Undergraduate Programmes
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Glossary of Terms
It may sound obvious but rule one of the university application process is ‘if in doubt ask!’ The education process is ever changing and careers advisors, tutors and higher education staff have a tough enough time keeping track of changes and reforms as it is so we do understand how a sudden influx of information can be overwhelming.
However for a quick reference we have included below some of the key terms and phrases that are likely to come up during the application process.
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The central organisation for processing higher education applications in the UK. Universities and colleges in the UK are members of UCAS which means students have to apply for undergraduate degrees through UCAS.
Applicants submit a single application via the UCAS website with a list of up to five courses for which they are applying. Choices are not listed in preference order. All five choices are confidential during the application process so universities and colleges considering an application cannot see any of the candidate's other choices.
Applications must be completed by the middle of the January of the year that the student wishes to start university. However schools and colleges set their own timescales so that references can be written and applications sent off as early as possible. This means that students need to have their draft application completed by late October. It is always worth asking with your son or daughter’s school or college to check what deadlines they are setting. All UCAS applications are now made online and are often completed through a series of workshops timetabled into the summer term of year 12 and the autumn term of year 13.
UCAS Extra
If a student applies to UCAS for a place in Higher Education and finds themselves 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. This procedure operates from late February to June for universities with vacancies. Universities have a short time to consider the application and will either make an offer or reject the application. If a student is rejected they can continue to make applications (a maximum of 3) until June.
BA, BSc
The two main classifications of degree in universities within the UK. BA stands for Bachelor of Arts, BSc stands for Bachelor of Sciences. Degrees are often named as BA or BSc purely because of the history or tradition of that institution.
Clearing
this is the process offered by UCAS to advertise places on courses to students where there are still vacancies. This system operates directly after students receive their A level results. Clearing is normally used by students if they have not got the grades/marks required by the university/ higher education institution they want to go to. However, this process can also be used to allow last minute applications to different institutions or for students who have done better than expected when they received their results.
Single Honours Degree
When one subject is studied at degree level solely for three years. In some cases students are able to pick up modules from other subjects to support single honours study and create more flexibility.
Joint Honours Degree
Two subjects studied at degree level at the same time form a Joint Honours Degree. Students often will choose to study a joint honours degree if they have an equal interest in two subject areas. For example a student may choose to study English and History at St Mary’s University College; their time spent on each subject area will be split across lectures and tutorials equally until they reach a time where they may want to specialise in one of the subjects and spend less time on the other (often known as majoring and minoring) Alternatively the student may wish to carry on studying both subjects at an equal level throughout their three years of study.
Tariff or Points
UCAS has a tariff system (more commonly known as UCAS points), which allows qualifications to be converted into points (e.g. an A at A Level is worth 120 points) and then added together to give a total that can be used as a requirement to get into a course (a course may require 260 points, for example). The UCAS Tariff now attempts to cover all UK qualifications and some international qualifications. Entry requirements may sometimes be expressed in terms of points but also identify specific subjects that are also required.
Semester
Whereas most secondary school years are three terms, a university year is divided into two semesters.
Modules
Degree courses are normally made up of smaller units of study called ‘modules’. They are often sub sections of your overall degree title, for example when studying an English degree you may study a module entitled ‘History of the English Language’. The modular system is designed to give you more flexibility when choosing the way you wish to study your degree. Modules can last varying amounts of time with different and earn different amounts contributing to a final mark. For example some modules may last for two semesters in one year and lead to a higher percentage of your overall mark than a module that lasts for one semester.
Adjustment
Some students will pass their exams with better results than expected, which sometimes means that not only have they met the condition of their firm choice but they will have exceeded them. Those applicants can enter a period of adjustment which allows them to reconsider where and which course they may wish to study.
Firm Offer / Insurance Offer
When universities have offered your son or daughter a place at their institution it is up to them to accept one firm and one insurance offer. The firm choice becomes their first choice and the insurance offer is chosen in case for whatever reason the applicant does not meet the condition of the firm offer.
Freshmen or ‘Fresher’
Another name for a first year undergraduate student. This term comes from America where university students are either Freshmen, Sophomores or Seniors.
Fresher’s Week
Normally allocated to the first week first year students arrive on campus, Fresher’s Week is designed to acclimatise students to university life, help them to make friends, meet people and get all the information they need for the start of their university career.
