Jargon Buster

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

Faculty

A faculty is a grouping of academic departments that are grouped together for teaching, research and administrative purposes, for example, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law, etc. They may also be called Schools, e.g. School of Health Studies, etc.

FE – Further Education

Further Education refers to post-16 education which can be offered at colleges, institutes of education, schools and in the workplace. A very wide range of vocational and academic qualifications can be studied.

Fees

From September 2007, universities and colleges of higher education in England can charge up to £3,070 a year for their full-time courses. The amount charged may vary between courses, as well as between universities – check the UCAS website (www.ucas.ac.uk) or the university's prospectus. We expect that the amount will increase each year in line with inflation.

Finals

Finals is the name given to the final exams taken by students at the end of their study. In the past nearly all of the assessment for a degree was based on the outcome of these exams. Most degrees today rely far less on the results from finals and tend to use assessment throughout the duration of the course.

Foundation Degree

A foundation degree is a work-related qualification designed together with employers. It lasts two years full-time, or three years if taken as a sandwich course. Studying for a foundation degree is a way of combining academic knowledge with job-related training. You can progress from a foundation degree to an honours degree at university or college in the same subject.

Freshers

Students beginning their time at a university are often referred to as Freshers and a Freshers Week may be organised to introduce them to university life. This can include social events as well as introduction to libraries and other resources.

Gap Year

Time spent travelling or working usually after finishing A level, or equivalent, studies and before starting a degree at university or college. A gap year is a chance to gain work experience and additional knowledge and skills that employers value. Some students choose to take a gap year after completing their first degree and before postgraduate studies.

Graduate

A graduate is a person who has been awarded a degree from a university or college. While you are studying for a degree you will be known as an undergraduate. After the award of a degree you become a graduate. If you undertake further study after your degree (e.g. Master's degree or PhD) you will be known as a postgraduate student.

Halls

Halls of residence are blocks of student accommodation, which either provides meals or self-catering facilities. Priority for places in halls is usually given to first year students. There are usually a variety of other facilities like launderettes, common rooms, TVs and cleaners. There may be shared amenities such as bathrooms and showers, but some do have en-suite facilities.

HE – Higher Education

Higher Education usually refers to post-18 study at a higher level. Most higher education students study for HNDs or foundation degrees or undergraduate degrees or postgraduate degrees. Higher education usually follows on from study at Sixth Form College, a sixth form at school or a College of Further Education.

Higher Education Grants

These are awards for 2007/08 entry of up to £1,000 (which you don’t need to repay) to help with the costs of higher education for families on low incomes. If family income is below £16,340 you’ll get all of this money; if it is below £22,324 you’ll get part of it.

Higher National Certificate (HNC)

These are usually the part-time version of an HND. HNDs usually take 2 years full-time and HNCs two years part-time but there are full and part-time versions of both. Both qualifications give you the chance to enter the second or third year of a related degree. (HNCs usually lead to Year 2, HNDs to Year 3). Some HNDs and HNCs are being replaced by Foundation Degrees.

Higher National Diploma (HND)

These are like foundation degrees with the same level of study and entry requirements.

Subjects are occupationally based and include Engineering, Business and Horticulture.

Independent Student

You are classed as an independent student if one of the following apply:

You are 25 or over before the start of the academic year for which you are applying
You have no living parents
You have been married for at least two years before the start of the academic year for which you are applying for support. Your LEA will need to see your marriage certificate
You have supported yourself for at least three years before the start of the academic year of your course.

This includes any time when you:

Were in paid full-time employment
Received income support or unemployment benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance or were registered for unemployment
Held a state studentship or similar award, for example from a research council
Received incapacity benefits, invalidity pension or maternity allowance
Received training under any scheme for the unemployed or other funding by any state authority or agency
Could not support yourself out of earnings because you had to care for a person under 18 who depended on you.

Institutes of Higher Education

These are large providers of Higher Education which are very like universities.

Joint Honours Degree

A degree programme which involves the study of two major areas of study, e.g. BA Hons English and French.

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