What is higher education?

A member of university staff who is an expert in their area of study. They teach students and/or carry out research (also known as a lecturer).

When you start at Leeds you will be allocated an Academic Personal Tutor who will be able to:

• Assist you in reviewing your academic progress, helping you to develop independent learning skills

• Encourage you to reflect on your learning, both within and beyond the formal curriculum, and to consider how it contributes to your future development and career

• Support your personal and professional development providing initial advice and signposting to careers guidance, co-curricular opportunities and other services

• Listen. Adjusting to University life can be challenging. There may be times when you would like support in relation to circumstances impacting on your studies. If you are feeling stressed or anxious you can turn to your Academic Personal Tutor, they will be able to help you find other services in the Faculty and wider University as appropriate.

The buildings and grounds (libraries, lecture theatres, accommodation and labs) where a university is based.

Activities and social groups run by students who share the same interests. These can be anything from football to chess, photography to martial arts.

The amount of time you spend being taught by teaching staff whilst studying a course.

Contextual admissions or contextual offer means universities will consider additional information about an applicant's background and personal circumstances alongside their academic grades.  We understand that financial disadvantage and school performance can impact on a student's achievement and access to opportunities before applying to university.  We therefore look at a range of information to help us identify students with the greatest potential to succeed at university.  The University of Leeds has a contextual admissions scheme called Access to Leeds which offers students, who are eligible, the chance to study an undergraduate degree with lower entry requirements than listed on our course pages.

Each module is worth a certain number of credits, which are put towards the total number of credits you would need to study to complete a level. 

Departments are the name for groupings of degree programmes by discipline. 

For example, in the school of biological sciences they have three departments: 

• Biology 

• Biomedical Sciences 

• Molecular and Cellular Biology 

The qualification you receive after successfully finishing your university course.

If you are studying for an undergraduate degree programme you will be required to take some modules as an essential requirement of your degree, and you may also have a choice of options. 

In addition, you can choose some modules, known as Discovery Modules, from a very broad range of subjects across the University that are of more general interest. 

The required grades or qualifications you need to gain entrance to a particular degree programme at a university.

This the applicant’s first or preferred choice for higher education and is listed on the UCAS form. 

A foundation year is the first year of an extended degree. It’s an extra year of study at the start of an undergraduate course which will help you to develop the study skills you need to succeed on your chosen degree.

A student at university who is in their first year of study.  Often used in the first few weeks of term for welcome events like Freshers' Week.

A student who has successfully completed their degree.

The ceremony at the end of your course where you are awarded your degree certificate.

University accommodation for students.  There are many different types, from flats to large traditional houses.

This is the applicant’s second choice or ‘back up’ higher education institute. Is also a reserve if they do not meet their chosen courses entry requirements. 

A degree that combines two different courses into one. For example, an integrated masters degree is a degree that combines undergraduate and postgraduate study. These degrees tend to be longer as well. 

Where two subjects are studied at the same time as university. The time between each course is usually split equally between the two courses however you can also have ‘major’ and ‘minor’ degrees where students will spend more time/focus on one courses as opposed to the other. 

A talk about a particular topic, usually to a big group of students. These take place in a large classroom called a lecture theatre.

A member of university staff who teaches students (also known as an academic).

This refers to the level of study of the module or programme, starting at level 0 for foundation and preparatory programmes and ranging up to level 3 for the highest undergraduate level. 

For full-time students, each level is roughly the same as one year. For part-time students, each level may take two years. 

A sum of money given to support a student's education.  Some financial support needs to be repaid (loans), some does not (grants and scholarships).

Money that you receive from the government which is used to pay for living costs such as rent and bills. The amount that you receive is dependant on your family’s income and is paid back once you earn a certain amount.

Minerva is the University of Leeds’ virtual learning environment. It gives you easy access to all your learning resources and links to essential services such as your email, timetable and much more. 

Programmes are usually divided into units of study known as modules. Each module will cover a particular theme or topic. 

Each programme consists of several modules focusing on different aspects of the programme. You take a set number of modules each year to build up to your final qualification. 

A student who goes on to study a course after completing their degree.  Postgraduate qualifications include master's degrees, PhDs and postgraduate diplomas.

Refers to any teaching and learning activity which involves the student observing or handling the objects and materials they are studying.

A practical is a hands-on activity or exercise where you apply what you have learned in a real-world or simulated setting.

Practicals help you understand how to use theories and concepts in actual situations.

Your "programme" is the University's name for the course you are studying. 

Your programme title usually begins with the degree type followed by the programme title - for example: BA Business Management or MSc Economics. 

A brochure which gives the details of courses, activities and student life at a university or college.

Whether you’re a new or returning student you will need to complete student registration at the start of each academic year. 

Registration helps us check information such as your course, how you will pay your tuition fees, the legal documents you need and your identity. 

A block of teaching time of approximately 12-15 weeks.  The university year is made up of 2 semesters. Usually semester 1 runs October - February and semester 2, February - June.

Small group sessions, led by an academic, which give students the opportunity to discuss topics in depth.

A group of people who work to improve the experience of students.  The Students' Union is also a building on campus which accommodates student services, shops, cafes and communal meeting areas.

Although the academic year is broken into terms as at school, most teaching takes place over longer time periods referred to as semesters. 

These run from September through to January, and February through to June. Some programmes also have summer schools or courses. 

All of our students have their own personal timetable which can be accessed through Minerva or the UniLeeds app. 

Tuition fees are the cost of the course you study at university. This is most often paid by the government directly to the university as part of a student loan.

A tutorial is an academic meeting where a small group meets to discuss their work and general course issues with each other and their tutor. 

Tutorials can also be on an individual basis with a student discussing their work with a tutor. 

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to university.

A student studying for their first degree who has not yet finished their course.

A workshop is a session where a small group of people come together to learn about a specific topic through interactive activities, discussions, and exercises. 

Workshops are designed to be more engaging and "hands-on" than a regular lecture.