Jargonbuster
What does Jargon mean?
Jargon relates to specific words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group that are often difficult for others to understand.
Here’s a useful guide to some of the jargon you could come across when applying for a college or university course.
BA
Bachelor of Arts is a bachelor’s degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences or both.
BSc
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses in one or more of the sciences.
Bursary
A sum of money given to a student by a university or college to help with study and living costs. Find out more about student UK bursaries and NHS bursaries.
Clearing
The period of time when students can gain places on courses that still have places. The system operates mainly after students receive A-level results in August, although it’s open from July.
Dissertation
A long report or essay, normally produced as part of a degree course.
Foundation courses
Generally lasting one year, foundation courses are pre-degree courses.
Foundation degree
An employment related, university-level qualification which is designed to equip students with the skills that employers are looking for, such as FdA and FdSc.
Halls of residence
A building managed by the university where students live, on or near to a university or college campus.
Honours degree
Undergraduate degree taking three or four years of full-time study, leading to a qualification such as BA(Hons) or BSc(Hons).
Lecture
A formal talk covering a specific subject, given by a lecturer or teacher to a class or audience.
Mature student
For entry to higher education programmes, a mature student is classed as someone who is aged 21 years or over. To be means-tested for tuition fees, a student must be 25 or over – otherwise a student’s parents are assessed for contributions.
MA
A Master of Arts is a postgraduate academic master degree typically studied for in English, Fine Arts, History, Nursing, Humanities, Geography, Philosophy, Social Sciences or Theology. It can be fully-taught, research-based, or a combination of the two.
Module
A self-contained unit of study. Some courses are divided into modules covering different subject areas.
MPhil
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree. It is mainly a thesis-only based degree.
MSc
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master’s degree awarded for studies in the sciences and occasionally in the social sciences.
PhD
Stands for Doctor of Philosophy and is an advanced academic degree awarded by universities. A PhD is the highest degree one can earn and applies to graduates in many subjects in the sciences and humanities.
Placement
A period of time spent at a place of work sometimes as part of a course.
Postgraduate
Level of study (Masters or Phd) that follows an honours degree.
Research
Postgraduate study that is usually undertaken after a taught postgraduate course sometimes leading to a qualification such as PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).
Sandwich course
A course or degree that includes a year of practical experience or work placement.
Scholarship
Money awarded to students to help them complete their study. The awards are usually given on the basis of academic merit or talent.
Semester
Half an academic year. Academic years in the UK are generally divided into two semesters or three terms.
Seminar
Teaching sessions in small student groups and led by a tutor.
Student loan
Low-interest loans provided by the government to pay for student tuition fees and living costs while studying a university-level course.
Tuition fees
A fee which covers the cost of a course. For 2009 entry fees are £3,225 a year for undergraduate degrees and foundation degrees.
Tutor
A teacher who provides instruction to one or more students.
Tutorial
A session during which a tutor teaches or assists one or more students. More informal than a lecture or seminar and it may focus on academic and/or pastoral matters.
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The organisation in the UK where applications are processed for entry onto full-time university courses. Visit www.ucas.ac.uk for more information.
UCAS Extra
A period of time between March and June when students without a university offer can apply.
Undergraduate
University-level study before a student completes his or her degree.
Validation
The process that university courses go through to check they attain a high academic standard.
Vocational courses
Courses related to work – more practical and hands-on, with actual skills being taught rather than theory based knowledge. Find out more about vocational learning.
