Glossary of British University terms and language

BA: Short for Bachelor of Arts. A type of undergraduate degree awarded for studying an arts related subject.
BEng: Short for Bachelor of Engineering. A type of undergraduate degree awarded specifically for studying engineering.
BMus: Short for Bachelor of Music. A type of undergraduate degree awarded specifically for studying music.
BSc: Short for Bachelor of Science. A type of undergraduate degree awarded for studying a science related subject.
Bursaries: A bursary is an amount of money given to a student to help with the cost of their course. Similar to a scholarship.
BVC: Short for Bar Vocational Course. This is the vocational stage of training to become a barrister. At the end of this course the student will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
CPE: Short for Common Professional Examination. This is a postgraduate law course that can be taken by non-law graduates who want to become a solicitor or barrister also called Graduate Diploma in Law.
Degree: This is a qualification offered by universities.
DPsych: Short for Doctorate in Health Psychology. This is a three year higher postgraduate degree awarded for studying in the field of health psychology.
Foundation course: This is a preparatory course which allows students who do not have the required entry qualifications to study for a year and then enter in to the first year of some undergraduate courses. It can also be called a foundation programme or a foundation year. This is different from a foundation degree.
Foundation degree: This is a two year work-related qualification which focuses on practical knowledge and skills and includes work experience in a particular industry. This is different from a foundation course.
Honours: Most undergraduate degrees at City are awarded "with honours" (often shortened to "Hons"). But some students may be able to take a less demanding course that leads to an Ordinary degree instead of an Honours degree.
IELTS: Short for International English Language Testing System. A test to measure your English language ability.
LLB: Short for Bachelor of Laws. A type of undergraduate degree awarded specifically for studying law.
LPC: Short for Legal Practice Course. This is the vocational stage of training to become a solicitor. At the end of this course the student will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
LLM: Short for Master of Laws. A type of postgraduate degree awarded specifically for studying law.
MA: Short for Master of Arts. A type of postgraduate degree awarded for studying an arts related subject.
MBA: Short for Master of Business Administration. A type of postgraduate degree awarded specifically for studying business administration.
MEB: Short for Master of European Business. A type of postgraduate business degree which includes time spent studying at a partner institution in another European country.
MEng: Short for Master of Engineering. A type of extended undergraduate degree awarded specifically for studying engineering over four or five years.
MMath: Short for Master of Mathematics. A type of extended undergraduate degree awarded for studying in the field of mathematics over four or five years.
MSc: Short for Master of Science. A type of postgraduate degree awarded for studying a science related subject.
Postgraduate: Education taken after gaining a first degree, often called a masters degree.
Postgraduate Certificate: This is a postgraduate qualification that is less in depth than a postgraduate diploma or Master's degree.
Postgraduate Diploma: This is a postgraduate qualification that is more in depth than a postgraduate certificate but less in depth than a Master's degree.
Sandwich course/professional placement: This is a degree where the student spends a period of time (often a year) working in a relevant industry/profession as part of their course.
TOEFL: Short for Test of English as a Foreign Language. A test to measure your English language ability.
UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. This organisation handles all applications for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Undergraduate: Education taken before gaining a first degree, often called a bachelors degree.