearly 500 members.
Describes a course that has been examined and approved as meeting an agreed standard.
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.
Scottish school-leaving qualification, usually taken at the age of 18 after Highers. Equivalent to A-levels elsewhere.
Qualification normally first gained in the UK at the age of 18, but without a formal age limit. Available in many subjects. They take two years and comprise of two parts: AS-levels and A2 levels. AS-levels are awarded after one year and can be a qualification in their own right, but A-levels proper are only awarded after completing the A2. Two or three A-levels are often used to meet university entrance requirements.
Association of the graduates of an institution. Means of keeping in touch with fellow students and getting news about where you studied. Some associations have overseas branches.
Type of English and Scottish institution historically linked to the Church, and established between the 13th and 16th centuries. The Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews are prominent examples.
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. Not to be confused with APL (see below) or APCL (Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning).
Accreditation of Prior Learning. The recognition of, and award of, academic credit for demonstrated learning that has occurred at some time in the past. It is usually used for entry onto a programme or for course credit.
A more vocational version of the GCSE. One applied GCSE is equivalent to two conventional GCSEs.
The first part of an A-level, taking one year to study. It can be a qualification in its own right, but many students continue on to a full AS-level award.
AS-/A-level in applied subjects
A more vocational version of AS-/A-levels.
Process of considering a student’s academic ability and work through essays, examinations, interviews or other methods.
Any piece of work, such as an essay, which a student must complete and submit by a specified time for marking and grading.
The second part of an A-level course, taking one year, needed to convert an AS-level into a full A-level.
Bachelor of Arts. A first-degree qualification.
BAC or BACIFHE
British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education. Organisation that runs an accreditation scheme for UK private colleges.
First degree usually obtained after three years or more of full-time study.
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.
Bachelor of Architecture. A postgraduate Bachelor’s degree open only to graduates with a first degree or equivalent qualification in architecture, taking two years full time or up to four years part time. Sometimes known as a ‘second undergraduate’ programme.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The UK government department responsible for further and higher education, and training (where this has not been affected by devolution to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales).
Continuous period (usually several weeks) where an employer allows an employee time away from work to attend an educational institution.
Bachelor of Philosophy. A postgraduate Bachelor’s degree open only to graduates with a first degree in several disciplines, taking two years full time or up to four years part time. Sometimes known as a ‘second undergraduate’ programme.
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.
Bachelor of Science. A first-degree qualification.
The Business and Technology Education Council Body. This no longer exists independently, having merged in 1996 to form the exam board Edexcel, Its name lives on in a series of vocational qualifications validated and offered by Edexcel (see below).
BTEC Entry, Introductory, First, National and Higher National Certificates and Diplomas
Vocational qualifications at various levels that are offered by Edexcel.
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.
Certificate in Advanced English. Widely accepted higher-level English language qualification. Managed by Cambridge ESOL.
A Cambridge University department that is an assessment agency and incorporates three major exam boards (University of Cambridge International Examinations, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and OCR).
The University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. An exam board affiliated to Cambridge Assessment (see above).
Cambridge Pre-University (Pre-U) Diploma
A flexible, post-16 qualification aimed at giving students the skills necessary for study in higher education plus an in-depth knowledge of up to three subjects chosen from 26 covered by the Diploma. It is awarded by the University of Cambridge International Examinations exam board after two years’ study.
University or college grounds.
Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. Internationally recognised teaching qualification awarded by Cambridge ESOL.
Of educational and other documents, officially stamped and signed by an authorised officer to prove that a document is genuine and accurate.
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.
Christian organisation within a college or university, holding meetings and religious services.
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.
The University of Cambridge International Examinations. An exam board affiliated to Cambridge Assessment (see above).
Council for Independent Further Education. An organisation of 16 independent colleges in the UK.
City & Guilds
Broad range of vocational qualifications offered by the City & Guilds of London Institute, an examining and accreditation body for work-related training in the UK. These qualifications are not generally used to meet university entrance requirements.
One of the universities established in the 19th and early 20th centuries in major industrial centres in the UK like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and other big cities.
Process allowing applicants with no offers of places on degree programmes to secure places at institutions, which have vacancies, shortly before the start of the academic year. Begins mid-August each year.
Examination where students are not allowed to refer to books or notes and have a specific time to complete a certain number of questions.
Room used by students or staff for relaxation.
System whereby academic work is marked and graded throughout a course, rather than just at the end.
Compulsory subjects or modules as opposed to optional subjects or courses.
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.
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.
Certificate of Proficiency in English. Widely accepted English language qualification for people using English for study or professional purposes. It is Cambridge ESOL’s most advanced examination.
Arrangement where 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.
Doctor of Business Administration. Higher doctorate qualification.
The Department for Education. The UK government department responsible for schools and 14–19 education (where this has not been affected by devolution to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales).
