Jargon buster
We realise that some of our terminology is unfamiliar to people who have not worked at a university. We hope that our new staff members will find this page as useful as people thinking of studying here.
Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE)
An advanced GNVQ is a vocational A-level that is directly related to work, but is also a route into further study or education.
Alumni
Graduates of a university. A single graduate may be referred to as an alumnus.
A-level
Qualification usually gained from studying for two years in sixth form or college and often used as a route into higher education.
AS-level
Usually studied over one year, worth half the UCAS points of an A-level.
BTEC
A BTEC course is often taken as an alternative to A-levels and covers a wide range of vocational subjects. It is studied over two years and is often used as a route into higher education.
Campus
A place where university buildings are situated. Also referred to as a site. The University of Brighton has five main campuses – Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Falmer are in Brighton with further campuses in Hastings and Eastbourne.
Campus tour
A tour around university facilities. At Brighton tours are normally led by a current student.
Clearing
A further opportunity for university applicants, who do not yet have a place, to get on a course which still has places available. Clearing operates mainly after A-level results are published in August.
EU students
Students normally resident in European Union member countries.
Faculty
The name given to a group of university schools. At Brighton each faculty is made up of schools, for example, the Faculty of Arts comprises of the School of Architecture and Design, the School of Arts and Media and the School of Humanities.
Foundation degree
An employment-related, university level qualification which normally takes two years full-time study to complete. Foundation degree qualifications:
• FdA Foundation degree in arts
• FdSc Foundation degree in science
• FdEng Foundation degree in engineering.
Fresher
Traditional term for a student new to university. Freshers’ week is the first week of the autumn university term when activities are run specifically for new students. At the University of Brighton, freshers’ week is called welcome week.
Gap year
A year when a student takes a break from education, usually between A-levels or further education and university.
GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education (formerly known as O-levels). Single subject exams usually taken at the age of 16 after two years of study.
GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification)
A practical qualification which is both a route to further education (FE) and a preparation for employment in a broad vocational area.
Grant
A sum of money given to a student by a public or government body. Maintenance grants are given to students dependent on their family income. Grants do not have to be paid back.
Halls of residence
Building managed directly by a university or on the university’s behalf, where students live during their studies. The University of Brighton’s hall of residence in Hastings is Robert Tressell Hall.
Higher education (HE)
University-level education.
Honours degree
Undergraduate degree usually three or four years long that leads to a qualification such as BSc(Hons) or BA(Hons).
International students
Students normally resident in countries other than those in the EU or UK.
Intranet
A website which is not normally available to the public and requires a user name and password to access. The University of Brighton student intranet is studentcentral.
Joint honours degree
An honours degree covering two subjects, for instance Mathematics and Computing.
Lecture
A formal presentation about a subject given by a lecturer (or teacher) to a class.
Mature student
A student who begins a course of university-level education at the age of 21 or over. Students who apply for government funding for their course must be 25 or over to be assessed on the basis if their income, otherwise their parents are assessed for any contribution towards tuition fees and living costs.
Module
A self-contained unit of study. Most of our courses are divided into modules of different subject areas.
NVQ (National Vocational Qualification)
A qualification based on national standards, defining skills, knowledge and understanding needed at work.
Open days
Opportunity for prospective students to be shown around a university and talk to students and staff. See page 2 for dates of open days in Hastings.
Personal tutor
Many courses assign you a personal tutor who will act as a mentor, help resolve problems and can advise on who to approach for help.
PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education)
A one-year course for degree holders to train as teachers, leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Placement
A period of time spent at a place of work as part of your course.
Postgraduate
Level of study (masters or PhD) that follows an honours degree.
Research
Postgraduate study which involves a student independently researching a specific topic under the guidance of a supervisor and producing a thesis or report. Usually results in an MPhil or PhD.
Sandwich course
A course (or degree) that includes a year of work experience.
Scholarship
Money awarded to students during their course. At Brighton the awards are usually made on the basis of academic or other merit.
School
A university department, for example, the School of Applied Social Science in the University of Brighton.
Semester
Half of an academic year (six months). Academic years in the UK are generally divided into two semesters or three terms.
Seminar
Small study group where discussions between students and academic tutors take place.
Studentcentral
University of Brighton student intranet.
Studentpad / Yourstudentpad
The University of Brighton’s online database for finding accommodation for your time at university.
Students’ Union
Independent organisation for students providing a broad range of services from advice and information to clubs and societies, bars, shops and catering services.
Top-up degree
A year of study to convert a foundation degree into an honours degree.
Tuition fee
Fee to cover the cost of your course. Visit www.brighton.ac.uk/money to check current fees.
Tutor
A teacher who provides instruction to one or more students.
Tutorial
A session during which a tutor teaches or assists one or more students. It is more informal than a lecture or seminar and may focus on academic and/or pastoral matters.
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The central UK organisation that processes applications for entry to full-time university courses. Visit the UCAS website, www.ucas.ac.uk.
UCAS tariff
The number of UCAS points you will need to have to be accepted on to a course at university.
UK students
Students whose normal country of residence is England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Undergraduate
Generally the first level of study at university. Successful completion leads to award of a foundation or honours degree.
Validation
The process that university courses go through to check they meet the necessary high academic standard.
Vice-Chancellor
Head of the university.
Vocational course
A course related to work, usually practical and hands-on, combining professional or work-based skills with academic or theory based knowledge.