University A-Z

A

Academic

A university tutor or lecturer. A bit like your school or college teacher.

Academic year

The university year. This usually starts around September/October and ends in June/July but can vary from place to place so it's best to check.

Accommodation

Flats or halls where students live, if they choose to live at university. There are lots of providers in Birmingham, check out our partners here. 

ACS

Afro-Caribbean society.

ADM

Our Faculty of Arts Design and Media.

Admissions

The admissions team process students' applicants and make the course offers.

Alumni

Former students who have graduated and keep in touch with the university.

B

Bachelor’s degree

The qualification an undergraduate achieves after completing their undergraduate studies. This is usually three to four years of study.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The qualification associated with undergraduate degrees in subject areas such as arts social sciences and humanities.

Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)

The qualification associated with undergraduate degrees in the subject area of engineering.

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

The qualification associated with Law undergraduate degrees which allows progression onto further professional training within the Law field.

Bachelor of Science (BSc)

The qualification associated with undergraduate degrees in subject areas such as science and some social sciences.

BCUSU

Birmingham City University Students’ Union. Their job is to represent you and enhance your time here at BCU by providing a variety of services and activities to ensure you not only have a fantastic time during your studies but that you leave with the confidence skills and experience that will get you your dream job.

BCUIC

Birmingham City University International College.

BLSS

Our Faculty of Business Law and Social Sciences.

BUCS

British Universities and Colleges Sport. The majority of our sports teams compete against other universities as part of the BUCS leagues.

Bursary

A bursary is financial help offered by the university or another organisation. These are usually granted based on personal circumstances to reward achievement or help those in financial need. The best part is that you don’t have to pay them back!

C

Campus

A campus refers to the grounds and buildings where a university is located.

CEBE

Our Faculty of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment.

City Centre Campus

Our City Centre Campus is a multi-million pound centre of excellence in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development. It is made up of four buildings: Millennium Point The Joseph Priestley Building The Parkside Building and The Curzon Building.

City South Campus

To the south of the City Centre is our Faculty of Health Education and Life Sciences. Based in Edgbaston it’s home to a wide range of courses in health and social care education life sciences and sport.

Clearing

Clearing allows prospective students without a university place to apply whilst spaces remain available. Clearing begins from July through to September.

Combined or joint honours degrees

A type of degree that allows you to study two subjects equally (50/50) which forms one degree.

Commuter student

A student who lives at home and travels to university.

Conditional offer

A university offer that depends on you achieving certain grades or meeting set criteria before their place can be confirmed.

D

Deferred entry

You can choose to apply to university but request to start the following year. Students who wish to take a gap year will often defer their entry to ensure they have a place at university.

Degree

A degree is an academic course and qualification studied for and attained at a university (e.g. bachelor's degree or master's degree).

Dissertation

A dissertation is a long essay on a subject you have chosen. A dissertation is usually written within the final year of study and is worth a significant part of the final degree classification (grade).

Distance learning

When students study from home using the resources provided by the university (often online resources).

Degree classification

Your degree classification is the final grade achieved after studying a degree course. Degrees are classified out of 100: 3rd - 40 to 40. 2:2 - 50 to 59. 2:1 - 60 to 69. 1st - 70 or above.

E

Employability

Employability refers to the suitability of an individual for employment. It can also be a word universities use to tell you about the ways in which they can help you get a job by adding to your CV.

Enrolment

This is when a student officially starts at a university and is given all essential information (i.e. timetable ID card student documents). Sometimes enrolment can be completed online.

Entry requirements

The grades or qualifications required for being accepted at university. Different universities and courses will have different entry requirements.

F

Firm choice

The applicant's first choice of university/course offer on UCAS.

Foundation degree or year

Foundation degrees, or years, offer an alternative route to university for students who may not meet the course entry requirements or just need a confidence boost. Foundation degrees last for one year and usually students progress onto the same subject bachelor’s degree after successful completion.

Fresher

A casual name for a first-year student at university.

Further Education (FE)

The level of education after GCSEs studied at 6th form or college. Qualifications include A levels AS levels BTEC and vocational qualifications.

G

Graduand

A person who is about to receive an academic degree.

Graduate

A student who has completed their degree course and has received their qualification.

Graduation

A celebration ceremony for students that have completed their course.

Gap year

Some students take a year out before going to university or after they have graduated. Students will often use this time to travel or gain work experience.

H

Halls of residence

A building provided by the university where students live.

Harvard Referencing system

A citation style used by universities which attributes work quotes and theories to their authors. This will be explained in detail during the first few weeks of your classes and is something most students wrestle with for the duration of university.

HELS

Our Faculty of Health Education and Life Sciences.

Higher Education (HE)

Any formal learning undertaken after secondary school for example university.

I

Insurance choice

An applicant's second choice of university/course offer on UCAS. You typically put this down as a reserve choice just in case you do not get into your first (firm) choice.

International students

Anyone who comes from outside of the UK to study at a university here.

L

Lecture

A lesson delivered by an academic usually to a large number of students - so a bit like an assembly. Students are expected to take notes and digest the information in self-led learning time or during their seminars.

Lecturer

Academic staff at a university who teach on the courses - like a teacher.

LGBTQ+

Stands for lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer or questioning and more and is a way of defining the community.