Doctor of Divinity. Higher doctorate qualification.
Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults. Advanced English-language teaching qualification awarded by Cambridge ESOL.
The Department for International Development. The UK government department responsible for administering UK aid programmes for developing nations. Makes academic awards to qualifying students each year.
Diploma of Higher Education. A university-level qualification that takes two years full-time study. Often available in work-related subject areas like nursing or accountancy.
Long essay, usually contributing to the overall mark or grade for a course.
Special honour or recognition for excellent work, as an examination grading.
Doctor of Letters. Higher doctorate qualification.
Doctor of Music. Higher doctorate qualification.
Any research degree resulting in the successful candidate being able to use the title Doctor (eg PhD, DPhil).
Doctor of Philosophy. A research-based postgraduate qualification.
Doctor of Science. Higher doctorate qualification.
English for Academic Purposes.
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. European system of grading academic work in different countries so students can use work done abroad as a credit towards their degree.
UK examination board that offers vocational qualifications (see the entry for BTEC), as well as O-levels, IGCSEs and GCSEs.
Education UK Scotland
Body managed by British Council that is concerned with the Scottish education system.
European Economic Area. This is made up of all 27 European Union (EU) countries (see below), plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
English for Business. Test on the use of English in business that is recognised by employers around the world.
English for Commerce. Widely accepted English test, on use of English in business.
English as a Foreign Language.
English Language Teaching/Training.
The national association for British Council-accredited English language-teaching centres.
Process of registering as a student at the start of a course.
Examination or essay test set by an institution to assess an applicant’s academic ability.
Student society within an institution that organises entertainment events.
The European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. EU exchange scheme which enables European students to spend time studying or working in another European country. It is a major part of the EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013.
English as a Second Language.
English for Specific Purposes.
Assignment consisting of an extended piece of writing. May put forward an argument and draw conclusions.
The European Union, made up of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
(1) A regional or national body that validates and awards qualifications such as GCSEs, A-levels etc. (2) A committee set up within a university to oversee the marking and grading of examinations and other work by students on degree programmes.
Essay with a word limit greater than a normal-length essay.
A stand-alone one-year qualification, equivalent to an AS-level, aimed at those studying A-levels and other NQF Level 3 qualifications. It is also part of the 14–19 Diploma. It is a single piece of work by a student on a topic agreed to with their teachers, in which they follow an area of interest to them in greater depth while at the same time learning research and independent learning skills.
Four-year Bachelor’s degree that includes a foundation or preliminary year.
Academic from another institution who checks the marks and grading of degree awards, in consultation with an institution’s own examination board.
Further education. Non-compulsory education taken after school-leaving age (16–18 years). Usually used to describe education between school and higher education (university).
Senior member of the academic staff of a college or university.
Trip that students go on as part of their studies. Students usually have to do practical work while on the trip.
First Certificate in English (FCE)
The FCE is an exam for people who can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate level. It is an ideal exam for people who want to use English for work or study purposes. Managed by Cambridge ESOL.
Highest grade given for first degree. An overall mark of at least 70% is needed to gain first-class honours.
One- or two-year full- or part-time course to prepare a student for entry to a degree programme in a particular subject.
A university-level vocational qualification equal to the first two years of a three-year Bachelor’s degree course. Taking two years full time (there are also part-time programmes of varying lengths), it is possible to then progress to a linked degree course on completion, with the award of a full honours degree after a further year of study.
A two-year, flexible qualification for secondary-school students with a more vocational/practical element than GCSEs or A-levels. It will cover 17 subject areas in the next few years. It can be combined with GCSEs and A-levels or be an alternative to them.
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
The framework within which the higher education qualifications awarded by universities and colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland sit.
An introductory week for new university or college students which enables them to become familiar with their institution, its facilities, their course, their fellow students and the town or city they will be studying in.
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.
General Certificate of Secondary Education. The first qualification obtained by UK students, at the age of about 16. There is no age limit, and mature or international students may take GCSE examinations.
Graduate Management Admission Test. Examination often taken to meet entrance requirements for MBA programmes.
Graduate Diploma. Qualification equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, awarded by a small number of institutions.
Successful completion of a degree or course. Also the ceremony where students are officially given their awards.
Money awarded to a student or researcher to assist their studies.
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.
Fund administered by a UK university or college, making small payments to students with financial difficulties.
Higher education. Study for a degree or higher-level qualification at college or university.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency. A UK national agency that collects and publishes statistical information on publicly funded higher education throughout the UK.
Scottish qualification that is taken by students aged between 16 and 18. It usually takes one year and students often then move on to Advanced Highers in the following year.
Degree occasionally awarded some time after a PhD.
Higher National Certificate. Vocational course approximately equal to two or three A-levels.
