Admissions
The Admissions department handles all the applications for that university. You can also call them to find out more about how to get in and who to talk to to get more info on a particular course.

A Levels
A Levels are a qualification you can take at college in a variety of academic subjects. They are generally taken in 2 parts; An AS Level is the first half of the A level and a qualification in its own right, and A2 is the second half. Most students take 3 or 4 AS levels in the first year of post-16 study and then narrow this down to 2 or 3 A2s in the second year to make 2 or 3 full A levels.

Alumni
Alumni is an association for all university graduates. Many universities have alumni events so everyone can get together and remember their university days when they're old.

Arts Creative
subjects are collectively called the arts - examples include English, performing arts, music etc. Sometimes overlaps with humanities.

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BA
Bachelor of Arts degree - one of the qualifications awarded for studying arts and humanities subjects at university.

BSc
Bachelor of Science degree - one of the qualifications awarded for studying science and related subjects at university.

Bursary
These are non-repayable cash grants offered by universities and colleges to help with study costs.

BUSA
British Universities Sports Association.

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Campus
Refers to the buildings, facilities and the area of land of a university or college.

Clearing
Every year some students find that they haven't got the points or grades they needed in their college qualifications to take up their university place, and universities also find they have spaces on some of their courses. Clearing is the process in which students find another course they can do, possibly at another univeristy to the one they had originally chosen, so they can still study at university.

Combined Honours Degree
This is an undergraduate degree course where you study more than one subject e.g. media and film or spanish and politics. Also known as a Joint Honours Degree.

Colleges
There are several different types of colleges; Sixth Form Colleges, Further Education Colleges and Higher Education Colleges. At a Sixth Form or a Further Education College you can study A levels, BTECs, Vocational A Levels or a variety of Diplomas. At a Higher Education College you can study Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Foundation Degrees and Bachelors' Degrees.

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Degree
This is an academic qualification awarded after the satisfactory completion of a degree course. Degree courses are normally full time higher education courses which last between 3 and 4 years. Different classes of degrees are awarded. The highest class of degree (the equivalent of an A* at GCSE) is a First, following this you can achieve a 2:1, 2:2 or 3rd.

Diploma of Higher Education (Dip HE)
A qualification awarded by higher education institutions after two years' study. Many students use this course as a vehicle to continue onto a degree. Dip HE is also a qualification in its own right.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
This covers extra study and living costs associated with your disability(includes mental health problems and dyslexia).
Dissertation A long report, which can be anything from 5,000 to 40,000 words, describing the results of original study and research. Can be used as part of final assessment for a degree.

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Education
A Bachelor of Education degree is a form of teacher training - also known as a BEd.

Elective
This is a course or subject which is freely open to the student to choose to study (e.g. not compulsory)at university or college.

Essay
Essays are pieces of written work, which are submitted by students to the university and is one form of assessment.

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Faculty
A faculty is a group of academics (staff) in a department. For example, Faculty of Science.

Foundation Degree
A full or part-time job-related (vocational) higher education course. It is usually 2 years long and can lead to a degree course.

Freshers
Students beginning their time at a university are often referred to as 'Freshers'. A Freshers' Week may be organised to introduce them to university or college life. This includes social events, introduction to campus etc.

Further Education
This is education that follows compulsory secondary school education. In further education you can study, for example, A levels, BTEC, Diplomas etc. (Higher education follows further education.)

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Gap Year
A Gap Year is a year between school or further education (college) and higher education (university). It can be an opportunity to do lots of interesting things including volunteering, travelling or gaining some work experience.

Graduate
A graduate is a person who has been awarded a degree from a university or higher education college. The degree is usually awarded during a ceremony called graduation. Whilst studying for a degree, or other higher education qualification, you are known as an undergraduate. If you decide to do another course after your degree (such as a Masters Degree) you are known as a postgraduate.

Grant
Money from the government to help with the cost of studying. Grants are non-repayable.

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Halls
Halls of residence are blocks of student accommodation. Priority is usually given to first year students. There are usually a variety of facilities like launderettes, common rooms, TV and cleaners.

Higher Education
A range of advanced courses and qualifications. Most people studying at this level are aiming for a degree, a Certificate of Higher Education or a Diploma of Higher Education. Study is usually at a university or institute of higher education. You can also study at this level in specialist colleges, e.g Art, Agriculture and Music and some further education (FE) colleges. (Higher education follows on from further education.)

HNC / HND
Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma. An HNC is a two year course and takes you to year 2 of a Bachelors degree. An HND is also two years and takes you onto year 3 of a degree.

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Jobshop
Many universities run a service called Jobshop, which is designed to help students obtain part-time work while they are studying.

Joint Honours
A course consisting of two different subjects.

