Aim Higher - Factsheets

Factsheet 3

Jargon Buster

Access to Learning Fund: The Access to Learning Fund is available through your college or university and provides help for students on low incomes who may need extra financial support for their course and to stay in higher education. Contact your university or college for more information.This help is usually given as a grant.
BA: Bachelor of Arts degree.
BSc: Bachelor of Science degree.
Bursary: Many universities and colleges offer non-repayable bursaries - see what is available as you might benefit.
Campus: This usually refers to the buildings and surroundings of a university or college.
CATS: Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme. Sometimes it is possible to gain credit for completing parts of a degree. If you have already studied to HND level, on a degree programme, or for relevant professional qualifications before you start your degree, you may be able to transfer credits under the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme, CATS. This means that if you change course, move to another institution, or take a break from study or change from full- to part-time, you can take the credits with you.
Clearing: This is the system operated by UCAS to allocate students places on courses that still have vacancies after A level results come out. It is mainly for those who have not made the grades required by their chosen universities, but it can also allow last-minute applications.
Honours Degree: A qualification awarded by a higher education institution after the satisfactory completion of the equivalent of three years of full-time study at university level.
Diploma of Higher Education: A qualification awarded by some higher education institutions, after two years’ study.
DSA: Disabled Students’ Allowance. This covers extra costs associated with your disability.
Faculty: A faculty is a group of academic departments - Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law and so on. Sometimes they are called schools, such as School of Health Studies.
Finals: The final exams taken by students at the end of their study. Most degrees or higher education qualifications today rely far less on the results from finals and tend to combine final exams with assessment throughout the course.
Foundation Degree: A full or part-time job-related higher education course. Foundation Degrees may be awarded after two years of study.
Freshers: Students beginning their time at a university are often referred to as ‘Freshers’ and a Freshers’ Week may be organised to introduce them to university or college life. This can include social events as well as introduction to libraries and other resources.
Gap year: A year out between school or further education and higher education - a chance to travel, work, get experience and expand your horizons.
Graduate: A graduate is a person who has been awarded a degree from a higher education institution. Whilst studying for a degree, or other higher education qualification you are known as an undergraduate.
Halls: Halls of residence are blocks of student accommodation, which either provide meals or self-catering facilities. Priority for places in halls is usually given to first year students. There are usually a variety of other facilities like launderettes, common rooms, TVs and cleaners.
HNC/HND: Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma.
LEA: Local Education Authority. Your local council responsible for schools and education. They also have a Student Awards Section, which deals with requests for funding for people living in the area who want to go to university or college.
Lecture: A teaching class led by a lecturer where you take notes and ask questions.
Maintenance Grant: From September 2006, new full-time students from lower income households will be able to apply for a non repayable maintenance grant of up to Ł2,700 depending on their income and that of their household.
Masters degree: A postgraduate degree. This can be either a Master of Science (MSc), a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Philosophy (MPhil), depending on the subject. Masters degrees usually take a year full-time or two years part-time.
Modular courses: Some courses are divided into modules and you have to pass a number of compulsory and optional modules to complete a degree programme.
Nightline: If you are ever unhappy about anything while you are a student, many universities and colleges have a Nightline service. Nightline is a confidential listening and information service run by students, for students.
NUS: National Union of Students - the organisation that represents students and looks after their interests.
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy. A person who has a degree and has undertaken years of research, published their work and been assessed. They can use the title Dr.
PGCE: Postgraduate Certificate in Education. A one- or two-year teacher training course taken after your first degree.
Postgraduate courses: Courses at a higher level, usually only available if you have already passed your degree. Postgraduate study can lead to a Masters degree or a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma.
Reading week: A period during a semester or term when students can concentrate on their individual learning and research.
Redbrick: A term often applied to city universities usually established before 1992 - the universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle and Birmingham, for example.
Research: Research is a key feature of most higher education courses. Research involves collecting information about a subject from a variety of sources including books, journals and the Internet or by carrying out experiments or talking to people, and analysis of this information.
Sandwich course: Any course that includes a year in industry or abroad.
Scholarship: Financial help given by some organisations for specific courses. Check out www.studentmoney.org
Semester: Some universities or colleges divide the student year into three terms, some divide it into two semesters. A semester is half a study year.
Seminar: A group of students meet to discuss a subject with a tutor. Someone (or a group) may prepare a paper for discussion and share the research they have done and their opinions on the subject. Seminars are more interactive than a lecture and are often student-led.
Student loan: A loan to help you pay for your accommodation, food, travel and so on, and from 2006, there will be additional loans to cover the cost of your tuition fees. You pay these back when you have left your course and are earning over Ł15,000. You only pay back 9% of your earnings above Ł15,000 a year, so someone earning a salary of Ł18,000 would repay around Ł5.19 per week.
Tuition fees: From 2006 universities and colleges of higher education will be able to charge new full-time undergraduates fees of up to Ł3,000. Some may charge less than the maximum of Ł3,000. Students study first and pay back when they are earning. A new loan is available to eligible, full-time students to cover their tuition fees.
Tutorial: A one-to-one or small group session to discuss work or course issues with your tutor.
UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Pronounced Yew-Cass. All students applying for full-time courses apply through UCAS.
Vocational course: A work-related programme of study designed to help you into a specific career.