M

Maintenance loan

A type of financial aid from Student Finance to support students with living costs (e.g. accommodation travel and food). This money will need to be paid back after you graduate as part of your Student Finance agreement.

Master’s degree

A higher-level degree that allows a student to study a topic in more detail after their undergraduate degree. For example Master’s of Engineering (MEng). Master’s degrees are a Level 7 qualification and usually last for one to two years (e.g MBA MA MSc Med)

Mature student

A student who is 21 or over when they start university.

Module

A unit of study that explores a specific area - think of it like covering a particular topic at school or college. University courses can contain set and optional modules which allow you to tailor your course to your interests.

Means-tested

An assessment of your household income conducted by the student loans company when they work out how much student finance you might be entitled to.

N

National Union of Students (NUS)

The NUS is a group of organisations that support and represent the interests of students in the UK - think of it like a much bigger version of your school council.

National Student Survey (NSS)

A questionnaire sent to final-year university students to evaluate their time at university.

O

Offer holder days

An opportunity for offer holders to experience a subject-specific taster day and gain a greater insight into their chosen course.

Open days

Open days are an opportunity for you to look around a university and its facilities as well as speak to staff and students. Activities include subject talks finance talks campus tours accommodation tours and subject-specific activities.

P

Personal statement

A personal statement is a section of the UCAS application where applicants express their suitability for the course(s) they are applying for. There is only one personal statement for all of the application choices.

Personal Tutor

A member of staff who is allocated to look after your wellbeing during university. Your personal tutor is usually an academic in the same subject department of your course.

PhD

This is also known as a doctorate. A PhD is the highest degree you can earn usually taking 3-4 years to complete. PhDs are available for students who have already achieved an undergraduate and Master’s degree. Obtaining a PhD means that you can work as a professional researcher or a university professor.

Placement year (or module)

Work experience for a set period of time which can be an optional or compulsory part of the degree. Students have the option to take their placement in a different institution industry or in another country. (See sandwich course).

Plagiarism

The practice of taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own.

Postgraduate

A student who has completed their bachelor’s degree and is studying for a higher degree (i.e. Master’s or PhD).

Postgraduate course

A higher-level degree course available to those who have passed their bachelor’s degree. For example a Master's degree which is level 7 or a PhD which is level 8.

Professor

An academic member of staff who has achieved the highest academic level.

Prospectus

A book outlining specific information about a university and the range of courses they provide. Prospectus' can also be viewed on university websites.

R

RBC

The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

REF

Research Excellence Framework the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

S

Sandwich course

This is a course that allows you to undertake a placement in an industry of your choice for one year.

Scholarship

Scholarships are awards of money given to students for their background or academic achievement. They don’t need to be repaid and are given by universities and other institutions.

Semester

The academic year is divided into blocks of study similar to school terms we call them semesters.

Seminar

Smaller teaching sessions where students can engage in discussions with other students and a lecturer. Discussions usually follow on from topics discussed in lectures. Seminars are similar to classes at school.

Single honours degrees

An undergraduate degree where you study just one subject for your degree.

Society (SOC)

Societies are groups of like-minded students that share the same interests activity sports or beliefs. They're a great way to meet new people when you start university and are run by the Students’ Union.

SOJ

Birmingham School of Jewellery is one of our campuses and is home to our jewellery and horology courses.

SOA

Birmingham School of Art is one of our campuses and is home to our Fine Arts and other courses.

STEAM

Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics.

STEM

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics.

Student finance

Student finance is money that can be borrowed from the Student Loans Company to cover tuition fees and living costs. The loan will be paid back once a student has graduated and is earning above a certain amount.

Student Loans Company (SLC)

SLC provide financial help to students during their studies and manage the loan repayments after a student graduates.

Students' Union (SU)

Students' unions are organised by students for students. They are the voice of students representing their interests. The student union will often organise activities and events for students. Every university has a student union which runs a bit like a school council.

Student Finance England (SFE)

The Government funding body that assesses and approves applications for financial support. This includes loans grants and tuition fees.

T

Tariff points

A numerical scoring system to help universities standardise grades across different qualifications. Each university course will have a minimum number of points applicants need to achieve to get an offer.

TEF rating

TEF stands for Teaching Excellence Framework and is how teaching at universities is judged. It was brought in to help students judge teaching quality when making their choices

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are the cost of your study/course. Students can apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance to cover the costs.

Tutor

Members of staff within universities who are responsible for teaching and assisting you with your learning.

Tutorial

A tutorial can either be an individual or group session where you can discuss your work or any issues with a tutor.

Tuition fee loan

Money borrowed from Student Finance to cover the cost of tuition fees. This loan is paid directly to the university in instalments.

U

UCAS

Universities and College Admission Service is responsible for processing students' university applications. The application process is online via www.ucas.com.

Unconditional offer

A university offer where the applicant has satisfied the entry criteria for their course and has no further requirements to meet.

Undergraduate

A student usually studying their first degree which can last between 3 to 4 years. An undergraduate degree is the first level of Higher Education.

Undergraduate with combined Masters

Usually four to five year degrees that incorporate three years of undergraduate studies with an additional year to gain a Master's qualification.

University

A Higher Education Institution which awards degrees and has research facilities.