Jargon Buster

If you need some help unravelling Higher Education jargon, then please use our A to Z guide.

UCAS

Pronounced ‘yew-cass’, UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK. All students applying for full-time courses apply through UCAS. For more information check out the main website at www.ucas.com/

Undergraduate

Someone studying either full or part-time for a first degree including Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Education (BEd) or LLB (Law).

University Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS)

It may be possible to gain credit for completing parts of a degree. If you have already studied to HND level, on a degree programme or for relevant professional qualifications before you start your degree, you may be able to transfer credits under the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). This can allow greater flexibility and means that if you change course, move to another institution or take a break from study or change from full to part-time, you can take the credits with you.

Viva Voce (often abbreviated to viva)

A viva voce is an examination in which the student has a spoken interview with an examiner, as opposed to a written examination. Some university courses, especially in languages, will test students’ knowledge with a combination of written and viva voce examinations.

Vocational

Vocational learning is training directly related to work or employment. Vocational courses prepare learners for particular careers, occupations or trades and may involve a substantial element of work-experience.

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