Glossary of University terms
Below is a collection of terms you are likely to come across at The University of Nottingham. If you hear any other expressions unfamiliar to you, please contact us so we can add to the list.
A
Academic Support
Study support services provided by the University to help students with any academic issues. ►
Academic year
Also: University year
Runs from September to June and is divided into two semesters of teaching, with vacations at Christmas and Easter. ►
Admissions Office
Handles the applications to all courses and enrolments. ►
Admissions Tutor
Also: Admissions Officer
Person in a school or department who is responsible for applications and other enquiries about the courses.
Advantage Award
University of Nottingham award scheme for students focusing on student skills, employability, and personal and academic development. The scheme aims to develop the kind of competencies employers are looking for in new graduates. ►
AHRC
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Non-departmental public body that provides funds from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities. ►
A levels
Exams most students take at the end of school or college (further education) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Usually, students heading for university take three or four A levels, or the equivalent, which include AS levels taken over two years, Highers in Scotland, the International Baccalaureate, or new qualifications such as vocational A levels.
Alumni
Students who have graduated from the school or department; former students. ►
Arts
Also: Faculty of Arts
Comprises subjects such as history, classics, philosophy, music, archaeology, English Studies, languages, and modern culture studies.
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B
BA
Bachelor of Arts
Academic title students will be awarded on successful completion of an undergraduate degree course, which usually takes three years of full-time study to complete. After the award of the BA, students can put the letters at the end of their name. BA Hons stands for Bachelor of Arts with Honours.
BUSA
The British Universities Sports Association
BUSC
British Universities Snowsports Council
Bursary
A type of scholarship which contributes towards study fees and/or living costs whilst studying at university.
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C
CADRE
Centre for Ancient Drama and its Reception ►
Campus
Area of land on which the university buildings are located. The University of Nottingham has four campuses in Nottingham; University Park campus being the main one; and two campuses overseas (in China and Malaysia).
CDL
Career Development Loan
A deferred-payment bank loan, like a student loan, but aimed at those who aren't entitled to the latter, whose employers aren't already footing the bill, and who can't afford to pay the fees themselves.
CAS
Centre for Advanced Studies
Supports academic research across the social sciences, arts and humanities.
Chaplains
Offer religious guidance and support to those who want it. ►
CLABS
Centre for Late Antique and Byzantine Studies ►
Clearing
When students get their A level results and don't get the grades required by their chosen universities, they can go through Clearing. This is the system operated by UCAS to allocate places on courses that still have vacancies after the publication of the A level results.
CELE
Centre for English Language Education
Provides English language courses to students both before and during their degrees, as well as a Foundation Certificate for students looking to enter university. ►
Combined honours degree
See joint honours degree.
Counselling Services
Confidential, professional advice and support with any personal, emotional or mental health problems that students may have whilst at The University of Nottingham. ►
Course
A programme of study leading to a degree or other qualification.
Credits
Points that are awarded to course module: a module is usually worth 10 or 20 credits. Undergraduate programmes at Nottingham are taught within the Undergraduate Modular Scheme (UMS). This is built on a nationally recognised framework; full-time students must undertake 120 academic credits of study each year, e.g. six 20-credit modules. Part-time students normally study 60 credits each year.
Cripps
Also: Cripps Health Centre
The University of Nottingham Health Service (UNHS), situated in Cripps Health Centre on University Park Campus. ►
CSPS
Centre for Spartan and Peloponnesian Studies ►
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D
Deferred entry
Delaying the entry to a course at university. Students who wish to take a gap year after school/college usually defer entry for a year.
Degree
A higher education qualification of a certain level. There are undergraduate degrees or first degrees, such as Bachelor of Arts or Diplomas, and various postgraduate degrees like masters and doctorates.
Department
At Nottingham, subject areas are usually broken down into departmental units. For example, the School of Humanities comprises the Department of Archaeology, the Department of Music, and so on. Students usually 'belong' to whatever department teaches their course. On a joint honours course, students have one lead department and another partner department.
DPAU
Disability Policy Advisory Unit
Responsible for promoting access for all disabled students and applicants by influencing the development of policy and procedures relating to disability and ensuring their compliance with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001.
Dissertation
A written account of several thousand words on a specific subject, usually completed in the final year of study.
Distance learning
Courses that combine web-based learning with traditional components. Distance learning courses allow you to learn at any time, any place – through self-study, using web-based resources, printed materials, CDROM, etc.
