Here’s a comprehensive list of commonly used terms:
jump to: A • B • C • D • E • F • G • H • I • L • M • N • O • P • S • T • U • V

A

Access courses

courses designed to prepare students for entry into Higher Education and provide the underpinning knowledge and skills needed to progress to a degree or diploma course at a university or college. These courses are aimed at students who don't have the formal educational qualification requirements, such as A-levels. You can find further information on the Access to Higher Education website.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

(APL) or Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) allows credit for previous learning and experience, usually in the form of an exemption from part of a course.

Admissions Tutor

the person responsible for selecting successful applications to a particular course.

Alumni

graduates of the University. MMU Alumni, the University’s alumni association, entitles you to a range of benefits, as well as the chance to stay involved with MMU.

AS (Advanced Subsidiary)/A (Advanced) level

these are qualifications you complete in your school or college, giving you the ability to gain or apply a range of knowledge, skills and understanding, on academic and applied subjects.

Application

this form is what your need to fill out to specify your course preferences. Applications for undergraduate courses are made online through UCAS.

Assessment

process of checking and marking your coursework. Depending on your course, assessments may include examinations, essays, project work, reports or a combination of any of these.

AVCE

vocational qualifications that lead you to go straight to work, or into higher education.

Award

the outcome or result of your course, including a degree, certificate or diploma.

B

Bachelor’s degree

undergraduate degree qualification awarded by the University (also referred to as First Degree).

BTEC Awards

award given for vocational subjects by the British Business and Technology Education Council.

Bursary

a financial grant given to eligible students that doesn’t need to be repaid.

C

Campus

refers to the University buildings and facilities in a particular location. MMU has 7 campuses, 5 in Manchester and 2 in Cheshire.

Career Development Loans (CDL)

A deferred-payment bank loan, like a student loan, but aimed at those who aren’t entitled to one, whose employers aren’t already footing the bill and who can’t afford to pay the fees themselves.

Careers Service

MMU Careers Service provides expert information and advice on career prospects, including help in developing CVs, and finding placement opportunities and part-time work.

Certificates

qualifications usually leading to the Certificate of Higher Education. A certificate is issued following the completion of a one year course that leads to entry into a course at a higher level.

Clearing

the process used by prospective students to secure a place at university or college for the current academic year.

Combined/Joint honours

a degree course in which two different subjects are combined.

Conditional Offer

offer of a place depending on achieving certain grades in the qualifications you are currently taking

Continuous Assessment

refers to the assessment of students' ongoing work, rather than on an end of term examination or essay.

Core unit

course unit that is compulsory or required and must be completed successfully in order to gain an award.

Course

set of units that lead to an award.

Course Tutor

member of academic staff responsible in the achievement of all of the learners on their course. A course tutor may also be referred to as course leader

Coursework

a piece of work you need to complete as part of your course.

CPD

Continuous Professional Development.

D

DDA (Disability Discrimination Act)

an Act which aims to end the discrimination which many disabled people face. It now gives disabled people rights in a number of areas including education.

Degree

are usually three years full-time or four to six years part time leading to the University award of Bachelor or Master.

Degree Classification

the grading scheme for undergraduate degrees. Honours degrees can either be first class, 'upper' (2:1) and 'lower' (2:2) second class, or third class honours.

DipHE/Diploma of Higher Education

an award given for successfully completing two years’ full-time study at the University.

Dissertation

a major written piece of work or research project undertaken in the final year of an undergraduate honours degree course.

Distance Learning

a course that you can attend from home or from work, by using course materials delivered on CD-ROM or through websites.

DIUS (Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills)

the DIUS is the government department responsible for further and higher education. It was one of two departments that replaced the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) in June 2007.

E

Enrolment

the process where students become registered students of the University.

Entry Requirements

minimum qualifications, grades, and experience needed to be accepted onto a course.

ESL

this acronym stands for 'English as a Second Language'

ESOL

this acronym stands for 'English for Speakers of Other Languages'

Essays

a written piece of work on a particular topic.

F

Faculty

a group of departments defined by shared interests (e.g. Art & Design). Faculties at MMU are led by a Dean.

First Degree

university degree course and qualification awarded by a university to an undergraduate student.

Foundation Degree

degree level qualifications designed with employers which combine academic study with workplace learning.

Foundation Year

if your qualifications are not in the right subjects or at the right grades to meet the entry requirements for your chosen course you may be able to do one years' foundation study. If you complete this to the required standard you will be guaranteed a place on the first year of your chosen course.

Fresher

a term used for undergraduate students starting the first year of their course.

Freshers Week

a week-long event organised by the Students' Union to welcome new students.

G

GCSE/General Certificate of Secondary Education

a British secondary school qualification.

Graduate

someone who has successfully completed a degree programme at the University. MMU graduates are automatic members of MMU Alumni.

Grant

money given to eligible students to help with living or study costs, similar to a bursary.

GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry)

the GTTR process applications for PGCE courses.

H

Halls of Residence

university-owned accommodation. MMU guarantees hall accommodation to all first year students. Visit the Accommodation website for more information.

Head of Department

the person responsible for the management of a Department's activities.

HE/Higher Education

education training in Universities. This includes foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

HEI

Higher Education Institution.

HNC/HND/Higher National Certificates/Diplomas

two-year courses which can lead to a university degree.

Honours/(Hons) degree

a full British undergraduate degree that usually requires completion of a final year dissertation or research project.

I

International Baccalaureate

high school or secondary school qualification equivalent to British A levels.

Induction Week

the academic term usually begins late in September or early October with an induction week for first-year students. During induction week, students meet lecturers, receive handouts and find out essential information about university support and services.

Industrial Placement

(see Sandwich Year).

IoE (Institute of Education)

the Institute of Education is the major provider of initial teacher education and training and continuing professional development in the North West. It is based on two campuses, Didsbury (Greater Manchester) and Crewe (Cheshire).

L

LEA (Local Education Authority)

responsible for paying some or all of a student's university fees and individuals must apply to them if they intend to start a university course.

Lecture

a presentation on a particular subject or topic given by a member of the academic staff to a large number of students. Generally, students listen and take notes.

Lecturers or Tutors

lecturers and tutors are members of the University academic staff and have responsibility for teaching and helping students with their studying.

Levels

Level 1 refers to the first year of a university course and level 2 to the second and level 3 to the third year. Part-time students will take longer to complete each level than full-time students.

M

Master's Degree

an academic degree awarded by a university upon completion of at least one year of prescribed study beyond the bachelor's degree.

Mature Student

a student who is 21 years of age or over in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (20 or over in Scotland) by the time their course starts.

MMUBS

Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

MMUC

Manchester Metropolitan University Cheshire Campus.

N

NMAS (Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service)

NMAS processes applications for nursing and midwifery courses at higher education institutions in England.

NUS (National Union of Students)

The NUS provides research, welfare information and services to Student Unions which are affiliated. NUS is also the body which represents and campaigns on behalf of students.

NUS Card

you’ll get your NUS card from the Student Union. It can get you into nightclubs and museums for free or money off things like train tickets, cinemas, meals out or books.

NVQ/National Vocational Qualification

British qualification available in three levels. NVQ level 3 is usually recognised as the equivalent to A levels and therefore can allow entry into university.

O

Offer

an offer of a place on a course at university, and can be a conditional or unconditional.

Open Days

an event organised throughout the year that gives prospective students the opportunity to visit the campus, speak to tutors, see the facilities and attend talks about student finance and studying at MMU.

P

PgC/PgCE/Post-graduate Certificate

required British qualification to be a primary or secondary school teacher.

Placement

period of relevant work experience, sometimes unpaid, designed to give students an opportunity to undergo on-the-job training.

Postgraduate

study that is beyond first-degree level or bachelor's level, and leads to a higher qualification such as a Masters degree or PhD.

PhD/Doctor of Philosophy

an award given to those who have completed a doctorate/research degree.

Programme Office

subject areas are broken down into programme offices and students 'belong' to whatever programme office teaches their course.

Prospectus

a University guide or brochure with information on courses, university facilities and student services.

S

Sandwich Year

Time spent within your course on a 'placement', usually in industry, in order to gain experience and develop learning in a practical setting.

Scholarship

a monetary amount awarded to a prospective student meeting certain eligibility criteria.

SIP (Student Information Point)

the Student Information Points provide a range of advice and information to students.

SLO (Student Life Office)

the Student Life Offices provide a range of advice and information to students.

Student Loan

a low-interest loan arranged by the Student Loans Company to be used to pay tuition fees. Visit our Money Matters pages for more information

Students’ Union

MMU’s Students’ Union is called MMUnion. The Union represents the interests of students and provides a range of information and activities.

T

Tariff

a points system used to measure student achievement for entry to higher education (see UCAS tariff system).

Tuition Fees

money paid each year by students to enrol or attend a course.

Tutor or Lecturer

a member of staff who is responsible for teaching and helping students with their studying.

Tutorial

a study session during which an individual, or small group, meets with a tutor in order to discuss their work, progress or general course issues.

U

UCAS/Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

the national British organisation that deals with full-time Higher Education applications including clearing advice and financial advice to students (www.ucas.com).

UCAS tariff system

a points system administered by the British University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) used to measure student achievement for entry to higher education (see UCAS Tariff system).

Unconditional Offer

an offer of a place on a course, given to a student who has satisfied all entry requirements.

Undergraduate degree

a course of study or programme of research leading to a Bachelor’s Degree.

Undergraduate

an undergraduate is a student who is studying for a first degree. Someone who has already been awarded a degree from a university is known as a graduate.

Unit

a degree is made up of a number of units, which a student is required to pass in order to complete their degree.

V

Vice-Chancellor

the head of the University.