A Levels	A Levels are an academic qualification, studied over a period of two years, which provide subject specific knowledge and skills which can provide entry into a range of further study, training and employment opportunities.
BA	Bachelor of Arts is the undergraduate degree awarded to those studying an arts or humanities degree.
BMAT	The Biomedical Admissions Test. A medical admissions test required by certain universities for entry onto their medicine and dentistry courses.
BSc	Bachelor of Science, the undergraduate degree awarded to those studying a scientific discipline.
BTEC	Business and Technology Education Council. Vocational qualifications that equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge in a range of subjects.
Bursary	A non-repayable monetary award made to students who satisfy certain criteria as set by the awarding universities and colleges.
Clearing	Clearing is how universities and colleges fill vacancies on their courses. It opens in June and allows students who have not yet made an application to apply to a course. It is also a way for students to find vacancies on results day, if they wish to change courses/institutions or are not holding an offer.
Combined Honours	A degree encompassing more than one subject.
Degree Apprenticeship	A way to study for a degree while working and earning money. Degree apprenticeships are available for undergraduate and Masters degrees, and the course is paid for by your employer.
DSA	Disabled Student Allowances are monetary awards made to those students who may need additional support through their studies as a result of a disability or long-term health condition. For example, these awards may pay for specialist equipment, printing costs, a note-taker etc. These awards are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
FE	Further Education. Refers to the qualifications taken post 16, i.e., after a student has taken their GCSEs.
Firm Choice	A student’s ‘first choice’ of course and institution. If a student has applied to higher education courses through UCAS, and received offers, they are asked to select their firm choice which is the course they will study if they meet the conditions of their offer.
Fresher	The informal term given to first year students at in higher education.
Gap Year	Students may opt to take some time out of education before commencing a higher education course. This time is commonly used to work, travel, or volunteer.
GCSE	General Certificate of Secondary Education. The qualifications are taken at the end of a student’s secondary education, in Year 11.
Halls	The term given to the university accommodation that students can opt to live in during their first year of study at university.
HE	Higher Education. Refers to the qualifications that are taken at Level 4 or above.
Hons	Indicates a level of attainment attached to a BSc or BA.
Insurance Choice	A student’s second choice of higher education, usually with slightly lower entry requirements. This is the institution and course a student will attend should they not meet the terms of their Firm choice.
KS3	Key stage 3 (or KS3) refers to school years 7-9.
KS4	Key stage 4 (or KS4) refers to school years 10-11.
KS5	Key stage 5 (or KS5) refers to school years 12-13.
Lecture	A style of teaching where staff deliver content in a theatre style room with students taking notes.
Module	A period of study covering a particular topic. Many programmes are divided into modules with a certain number of modules required to study the course to completion.
Oxbridge	A short way of saying Oxford and Cambridge. You might hear the term used around the October early UCAS deadline, as applications to these universities need to be made by October.
Semester	A block of study containing certain modules (at universities the year is usually split into two semesters).
Seminar	Smaller, more interactive, group teaching. Usually centred on group discussion with some work to prepare prior to the session.
SFE	Student Finance England are the body who manage applications for maintenance and tuition fee loans across England.
T-Levels	Technical qualifications which you can study after your GCSEs at sixth form or college.
Term	The periods of teaching time throughout the academic year.
UCAS Extra	An additional period of time to apply for courses through UCAS when someone has not applied during the main UCAS application period or has received no offers of a place.
UCAS Track	The online service allowing applicants to track the status of their higher education applications.
UCAS	University and College Admissions Service. The central organisation who handles applications for higher education across the UK.
UCAT	The University Clinical Aptitude Test. An admissions test required by some medical and dental schools across the UK.