Djanogly
Also: Djanogly Art Gallery, Djanogly Recital Hall
Facilities belonging to the Lakeside Arts Centre.
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E
EEA
European Economic Area, which includes all countries in the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association.
Enrolment
See Registration.
Estate Office
Also: Estates
Responsible for the maintenance and development of the University's campuses.
Examinations
Also: exams
Method of assessment of students' academic progress. Exams usually take place at the end of each semester, in January and at the end of May. Information on exams are provided by the Exams Office.
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F
Faculty
The University of Nottingham comprises five faculties; Arts, Engineering, Medicine and Health Sciences, Science, and Social Sciences. Each faculty is made up of several schools, departments, divisions and/or institutes.
Fees
Also: Tuition fees
Amount students pay each year for their tuition. This amount depends on whether they study full- or part-time and are classed as an international (also referred to as overseas) or UK/EU student for the purpose of fees. ►
Finals
Finals are the exams in the final year of study.
Finalists
Students in their final year of their course.
First Class Hons
Also: First Class Honours
Award of distinction, e.g. BA with First Class Honours.
Freshers
First-year students in their first few weeks at university.
Freshers' Week
First week of the first term of the first year of a university course. It's packed with events and entertainments designed to help students settle in, make friends, and to tell them everything they need to know about how the university and Students' Union work.
Freshers' Fair
The Freshers' Fair takes place during Week One. New students get the chance to grab some free stuff and find out about all the Students’ Union’s sports clubs, societies, student-run services, representation and more.
Funding
Studentships, bursaries, scholarships, or other forms of financial support to fund the costs of university studies.
Further education
Further education is what comes after primary and secondary education, e.g. A levels, Highers and NVQs etc.
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G
Gap year
Many students decide to take a year off – a gap year – before going to university; spending time travelling, earning money, or gaining work experience.
Graduand
Student in the few months between finishing their course and attending graduation.
Graduate
Someone who has successfully completed a degree course and been awarded their degree.
Graduate School
Provides a focus for postgraduate education and to represent the needs of postgraduate students within The University of Nottingham. ►
Graduation
Ceremony where students are officially awarded their degree.
Grant
Students used to get grants which paid for their tuition, and grants which went towards their living costs. Grants still exist in Scotland, for Scottish students only. Nowadays, the usual source of funding is the student loan.
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H
Halls
Also: Halls of Residence
Refers to the accommodation blocks which traditionally provide catered meals, cleaning, heat, light and electricity, and a variety of amenities such as common rooms and TV lounges. ►
HESA
Higher Education Statistics Agency
HE
Higher Education
Following further education, higher education takes place at universities, colleges of higher education, and so on. HE includes undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, higher national diplomas (HNDs), and a few other things like certain vocational qualifications such as LCPs for lawyers, for example.
HEU
Home and EU
Term refers to all students from the UK and the European Union.
Highers
In Scotland, students take Highers as the equivalent of A levels.
HND
Higher National Diploma
Based on vocational studies to prepare students for a particular career or industry. It can lead on to, or count towards, a degree course.
Hons
Also: Honours; honours degrees
Most undergraduate degrees offered at Nottingham are honours degrees. Depending They are split into: first class honours (or firsts), upper second class or 2.i (2:1, pronounced 'two-one'), lower-second class or 2.ii (a 'two-two', 2:2), and third class honours (third). If a student does badly, but not quite badly enough to fail, that's when they might not get an honours degree, but an ordinary degree instead.
Hopper Bus
Free bus service that runs from University Park Campus to Jubilee Campus, Sutton Bonington Campus and King's Meadow Campus (KMC). ►
Humanities
Nottingham's School of Humanities comprises the following six departments: Archaeology, Art History, Classics, Music, Philosophy, and Theology and Religious Studies. ►
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I
Impact
The University of Nottingham’s award-winning student magazine. ►
International students
Also: Overseas student
Students are classed as international or overseas students for fees purposes. In general, someone who is not an European Union (EU) or EAA national or has lived outside the EU in the last 3 years, is classed as an international student. However, the status of an individual student is determined by an appropriate member of staff under delegated responsibility from the Registrar.
International Office
Provides specialist support and guidance for students, staff and visitors from over 150 countries. ►
IS
Information Services
Unit responsible for all library and IT services and support at The University of Nottingham. ►
IT Help desk
Provides support for the IT needs for both staff and students at Nottingham. Phone 0115 951 6677.
