Jargon Buster

APCL

Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning

APEL

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning

APL

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Award Degrees

Diplomas, Certificates and other qualifications

BA

Bachelor of Arts

BSc

Bachelor of Sciences

Bursaries

A bursary is a monetary award made by an institution to a student to assist in the development of their education, intended to cover course related costs such as books, equipment, travel and study aids.

CATS

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme is used to monitor, record and reward passage through a higher education course and to facilitate movement between courses and institutions.

Cert HE

A Level 4 programme of higher education.

Clearing

This is the system operated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions System to allocate students places on courses that still have vacancies after A level results come out.

Credit

As you progress through a programme, you earn credits. Credits entitle you to awards – for instance, 360 credits are needed for a degree award. Credits can sometimes be transferred to other programmes, other institutions, even Worldwide.

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act.

DRC

Disability Rights Commission.

DSA

Disabled Students’ Allowance. This covers extra cost associated with your disability.

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 flexible, technical and professional qualification usually involving work–based study. Graduates of foundation degrees can, if they wish, undertake further study to achieve a BA or BSc degree.

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 an 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.

Hardship Funds

Extra help for students in financial difficulties or for those who wouldn’t be able to get into higher education without more support. They’re available once you have started your course.

Higher Education

Study at higher national certificate (HNC) higher national diploma (HND), foundation degree (FD), degree and postgraduate levels.

Honours (Hons)

Indicates a level of attainment attached to a BA or BSc.

HNC/HND

Higher national certificate and higher national diploma.

Level

Our modular programmes are divided into levels – for instance, Level 4 corresponds to the first year of a full–time programme. Level 5 to the second year, Level 6 to the final year. A part–time student may take two years or longer to pass a level (this is why we don’t just call them ‘years’).

Masters

Advanced degrees such as MA, MSc and MPhil.

Module

A chunk of study covering a particular topic. Successfully passing a module earns credit towards an award. Most modules fit into a particular level of a programme.

NUS

(National Union of Students) – The organisation that represents students and looks after their interests.

Part One, Part Two

Part One is Level 4, the first year of a full–time programme or the longer part–time equivalent. Part Two is the rest of the degree programme, e.g. the second and third year of a full–time degree.

Postgraduate

A programme studied after you have graduated from an undergraduate degree.

PPD

Personal Professional Development.

Programme

Your chosen study route. Examples of programmes include the Journalism degree programme – a three year full–time programme of study leading to the award of BA Journalism.

QTS

(Qualified Teacher Status) – The professional status you need to obtain to teach in state maintained schools in England and Wales.

SENDA

Special Education Needs and Disability Act.

SPLD

Specific Learning Difficulties, e.g. dyslexia.

Semester

Block of study containing the modules of your programme.

Single Honours

A degree programme focusing on one main subject, or a group of related subjects.

Term

The periods when you are required to attend college (between holidays).

TTA

The Teacher Training Agency which is responsible for raising standards in schools in England and Wales, by attracting able and committed people to teaching, and by improving the quality of teacher training.

UCAS

(Universities & Colleges Admissions System) – The central organisation that handles applications for full–time undergraduate degrees, foundation degrees and HNDs.

Undergraduate

Higher education programmes to degree level and below (such as HND, foundation degree) are called undergraduate.

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