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A - E
A
Academic year: The academic year lasts thirty weeks and is split into two semesters of fifteen weeks. If students start in September, it will run from late September to June, with breaks at Christmas and Easter. We also have January and May starts.
Access course: An access course prepares students without traditional qualifications for university study. It is often taken by:
- Mature students
- Students without A-levels
At UEL, we call them pre-entry programmes.
Admissions tutors: An admissions tutor manages applications for a course or department. They are responsible for reviewing applications and making decisions.
Alumni: Alumni are people who have studied at or graduated from a school, college or university.
B
Bachelor's degree: A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate qualification that usually takes three to four years to complete.
- Students may graduate with: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
The award depends on the subject studied.
Bursary: A bursary is a financial grant given to students who meet specific criteria.
- Some bursaries require an application
- Others are awarded automatically if eligibility criteria are met
C
Campus: A campus is a group of university buildings and facilities in one place. Some universities have more than one campus. The University of East London has three campuses:
We are easy to get to by public transport or by car.
CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies): A A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is required for international students applying for a Student visa (previously Tier four).
Students must request a CAS before starting their visa application.
Clearing: Clearing is a UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) process that helps students find a course with available places. You can use Clearing if you:
- Do not receive any offers
- Decline your offers
- Do not get the required grades
Conditional offer: A conditional offer means a student has a place on a course if they meet specific conditions. These conditions usually include achieving certain grades, such as A-level results.
Conditional Firm: A conditional firm is a conditional offer that a student has accepted as their first choice. If the student meets the conditions, the offer becomes an unconditional firm (UF).
Core modules: Core modules are compulsory parts of a course. Students must pass these modules to progress to the next stage of their degree.
CPD: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the process of developing skills and knowledge after initial training. It helps professionals keep their knowledge up to date.
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS): The Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) allows students to use previous study towards a new qualification. Students may transfer credits if they have:
- Completed part of a degree
- Gained relevant professional qualifications
Credit level: Credit level shows how difficult a module is.
- Level four: First year
- Level five: Second year
- Level six: Final year
D
Data Protection Act: The Data Protection Act is a UK law that controls how personal information is used and stored. This means parents may not be able to access information about their child once they are over eighteen.
Dean: The Dean is a senior member of university staff who is responsible for the operation of a faculty or School (what we call them at UEL). This includes overseeing teaching and academic activity.
Degree grades: Degree grades show how well a student has performed.
Typical grades include:
- First
- Upper Second (2:1)
- Lower Second (2:2)
- Third
- Fail
Dissertation: A dissertation is a long, research-based piece of writing completed at the end of a degree. It is usually between six thousand and eight thousand words and submitted in the final year.
E
Enrolment: Enrolment is the process of formally registering for a course or module.
Erasmus+: Erasmus+ is the European Union’s flagship funding programme for education, training, youth, and sport, supporting mobility and cooperation. The UK will rejoin the scheme in 2027.
EU student: An EU student is someone whose home is in a European Union country outside the UK. Most EU nationals arriving after 31 December 2020 are classified as international/overseas students.
Extracurricular activities: Extracurricular activities are activities outside the academic requirements of a degree. These can include clubs, societies and sports.
F - J
F
Foundation year: A foundation year is a one-year programme that prepares students for entry onto an honours degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc).
Fresher: This term is used for a first-year undergraduate student. It comes from the term "freshman".
Freshers' Week: This is the first week at university. It usually includes registration, welcome, induction and social events for new students. At UEL, we call this Welcome Week.
G
Graduate: A graduate is someone who has completed their degree and had it officially awarded.
Graduation: Graduation is the ceremony where students are awarded their degrees and receive their certificates.
H
Halls of residence: University-owned accommodation where students live while studying.
Higher degree: A postgraduate qualification taken after an undergraduate degree, such as a Master’s (MA or MSc) or a doctorate (PhD).
Honours degree: An undergraduate degree, usually completed in three or four years.
I
International student: A student whose permanent home is outside the UK. We have students from more than 120 countries at UEL.
J
Joint honours: A joint honours is a first degree combining two subjects, usually split 50:50. Sometimes you spend more time studying one subject (in which case it is your major field) than the other (which is your minor field).
L - P
L
LA: A local council in the UK responsible for certain education services in its area, such as school admissions coordination, safeguarding, and support for vulnerable children. Many schools (e.g. academies) operate independently of local authority control.
M
Mature student: A mature student is an undergraduate student aged over 21. As of 2017, a total of 62 per cent of the UEL student body are mature students.
Module: A module is a unit of study that explores a specific area within a subject. Each module has a set number of credits which will vary from course to course.
N
NUS (National Union of Students): The UEL Students’ Union is a member of this national organisation, which represents more than seven million students.
O
Online learning: Learning that takes place over the internet. At UEL, teaching is delivered through a mix of face-to-face sessions, online learning, and digital resources.
P
Placement year: A year within a university course where students gain work experience, usually in the second-to-last year.
Plagiarism: Using someone else’s work without acknowledging it. If you plagiarise, you may face disciplinary action.
S - V
S
Sandwich course: An undergraduate course that includes a placement year in a workplace, usually in the second-to-last year.
Scholarships: Financial support awarded to eligible students, often based on merit or personal circumstances.
School: A School is a faculty representing certain subject areas. An example of this at UEL is the Royal Docks School of Business and Law.
Semester: One of the two teaching periods in the academic year, each lasting 14 weeks.
Seminar: A small, interactive class where students discuss a subject with a tutor.
Statement of Award: An official document confirming a student’s results, issued after each exam period.
Student Finance England: Part of the Student Loans Company that manages student finance applications in England.
T
Tuition fees: The cost of studying at university. For eligible students, fees are usually paid to the university by the Student Loans Company. Fees may vary depending on your residency status, with international students often paying different rates.
Tutorial: A small group or one-to-one session where students discuss their work with a tutor.
U
UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is the organisation which processes applications to UK universities for all undergraduate courses
UCAS Extra: If a student does not get an offer from any of their five choices, the UCAS Extra service can find them another course to apply to before they do their exams.
UCAS Track: An online system where applicants can track their university applications and respond to offers.
UK student: A student whose permanent home is in the UK, also known as a Home student.
Unconditional offer (U): An offer of a place on a UCAS course with no conditions attached.
Unconditional Firm (UF): An unconditional offer that an applicant has accepted as their first choice.
Unsuccessful (R): A response indicating that an applicant has not been offered a place on a course.
Undergraduate: A student studying for a first degree.
V
Viva voce (often abbreviated to "Viva"): An oral exam where you answer questions in a spoken interview instead of a written test.