University Admission and Application Glossary of Terms
General Terms
Acceptance Rate: The percentage of applicants who are offered admission to a university.
ACT (American College Testing): A standardized test used for college admissions in the United States.
Admission Officer: A university staff member who assists students through the admission process.
Admission Rate: The percentage of applicants who are offered admission to a college or university.
Admission Requirements: The criteria that must be met for an applicant to be considered for admission.
Admitted Student: A student who has been offered a place at a university.
Application Deadline: The final date by which a college application must be submitted.
Application Fee: A fee charged by universities to process an application.
Application Form: The form used by students to apply for admission to a university.
Associate Degree: A two-year undergraduate degree.
Bachelor’s Degree: A four-year undergraduate degree.
Binding Decision: A type of admission decision where the student commits to attending if accepted (e.g., Early Decision).
Bursary: A financial award based on need, which does not need to be repaid.
Candidate Reply Date: The deadline by which admitted students must accept or decline their offer of admission.
Common Application: A standardized undergraduate college application form used by many colleges and universities in the U.S.
Conditional Offer: An offer of admission that is dependent on the student meeting certain conditions, such as achieving specific grades.
Deferred Admission: When a student’s application is reviewed and postponed to a later date.
Deferred Enrollment: When an admitted student delays their enrollment to a later term.
Early Action (EA): A non-binding application process where students receive a decision earlier than the regular decision deadline.
Early Decision (ED): A binding application process where students commit to attending the school if accepted.
Enrolled Student: A student who has accepted an offer of admission and registered for classes.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): A form used by U.S. students to apply for financial aid.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): A standardized test for admission to business school graduate programs.
GPA (Grade Point Average): A measure of a student’s academic performance, typically on a 4.0 scale.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations): A standardized test for admission to various graduate programs.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System): A standardized test for English language proficiency.
International Student: A student who applies for admission to a university outside their home country.
Letters of Recommendation: Letters written by teachers or other professionals endorsing a student’s application.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test): A standardized test for admission to law schools.
Matriculation: The process of enrolling and being officially recognized as a student at a university.
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test): A standardized test for admission to medical schools.
Merit-Based Scholarship: A financial award based on a student’s academic or other achievements.
Need-Based Financial Aid: Financial aid given based on a student’s financial need.
Need-Blind Admission: Admission decisions made without considering the applicant’s financial situation.
Non-Binding Decision: An admission decision that allows the student to choose whether or not to attend if accepted (e.g., Early Action).
Personal Statement: An essay submitted as part of a college or university application where students explain why they are applying and why they are suited to the course.
Priority Application: An application submitted by an earlier deadline to receive an admission decision sooner.
Rejection: Notification that an applicant has not been offered admission.
Regular Decision: The standard application process with a set deadline and notification date.
Rolling Admission: An admission process where colleges review applications as they are submitted and make decisions throughout the admission cycle.
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): A standardized test used for college admissions in the United States.
Student Loan: Money borrowed to pay for education, which must be repaid with interest.
Supplementary Application: Additional application materials required by some programs or universities.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): A standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers.
Transcript: An official record of a student’s academic performance and coursework.
Undergraduate Degree: A degree earned after completing secondary school, typically lasting three to four years.
Waitlist: A list of applicants who may be offered admission if space becomes available.
Work-Study Program: A program that allows students to work part-time while attending school to help cover education expenses.
Specific Country Terms
United States
AP (Advanced Placement): College-level courses and exams that high school students can take to earn college credit.
Ivy League: A group of eight private, prestigious colleges in the northeastern United States.
Junior College: A two-year post-secondary school offering associate degrees and certificates.
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association): The organization that regulates student athletes from over 1,200 North American institutions and conferences.
Public University: A university primarily funded by a state government.
Private University: A university funded primarily through private sources and tuition fees.
United Kingdom
A-Levels (Advanced Levels): Qualifications offered by secondary schools and colleges in the UK for students typically aged 16-19.
BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council): Vocational qualifications.
Clearing: A process for matching unplaced students with universities that have available spots.
Firm Choice: The first-choice university in the UCAS application process.
Insurance Choice: The backup choice university in the UCAS application process.
Oxbridge: A term referring to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Personal Statement: An essay submitted as part of the UCAS application where students explain why they are applying and why they are suited to the course.
Russell Group: An association of 24 public research universities in the UK.
Tariff Points: Points used by UCAS to standardize qualifications for university entry.
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service): The organization responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK.
Unconditional Offer: An offer made by a university to a student that is not dependent on the student achieving specific grades.
Canada
OUAC (Ontario Universities’ Application Centre): A centralized application service for students applying to universities in Ontario.
French Baccalauréat: An academic qualification which French and international students can earn for admission to Canadian universities.
College: In Canada, often refers to institutions that offer diplomas and certificates, not to be confused with universities that offer degrees.
Australia
ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank): A ranking used to assess the academic achievement of students for university admission.
HSC (Higher School Certificate): A credential awarded to students who have completed their secondary education in New South Wales.
TAFE (Technical and Further Education): Institutions offering vocational education and training.
Undergraduate: A student pursuing their first degree, typically a bachelor’s degree.
Germany
Abitur: The qualification obtained by students in Germany after completing their secondary education, allowing them to attend university.
Numerus Clausus (NC): A system of limiting access to university courses based on grade point averages.
Studienkolleg: A preparatory course for international students who need additional qualifications to enter a German university.
Zulassungsbescheid: An official letter of admission from a German university.
France
Baccalauréat (Bac): The academic qualification French students take at the end of secondary school, necessary for university admission.
CPGE (Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles): Preparatory classes for entrance to the Grandes Écoles.
Grandes Écoles: Prestigious higher education institutions in France, separate from the main public university system.
Licence: An undergraduate degree in France, typically lasting three years.
India
Cut-Off Marks: The minimum marks required for admission to a particular program.
JEE (Joint Entrance Examination): An engineering entrance assessment conducted for admission to various engineering colleges in India.
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test): An entrance examination for students who wish to study undergraduate medical courses in India.
Reservation System: A system that allocates a certain percentage of seats to different categories, such as SC/ST/OBC.
Japan
Center Test: A standardized test used by many Japanese universities as part of their admissions process.
EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students): An exam for international students wishing to study at Japanese universities.
Gakushi: An undergraduate degree in Japan, typically lasting four years.
National Center Test: A standardized test used for university admissions in Japan.
Netherlands
DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs): The Dutch government organization responsible for student loans, grants, and the Studielink application system.
HBO (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs): Higher professional education, typically offered by universities of applied sciences, focused on practical and professional training.
Nuffic (Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education): An organization that promotes international education and offers scholarships to international students.
Numerus Fixus: A system used to limit the number of students admitted to certain programs with high demand.
Research University: A university offering research-oriented programs, typically with a strong focus on academic research and theory.
Studielink: The online application and enrollment system for Dutch higher education institutions.
University of Applied Sciences: An institution offering practical and professional education, often with a focus on applied research.
University College: An institution offering liberal arts and sciences programs, typically with a strong emphasis on small-scale, interdisciplinary education.
VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs): Pre-university education, a secondary education track preparing students for university study.