Jargon Busting

Jargon Busting

During the process of applying for university, you may come across some unfamiliar terms. This list will help you cut through the jargon.

Academic Reference
This is a reference written by the school to support your UCAS application. 

Apply
The name of the UCAS online application system.

BA
Bachelor of Art - The title of the degree awarded to someone who has completed a course in a branch of the arts or humanities. In Scotland this is usually a three-year degree.

BMAT
BioMedical Admissions Test : An aptitude test used as part of the admissions process for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Physiological Sciences in some UK universities. Applications are made through the school and you should register your interest with your UCAS Coordinator.

BSc 
Bachelor of Science: A Science based degree.

Buzzword
When you register for UCAS Apply, you need to enter a buzzword which is unique to the school and automatically indicates which school you are applying from: 

Campus
This term describes the buildings and grounds of a university when they are grouped together. Stirling and Queen Margaret are examples of university campuses. Heriot-Watt has a campus at Riccarton, just outside Edinburgh and another campus based in the Scottish Borders at Galashiels.

Clearing
Applicants who have been unsuccessful in gaining a university place may be eligible to enter the UCAS Clearing system. It might be possible to find another course which will suit.

Conditional Offer
If you are given a conditional offer, this indicates that the university is prepared to offer you a place subject to certain conditions such as passing exams in particular subjects at specific grades or have a positive interview.

Confirmation
When you meet the criteria of your conditional offer and it becomes unconditional, or when your application is declined, you will receive confirmation.

Deferral
You can defer entry to university by delaying starting your course for a year to give yourself a chance to do something else like a gap year. You will need to check with the university to see if they will let you defer your start date.

Extra
If you have made five choices of courses and have been turned down for all five or you have changed your mind and have withdrawn your application for these courses so you do not hold any offers of courses you are eligible for . This will allow you to apply again for another course.

Firm Acceptance
If you are given a series of conditional offers by universities, you can indicate which your preferred one is. This is your Firm Acceptance.

Gap Year
Some people decide to take a year off between leaving school and starting college or university, either to travel or to work and save up some money.

Halls of Residence
"Halls" are student accommodation which is usually owned by the university. All halls are different - some have en-suite bathrooms, in others, you will have to share facilities. Some offer catering for meals where others you will have to cook for yourself. Some will have only single rooms; others may have some twin rooms. Many students stay in halls for their first year as it is a great way to make new friends.

Higher Education
Sometimes referred to by the abbreviation HE, this describes anything from an HNC up to an Honours Degree. HE can be studied at college or university.

Honours
In Scotland, an Honours degree usually takes four years to complete. Students will have the opportunity to specialise in their final year and perhaps submit a dissertation.

Insurance Acceptance
If you are given a series of conditional offers by universities, you can indicate which your preferred one is. This is your Firm Acceptance. You are allowed to keep a backup offer in case you do not meet the conditions of your Firm Acceptance. This is called your Insurance Acceptance.

Joint Honours
Students can elect to specialise in two subjects rather than just one in their degree. There are many different possible combinations which will be listed in university prospectuses.

LNAT
The National Admissions Test for Law, or LNAT, is run by a consortium of UK universities. It helps universities to make fairer choices among the many highly-qualified applicants who want to join their undergraduate law programmes. Admission tests for Law(opens new window). To find out which universities require the LNAT, Do I need LNAT?(opens new window).

Lecture
Lectures are main teaching method at university. They will usually be a single lecturer giving a talk or presentation on a specific subject - sometimes to well over 100 students who are expected to take notes and write them up later.

LEAPS
The Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools provides support and encouragement to school students in Edinburgh and the Lothians whose ability to fulfil their academic potential has been adversely affected by social, cultural or economic circumstances. Part of the LEAPS programme involves an eight-week summer school before university starts.

MA
Master of Arts is the title of the degree awarded to someone who has completed a course in a branch of the arts or humanities. In Scotland this is usually a four-year degree.

October Applicants
If you are applying to a music conservatoire, your application MUST be submitted by October 2^nd. If you are applying for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, veterinary science or any courses at Oxford or Cambridge Universities your UCAS application MUST be in by October 16th. This is because these subjects/courses/universities are very popular and demanding and the selection procedure is more involved. 

Open Days
Universities hold open days so potential students can have a look around the university, have the chance to visit departments and speak to lecturers and current students. Open Day information can be located on university websites / social media or through the school.

Ordinary Degree
Students can choose to graduate after three years of a Scottish Degree. This means they will gain an Ordinary, not an Honours Degree.

Personal ID
When you register with UCAS, you will be given a personal ID number. This is a ten-digit number which will identify you if you have to contact UCAS directly with queries about your application.

Personal Statement
Part of the UCAS application process requires students to submit a personal statement about themselves. After your academic grades, this is perhaps the most important part of the application process.

Point of Entry
This is the year of the course you will start at. Most students start in first year at point 1 but in some courses, talented students will have the opportunity to skip first year and start in second year at point 2.

Portfolio
For some art and design courses, you will be expected to submit samples of your artwork. This is referred to as a portfolio.

Prospectus
All universities provide booklets called prospectuses every year advertising the university and courses available there.

SAAS
As a student studying in Scotland, in most cases, you will not have to pay tuition fees. - You have to apply through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland each year of study for this. 

Semester
A semester is a term at university. Some universities work on a two semester system each academic year where each semester lasts about 15 weeks.

Tariff points
The entrance requirements for some universities are listed as tariff points instead of a number of Highers at specific grades. This allows universities to compare exam results from different parts of the UK.

Track
Once your application has been submitted to UCAS, you can keep up to date with the progress of it through Track on the UCAS site.

Trimester
A trimester is a term at university. Some universities work on a three trimester system each academic year where each trimester lasts about 10 weeks.

Tutorial
A tutorial is teaching method at university where a small group of students discuss a topic with a tutor. Students in the group may be expected to take turns of presenting a tutorial paper to the rest of the group.

UCAS
Universities and Colleges Admissions Services is an organisation which sorts all the applications going through it and sends the details to the relevant universities.

UCAS Apply
The process of applying for university is done on line through a system called UCAS Apply. 

UCAT
The UK Clinical Aptitude Test is used in the selection process by a consortium of UK university medical and dental schools.

UCAS Conservatoires
In conjunction with UCAS, Conservatoires UK runs an application system for music and drama courses at its seven member institutions. Students applying through UCAS Conservatoires need to be aware that their applications for music courses must be submitted by 2^nd October otherwise it will be treated as a late application.

Unconditional Offer
If you are given an unconditional offer, this indicates that the university is prepared to offer you a place without having to pass any more exams.

Vocational Courses 
This describes university courses that have been created with a specific job in mind at the end of them. They often have quite a practical element to them. Good examples of vocational courses are medicine and law.

Withdrawal
Before a university has made an offer to you, either you or the university withdraw a choice.