Studying in Europe

makes your life different

Click for important

Test-Taking Tips

HOME || ABOUT US || SERVICES || CONTACT US

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN EDUCATION

Academic counseling/advising:
Students who wish to study in foreign universities and colleges are typically required to speak one on one with an academic counselor or advisor on a regular basis. Because student select their own course, the advisor helps them to plan their academic calendars, and ensures that they are talking the classes they need to guarantee.

Accreditation:
The certification that a school or program meets a prescribed academic standard. It is very important to know that a college or university is accredited.

Advanced Placement Program^® (AP^®):
Some universities/colleges give credit for class work done in high school or to students who prove via examination that they have achieved university-level proficiency in a certain subject.

Assessment:
A collecting and bringing together of information about a student's learning needs, which may include social, psychological, and educational evaluations used to determine assignment to special programs or services; a process using observation, testing, and test analysis to determine an individual’s strengths and weaknesses to plan his or her educational services.

Campus:
The location of a university, college or school's main buildings. European campuses are known for their ample size, architecture, landscaping, and numerous student locales.

Coeducation:
An educational environment that includes students of both sexes (male & female).

Cooperative education:
A program in which students spend a portion of their time in a professional environment outside of the university. The duration of a bachelor's program is usually five years. This system is more popular in U.S. than Europe.

Credits:
Universities and colleges typically assign all courses a certain number of credits. Often the number of credits are equivalent to the numbers of hours spent in class each week.

Degrees:
Awarded by universities and colleges upon completion of a course of study.

- Associate's degree: earned upon completion of a degree program at a 2-year college.

- Bachelor's degree: earned upon completion often undergraduate program, typically four years, at a college.

- Master's & Doctorate degree: earned upon completion of a graduate degree program.

Diploma:

A certificate of recognition awarded by universities and colleges upon completion of a course of study.

Distance learning:

Some universities/colleges offer courses which students can take off-campus, via variety of means, such as: internet, videotapes or cable television.

Dormitory:

Also called 'dorms', are living facilities designed to house students. A cafeteria is often located in the same building.

Eligible:

Able to qualify

ERASMUS (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) program:

Is a European students exchange program to encourage and support academic mobility of higher education students and teachers within the EU (European Union) and EEA (European Economic Area). It's main aims are to improve the quality of education & to increase the volume of students and teaching staffs' mobility throughout Europe; to increase the multilateral cooperation between the higher education institutions & enterprises in Europe.

ESL:

English as a second language, teaching English to people who speak other languages.

Expulsion:

Punishment which prohibits a student from attending school, usually for the remainder of the school year.

Faculty:

The professors, teachers and lecturers of a university/college.

Freshman:

First-year students at high schools, universities and colleges.

GPA (Grade Point Average):

A numerical measure of academic achievement based upon a computation figured from the number of credits and grade points earned per course.

Graduate school:

A school in a university offering study leading to degrees beyond the bachelor's degree.

Home-stay:

A living arrangement that involves staying with a local family.

Honors college/class:

Some universities have an entire college or program dedicated to academically accomplished students, who wish to take more challenging an/or accelerated courses.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System):

Has two versions 'Academic version' and 'General training' version. A certification from the academic version is required by the universities and colleges for enrolment & admission.

Internship/intern:

An arrangement by which a student works in a firm/company for a limited period of time.

Liberal arts:

The study of humanities, arts and literature, language, and natural and physical sciences. Many European universities and colleges offer an ample liberal arts program. Some schools are dedicated solely to the liberal arts.

Limited English proficiency:

Refers to non-English speaking students.

Major:

A college student's field of study. European students typically declare their major at the end of their second (sophomore year).

Policy/policies:

Rules and regulations; as related to early intervention and special education programs, the rules that a state or local school system has for providing services for and educating its students.

Public agency:

An agency, office, or organization that is supported by public funds and serves the community at large.

Room and board:

The living facilities and food.

School council:

A decision-making body at each school/college/university with legal authority to set school policy.

School, college & university:

The word 'school' describes any place where people learn. You can call a college a 'school'. You can call even a university a 'school'. You can use the word 'school' for any language institute, graduate program, or secondary (high) school.

College or university follows after high school or secondary school. A college in Europe is not a high school or secondary school. College and university program begin in the thirteenth year of school, when a student is 17 or 18 years old or older. A two-year college offers an Associate's Degree. A four-year college or university offers a Bachelor's Degree. Programs that offer these degrees are called 'undergraduate' schools.

A 'university' is a group of schools for studies after secondary school. At least one of these schools is a college where students receive a Bachelor's Degree. The other schools in a university are 'graduate' (also known as 'postgraduate') schools where students receive advanced degrees. Therefore, a university offers both the Bachelor's Degree and graduate degrees such as Master's (M.A.) and Doctorate (Ph.D.).

You can earn a Bachelor's Degree at either a college or a university. However, students in Europe prefer to use the word 'university' rather than the word 'college' when they talk about the four-year undergraduate program and the Bachelor's Degree. They say 'going to university' and 'a university degree' when they talk about undergraduate programs at either a college or a university.

Most 'colleges' are separate schools. They are not located in a university. Some colleges are part of a university and are located on the university campus. (The 'campus' is the school buildings and surrounding area.) A few colleges offer graduate programs in selected subjects. Usually, however, it is universities that offer graduate programs. So, Europeans use the word 'university' and not 'college' when they talk about graduate study.

Suspension:

Punishment which prohibits a student from attending school for a set period of time.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):

Evaluates an ability of an individual to use and understand English as an academic language. It is an admission requirement for non-native English speakers at many English speaking colleges and universities.

Transcript:

An official copy of a student's educational record.

Tuition:

The cost of attending a university or college. Room and board costs are separate. Tuition payments are typically required each quarter or semester and may depend on the number of credits for which you are enrolled as well as your status as a state resident or local citizen.

Undergraduate:

A student at a college or university who has not yet received a bachelor's degree.

Vocational college:

An institution dedicated to teaching the skills necessary for a particular line of work, such as electronics.

Work-study:

Many students work part-time on campus and earn money toward their tuition costs. Do not be surprised to see many of your classmates working in campus facilities!

© YETI Service Ltd. All rights reserved