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J
Joint honours
Undergraduate course that is split between two subjects. Each year the course consists of core and optional modules in both degree subjects. Some joint honours courses also allow students to study a small number of subsidiary modules – modules from departments or schools outside your degree subjects.
Jubilee
Also: Jubilee Campus
University campus situated on Wollaton Rd, Nottingham. The following academic schools and departments are located at Jubilee: Nottingham Business School, Centre for English Language Education, Contemporary Chinese Studies, Computer Science, Education, International Office, Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, Learning Sciences Research Institute.
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K
KMC
King's Meadow Campus
University campus situated on Lenton Lane, Nottingham; home to Manuscripts and Special Collections and also the University’s multimedia and central marketing teams.
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L
Lakeside
Also: Lakeside Arts Centre
The University's own, public arts complex, located at the South Entrance of University Park and situated by beautiful parkland with lakeside views. The centre houses the Djanogly Art Gallery, Djanogly Recital hall, Djanogly Theatre, Weston Gallery, and two cafés. ►
Language Centre
Offers a broad range of language classes to students and staff at The University of Nottingham. ►
Lecture
One of the main methods of teaching at universities. Lectures tend to be larger than a regular school class and less interactive.
Lecturer
Academic at a certain level in the hierarchy, well above postgraduates but below professors and deans.
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M
Malaysia Campus
Opened in September 2000, the University's Malaysia Campus was the first campus of a British University in Malaysia, and one of the first anywhere in the world.
Mature student
Defined as someone who will be 21 or over on entry to university.
MA
Masters of Arts
A type of degree that leads to a postgraduate qualification; a higher degree than a bachelor degree.
Modules
At university students take a certain number of modules, course units, each year. On most courses you have a number of core and optional modules.
Module catalogue
Database containing details of all the modules taught at the University of Nottingham.
MPhil
Masters of Philosophy
Posgraduate research degree; lower qualification than the PhD but of higher degree than a masters degree.
MRes
Masters by Research
A type of degree that leads to a postgraduate qualification. The MRes usually involves a higher degree of independent research and a more extensive original dissertation than the MA.
MSc
Master of Science
A type of degree that leads to a postgraduate qualification (i.e. a higher degree than a bachelor degree, BSc).
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N
NHS
The National Health Service
Ningbo
Also: University of Nottingham China Campus (UNCC)
Opened in 2005, the campus is located in Ningbo, a historic city on China's eastern coast close to Shanghai.
NIRVC
Nottingham's Institute of Research in Visual Culture ►
Non-competitive scholarships
Funding that is automatically available to all students who are eligible; that means students don't have to compete for it, e.g. alumni scholarships at Nottingham.
Non-completion rate
Also: non-progression rate
A polite term for what some call the 'flunk rate'.
NUS
National Union of Students
Provides research, welfare information and services to those Students' Unions which are affiliated. NUS is also the national body which represents and campaigns on behalf of students.
NUS card
Distributed by the University's Students' Union, the card gets students into nightclubs and museums for free, and guarantees discounted rates for train tickets or books (where applicable).
NUTS
Nottingham University Television Station
NVQ
National Vocational Qualification
Usually taken when students already got a job (or work experience). They're taught at an industry-agreed standard.
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O
Open days
An opportunity for prospective students to be shown around the university.
ORS
Overseas Research Scholarship
Scholarship offered by the School of Humanities which covers the cost of overseas fees for a student first registering to undertake PhD study on a full-time basis (subject to availability).
OWA
Outlook web access
Website that allows staff and students at Nottingham to access their email accounts from any computer with web access. ►
Oxbridge
The collective name for the two oldest universities in the country, Oxford and Cambridge.
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P
Part-time student
Students who take the same combination of modules but spread them over a longer period.
PESL
Promoting enhanced student learning at The University of Nottingham.
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Advanced academic degree that usually involves extensive research and an original thesis.
Postgraduate
Also: Postgrad; PG
Student continuing formal education after graduating with a bachelors or first degree. The bachelor degree is usually followed by a masters degree (e.g. MA). Other postgraduate or PG degrees include MPhil and PhD.
Personal tutor
All students are assigned to a personal tutor who acts as a gateway to the wider student support and development provision of The University of Nottingham.
PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Portal
Also: Intranet Portal
Website that can only be accessed by University students and staff and provides a range of personalised tools and information. ►
Practical
Another method of teaching and learning; usually used in science subjects.
Professor
Senior academic staff, well respected in their field of study. Often the head of a department/school/faculty.
Prospective student
Someone who is interested in studying at a particular university.