Higher National Diploma. Vocational course approximately equal to the first two years of a three-year Bachelor’s degree.
Degree title (often 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.
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: a two-year course approximately equal to up to six A-levels (depending on the points awarded for the IB). It is available in several countries, including the UK, and, since 2008, successful completion of an IB officially counts towards the UCAS tariff for getting into UK higher education.
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.
International General Certificate of Secondary Education. Equivalent to the GCSE.
During a course. For instance, you may take an in-sessional English language course during term-time to complement your other studies.
Level above basic but below advanced.
Employment a student (especially of medicine) takes to gain experience for a qualification and also to improve their chances of getting a good job after graduation.
See freshers’ week.
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.
Type of first degree where a student studies two subjects in equal depth. For example English and French, or maths and computer science.
Key English Test. Basic English language qualification. Managed by Cambridge ESOL.
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI international qualifications and diplomas, including some English language and other tests, are awarded by Education Development International (EDI), an accredited UK awarding body and international education company.
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.
Educational talk given by a member of teaching staff to a (usually large) group of students.
Exchange programme that enables students involved in vocational education or training to study or work in another European country. It is part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme.
Living on campus, eg in a hall of residence.
Living off campus, eg in a private house or rented flat.
Bachelor of Laws.
Master of Laws.
The holiday between the years of a first-degree course, usually lasting for three months between July and October.
Master of Arts. A postgraduate degree qualification or Scottish first degree.
Hand-written document. Completed set of examination answers or other assignment.
Master of Business Administration. Postgraduate degree in management, finance and other aspects of business.
Master of Education. A postgraduate degree qualification or Scottish first degree.
Master of Engineering. A postgraduate degree qualification or Scottish first degree.
Grade below a distinction but above a pass.
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.
Short course taken as part of some degree programmes. Students can customise their degree programme by their choice of modules.
Master of Philosophy. A research-based postgraduate qualification.
Master of Science. A postgraduate degree qualification or Scottish first degree.
The range of Scottish qualifications on offer after students have completed Standard Grades, available at seven levels: Access 1–3, Intermediate 1–2, Higher and Advanced Higher. To be awarded a National Course qualification, students must pass three subject-related National Units and an external assessment, usually an exam.
Range of Scottish qualifications made up of National Units (see below), including Standard Grades, National Units, National Courses and Scottish Group Awards. Available in hundreds of subjects.
The building block of all Scottish qualifications. Each Unit takes 40 hours of teaching to finish. There are over 3,500 to choose from, which are then combined to make up the whole range of Scottish National Qualifications (see above). Note that each National Unit is a qualification in its own right.
Formerly used to describe the universities founded in the 1960s (see plate-glass university), the term is now used to mean the institutions that were given university status by the UK government in 1992. Also called post-1992 or modern universities
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.
National Health Service. The UK’s state health service, providing treatment for UK residents through a variety of means.
Student-run telephone service that offers information, listings and discusses personal issues in confidence.
The National Qualifications Framework. A framework for qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, setting out the levels against which these can be recognised, and helping students compare different qualifications and make informed decisions.
The National Union of Students. If an institution’s students’ union is affiliated to the NUS, their students automatically become members of the NUS.
National Vocational Qualification. A qualification related to an area of employment.
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations. An exam board affiliated to Cambridge Assessment (see above).
A vocational qualification similar to BTECs offered by the exam board OCR (see above).
The Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator. The body responsible for the regulation of qualifications, exams and tests in England.
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.
Degree programme where successful students are not graded, but simply pass or fail. Sometimes also used in same sense as ’pass degree’.
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. Note that ORSAS funding for students in England, Northern Ireland and Wales is being phased out from 2009/10. In Scotland, the Scottish Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme (SORSAS) has been established to continue a rebranded version of the scheme in 2009/10 in that country.
Device that projects and enlarges acetates on a white screen or wall using an overhead mirror.
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.
Satisfactory mark in examination or course
Bachelor’s degree grading with insufficient marks to earn honours.
Preliminary English Test. Intermediate-level English language test managed by Cambridge ESOL.
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 (or up to two years part time) after completing a Bachelor’s degree.
Postgraduate Certificate. A taught postgraduate qualification.
Postgraduate Diploma. A taught postgraduate qualification.
Doctor of Philosophy. A research-based postgraduate qualification.
To take the work/words/ideas of someone else and pretend it is your own. Universities and colleges heavily penalise anyone caught plagiarising another person’s work.
Any of the UK universities established in the 1960s (formerly known as new universities until the 1990s).
Former type of degree-awarding higher education institution in the UK. All polytechnics were elevated to university status in 1992.
Collection of original work. May be assessed to contribute to the mark a student receives on their course.
Non-written work that is performed by a student either alone or as a member of a group.
Any course, especially an access, foundation or certificate course taken to meet university entry requirements for a degree programme.