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LA
Local Authority - this is the local organisation which is responsible for schools and education. It includes the Student Awards Section, which deals with requests for funding from people living in the area who want to go to university or college.

Learning Resource Centre
Like a library, but with DVDs, CDs, computers and a host of other multi-media resources.

Lectures
A teaching class led by a lecturer where students are given a presentation on a particular subject. Students can take notes and ask questions.

Lecturer (or Tutor)
Lecturers and tutors are members of university staff who are responsible for teaching university courses and helping students to learn.

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Maintenance Grant
From September 2008, new full-time students will be able to apply for a non-repayable maintenance grant of up to £2,835 per year depending on their household income.

Masters Degree
A postgraduate degree which you can only do once you are a graduate (once you have passed your first degree). This can be either a Master of Science (MSc), a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Philosophy (MPhil) depending on the subject you study. It usually takes one year full time and two years part time.

Mature Student
A mature student is any student who starts university aged 21 or over after a break from education. You can go to university at any age but you do still need college qualifications to get a place.

Modular
Some courses are divided into modules and students are required to pass a number of these modules to successfully complete their degree programme. Modules can be compulsory or optional.

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NMAS
Nursing & Midwifery Admissions Service - it deals with applications for nursing courses.

NUS
National Union of Students - the organisation that represents students and looks after their interests.

NUS Card
This is your membership card for NUS - and it also gets you money off at loads of shops, clubs, cinemas and other places.

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Open Days
This is an opportunity for prospective students to be shown around an institution and talk to people at that institution.

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PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education. A one or two year teacher training course taken after your first degree.

Postgraduate
This is a student who is doing a postgraduate degree, ie. they've already got one degree and now they're doing another higher one such as a masters degree , a doctorate (PhD) or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Prospectus
This is a brochure that provides lots of information about a particular HE institution. You can find out more about the courses offered, the points you need to get a place and general information about the local area in which the institution is based.

PhD
Doctor of Philosophy, a person who has a degree and has undertaken years of research, published their work and been assessed. They usually have Dr in their title.

Personal Tutor
This is the academic member of staff who is available to help you if you have any problems - anything from homesickness to study skills problems to wanting to change course.

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RAG
Raise & Give - students raising money for charity by doing weird and wacky things, like sitting in a bath of baked beans for a week or parachuting out of a plane in fancy dress (the students wear the fancy dress, not the plane.)

Reading Week
A period during a semester or term when students can concentrate on their individual learning and research.

Research
Research involves collecting information about a subject from a variety of sources including books, journals, the internet, talking to people or by carrying out experiments.

Russell Group
A group of universities which specialise in academic research.

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Sandwich Course
A course that includes a year in industry or studying abroad, also known as a Placement year.

Scholarship
Financial help given by some organisation or universities for specific courses.

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
Like a classroom lesson, this is where a group of students meet to discuss a subject with a tutor. Seminars are more interactive than a lecture and are often student led.

Societies (Soc)
These are clubs where people can get together to take part in sport or share a common interest, belief or religion e.g, Athletics, Kickboxing, Sailing, Circus, Rock, Radio, Drama, Asian, Islamic, Christian - to name but a few. You will find out more on your chosen university's Student Union website.

Student Loan for Maintenance
A loan to help you pay for your accommodation, food, travel etc.

Students' Union
Almost all universities have a Students' Union (SU). An SU is an organisation run by students for students. The Students' Union can also be the building in which such services are housed.

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Taster Sessions
These are designed to give secondary school and FE students a flavour of higher education and the different subjects that can be studied e.g. robotics, fashion, sports, law, maritime etc.

Tuition Fees
For students starting university in September 2008, universities and colleges will be able to charge tuition fees of up to £3,145. Most students receive a loan for this which you only pay back once you have graduated and are earning over £15,000 per year.

Tutor
An academic who oversees or supervises the work of individual students (tutees).

Tutorial
A one-to-one or small group session to discuss work or course issues with your tutor.

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UCAS
University and Colleges Admissions Services. All students applying for full-time courses apply through UCAS.

UCAS Extra
If a student applies to UCAS for a place in Higher Education and finds himself or herself without the offer of a place, UCAS Extra enables them to have an additional choice through UCAS. This means students do not have to wait until 'clearing' to continue to find a place. Universities have a short time to consider the application and will either make an offer or reject the application. Through the Extra process, students can make applications to a maximum of 3 universities.

Undergraduate
This is what a student is called when they are studying for their first degree.

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Vocational Course
A work-related programme of study designed to help you into a specific career.

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Welfare
Also known as Student Support Services, this offers students support and guidance on a range of issues,such as careers, study support, health matters and accommodation.

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