Prospectus
Also: PG prospectus; online prospectus
Different word for catalogue or brochure; can be used for both print copy or online version.
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Q
QM
Quality Manual
Central source of information for policies and procedures which support The University of Nottingham to assure the quality of its learning, teaching and supervision. Can be used as reference by staff and students.
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R
RAE
Research Assessment Exercise
The RAE is an independent assessment of the quality of research taking place in higher education institutions in the UK. The last RAE was carried out in 2008.
Registration
Before students begin their studies, and again at the start of each new academic year, students must register with The University of Nottingham to confirm personal and course details. They also confirm that they agree to pay the fees and observe the University’s regulations while being a student at Nottingham.
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S
Sabbatical
Also: Sabb
Every year at most universities, a few students take a year off their studies to be employed by the Students' Union (SU). Sabbatical positions usually include roles such as SU president, welfare officer, communications officer, etc.
Sandwich course
A course that involves vocational experience. Usually it takes a year to fill a sandwich (as a result, most last 4 years).
Semester
A semester is the American word for a term and is used in Britain to describe American-style college terms that are longer (usually about 15 weeks) than British ones (between 8-11 weeks). At Nottingham, the year is divided into two semesters (Autumn and Spring) and three terms (Autumn, Spring and Summer).
Seminar
A teaching class, overseen by a lecturer, in which anything from half a dozen to about 35 student discuss do exercises. They're similar to tutorials but involve more students.
Single honours
An undergraduate degree involving one main subject; as opposed to a joint honours degree.
Socs
Short for 'societies' which are the student clubs ranging from serious political battlegrounds to sporting teams, from cultural groups to seriously silly socs.
SSFC
Staff-Student-Feedback Committee
The purposes of the SSFC are to ensure that the views of students are given proper weight in the processes of course and module review, and to ensure that the concerns of students about their courses of study are represented to the academic staff throughout the academic year. Each school or department usually has two student representatives for each course year.
Student Loans
Low interest loans from the government to help university students pay their living and study costs.
Study abroad
Often, students wish to spend some time of their university course in a different country. The University of Nottingham encourages study abroad and offers a range of opportunities, including Universitas21 and the Erasmus scheme. ►
SU
Students' Union
Almost all universities have a Students' Union and students are usually automatically members, though they can opt out if they wish. A SU is usually a services and representative organisation run by students for students. ►
Sutton Bonington
Also: Sutton Bonington Campus
Located in the countryside, the campus houses Nottingham's Vet School and School of Biosciences.
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T
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are set by the Government and paid to the university directly by you or by the student loans company. See Fees.
Tutor
An academic who oversees or supervises the work of individual students. See Personal Tutor.
Tutorial
A small group of students who meet up with a tutor and discuss their studies.
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U
U21
Also: Universitas21
An international network of leading research-intensive universities, of which The University of Nottingham is a founding member, that organises study exchanges among its partner universities worldwide.
UCAS
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
Organisation that handles most university applications. Prospective students fill out a UCAS form (online or on paper) and submit it to UCAS. UCAS then forwards the applications to the universities the student wishes to apply to. The student then gets offers (or not) and can firmly accept one and choose an insurance (usually lower offer) university. UCAS oversees the process to check no one finds themselves with more than one place and to try to match students with vacancies as efficiently as possible.
UCAS Visit Day
Students with an offer of place are invited to a school or departmental UCAS Visit Day around February/March time to meet academic staff and look around the facilities.
Undergraduate
Also: Undergrad; UG
A student doing their first degree, e.g. bachelor degree.
Union
Usually this is just another name for a Students' Union.
University
In the UK, a place of higher education that has been founded by Parliamentary Statute.
University Card
Also: Uni Card
A multi-function plastic card issued to all students and staff. The card can be used to gain access to the libraries' services and certain buildings, on the bus, and the sports centre (subject to membership). It is also used for student discounts from certain retailers and to authorise photocopying on campus.
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V
Vocational course
Any course that is intended at least to train students for a particular profession, career or job. They often involve practical experience in a work environment.
VRC
Visual Resource Centre
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W
Week One
See Fresher's week.
Widening Participation
Addresses the large discrepancies in the take-up of higher education opportunities between different social groups. Applicants to undergraduate courses whose school or college is performing below the national average, and whose home area (as denoted by their postcode) is known to be socio-economically disadvantaged, will be considered for a place despite having predicted A level grades that fall slightly below the normal minimum A level requirements.
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