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.
College that is not subsidised by the UK government, but is owned and run by private individuals.
Title sometimes given to a senior academic following several years’ successful teaching and research, and election by the senior academics at an institution.
Brochure published by a university or college advertising their institution and courses and to encourage student recruitment.
The Pearson Test of English General examination (formerly the London Tests of English). English language test run by Pearson Language Tests in conjunction with Edexcel.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. The body responsible for the development of the curriculum and qualifications and the assessment of pupils’ performance in the English education system.
The Qualifications and Credit Framework. A new framework for the recognition and accreditation of qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is intended to simplify the qualifications structure and make it easier to understand. It will replace the NQF (see above) in due course.
Student society that raises money through fund-raising holding events, often taking place during an annual ’rag week’.
List of books students are expected to read for their particular course.
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.
UK universities that were founded in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Any cafeteria, restaurant or dining room for general use in a college or university.
Person to whom enquiries about an applicant’s academic and other abilities and character can be made.
Statement (usually written) about a person’s abilities and character.
Person (usually a postgraduate student) appointed to help an academic or team on a research project.
Co-worker on a research programme. Often someone who already has a research degree.
UK national councils that administer funding for research programmes in their respective disciplines.
Senior academic whose work at an institution is mainly research and supervision of other researchers.
To re-take an examination, usually because of failure or gaining a low mark in the previous examination.
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.
Money award made to support a student’s education. It is often awarded on the basis of academic achievement.
A Scottish qualification aimed at brighter students in the fifth and sixth years of secondary education. There are currently two: one in science and one in languages.
Scottish Group Award
A Scottish vocational qualification that is equivalent to BTEC qualifications, which has the aim of preparing people for entry to further and higher education, training or employment.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. The Scottish equivalent of the NQF (see above).
Senior Common Room. Room or area set aside for staff within an institution. Social organisation for staff of an institution.
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, 2:1 and 2:2, or 2.1 and 2.2, and usually call ’two-one’ and ’two-two’.
Spoken English for Industry and Commerce. Type of English language test. Widely accepted.
Halls of residence where students have to prepare their own meals. These residences have kitchens that students share.
Accommodation in a larger building which has its own kitchen and bathroom and a private entrance.
Term lasting half an academic year.
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.
Type of first degree awarded for study in only one subject, such as law or medicine.
General term for any condition, physical or mental that results in someone needing special educational facilities.
Person or organisation that accepts responsibility for all or part of a student’s fees or expenses.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority. The body responsible for developing, accrediting, assessing and certifying non-degree qualifications in Scotland.
The Standard Grade is the Scottish equivalent of the GCSE and is generally taken by pupils aged 16.
Groups with a shared general interest that students join, eg rowing, photography, politics. Student societies can be political, cultural, departmental, religious or sports societies.
Abbreviation for students’ union. Also called union of students.
Courses and lectures that are held during the summer holidays.
Scottish Vocational Qualification. Scottish work-related programmes that are the equivalent of NVQs (see above).
Postgraduate degree that is taught in a similar way to first degrees and does not include original research.
The Training and Development Agency for Schools. The UK national agency responsible for the training and development of the UK school workforce.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
The Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Studies. An EU programme aiming to help modernise higher education in countries neighbouring the EU. Part of this involves encouraging students from countries involved to study part of their course in European universities.
Period of continuous study without holidays. 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.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. High-level certificate and diploma qualifications validated by Trinity College London.
Dissertation containing results of original research to support a particular argument, usually written by a candidate for an academic degree.
Lowest honours grading for a Bachelor’s degree. Called a ’third’.
Test of English as a Foreign Language. Internationally recognised English test, available in over 130 countries. Widely accepted by UK institutions.
Detailed list of classes or courses a student has taken at college or university, with marks or grades for each subject.
University or college lecturer who supervises the welfare and studies of assigned undergraduates.
Class for a small number of students, led by a tutor, where one topic is discussed in depth. A student may introduce the topic and everyone is expected to contribute to the discussion.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. UK national organisation that administers applications for entry onto full-time UK higher-education programmes.
UK Council for International Student Affairs. UK organisation offering advice to international students.
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.
Single item or element that is part of a whole. Many courses in the UK are divided up into units.
Degree-awarding institution equivalent in status to a university.
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.
Interview between members of an examination board and a student on the material studied on a course to confirm a degree grading.
Qualification aimed at preparing students for employment, usually with practical experience as part of the course.
Person responsible for the supervision of halls of residence.
Limit to the number of words that can be written in an essay or dissertation. Varies from about 500 words to over 20,000, depending on its value in a student’s overall mark or grade for a course.
Practical experience gained on a work placement.
The part of a course that gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience of working in their chosen profession before graduation. Students may spend up to a year on work placement, especially on a sandwich course.