“By creating we think, by living we learn” Patrick Geddes
Like any institution, the University of Dundee has its own set of acronyms and jargon. We've tried to explain as much as we can here, but if you find a phrase, word or acronym elsewhere on our website which we haven't explained, let us know.
Academic Achievement Teaching Unit – operates within the Division of Academic Affairs to provide students with development of academic (study) skills. Visit their website
Admissions – Admissions and Student Recruitment process all UCAS applications for the UK, European and International students to all full-time Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught degree programmes. Visit their website
Advance@Dundee – Developing academic skills programme. Visit their website
Advanced Entry – opportunity to enter degree programmes into Levels 2 or 3 with the appropriate academic qualifications and credits. Visit their website
Advisor of Studies – the academic you'll meet before you matriculate to discuss the options you may have to choose within your own degree programme
Alumni – students who have graduated from the University of Dundee. Visit their website
BA – Bachelor of Arts - undergraduate degree
BDes Bachelor of Design – undergraduate degree
BEd – Bachelor of Education - undergraduate degree
BPS – British Psychological Society, the professional body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. Visit their website
BSc – Bachelor of Science - undergraduate degree
Cantina – Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design canteen
Chancellor – Lord Naren Patel KT F Med Sci FRSE currently holds this honorary post as titular head of the University of Dundee. Visit his website
Chaplaincy – ministering to all faiths and none - visit their website
Clearing – UCAS process places student on courses, with vacancies, after Higher and A Level examination results or no offers received from other courses. Visit their website
Co-requisite – refers to courses/modules to be taken together
Confirmation – UCAS process by which the University confirms the offer made earlier once we receive notification of your examination results
College - The University of Dundee is made up of four Colleges headed by a Vice-Principal:
Confirmation – UCAS process by which the University confirms the offer made earlier once we receive notification of your examination results
Co-requisite – refers to courses/modules to be taken together
Core Module – compulsory module which must be studied and passed to be entitled for an award or progression to next level of study
Conditional Offer (C/O) - an offer of admission subject to passing examinations to be taken after submitting your UCAS application.
Count Me In - a refresher maths programme that provides one-to-one tuition if you find that you're maths or number skills are a bit rusty. Provided by the Academic Achievement Teaching Team. Visit their website
Credits - Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF):
Dalhousie Building – main teaching block located on the Old Hawkhill on the city campus
DCA – Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre – art exhibitions, cinema, café bar, shopping. Visit their website
Deadlines – dates set for submission of essays, practical assignments or reports
Dean – Heads of Academic Schools at the University of Dundee are called Deans
Demonstrator - the person, often a postgraduate student, who will monitor your participation in laboratory practicals; also the person who will mark your lab reports in some disciplines
Deferred Entry – an applicant who postpones starting until next academic year having already gained any qualifications/grades required
Degree pathways – formal study route to accumulate core modules necessary for a degree award
Disability Services – dedicated to the support and empowerment of disabled students. Visit their website
Discover Learning – an online programme that offers a route into University if you need to enhance your grades for entry. Visit their websiteDissertation – a report or essay from 5K to 40K words describing the results of original study and research
DoJ – Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Visit their website
DUAL Summer School entry to university for students without formal qualifications. Visit their website
DUBS – Dundee University Brass Society – play Stanley to Gershwin . Visit their website
DUSA – Dundee University Students Association. Visit their website
ELIR – Enhancement-led Institutional Review administered by QAA to maintain delivery of university courses
Enquiry Centre – 2 Airlie Place, drop in centre for Admissions and Student Recruitment. Visit their website
Enterprise Gym – was created to enable undergraduate students to develop enterprise and entrepreneurial skills, and self-reliance with support from the local business community. Visit their website
Erasmus – study abroad scheme allows you to study part of your degree in another University in Europe. Visit their website
Fees – tuition fees for Scottish domicile students in general are paid by the Scottish Government see website for conditions
For non-Scottish students see your Local Education Authority in England and Wales or Library Boards in NI
FHEC – Further and Higher Education College
Freshers' Week – Welcome Week – Orientation Week – Week 0 – the week in which you meet your Advisor of Studies, Matriculate and learn about the campus and all that it has to offer in terms of academic, sport and social activities and facilities that contribute to your experience as you begin your studies towards your degree. Visit their website
FTE – Full-time equivalent – one of the ways of counting student/ staff numbersGateway to Learning - a series of open workshops offered in Welcome Week to introduce new students to the academic skills needed for university. Friendly, informal and confidence-building. Provided by the Academic Achievement Teaching Team. Visit their website
GTTR – Graduate Teacher Training Registry, part of UCAS that processes postgraduate and professional teacher training courses. Visit their website
HEI – Higher Education Institute, that is, a University with undergraduate and postgraduate degree level teaching and research
Humanities – in the broadest sense, the humanities subjects study and interpret culture – specifically through Literature, History, Philosophy, Politics or more contemporarily – Film Studies, American Studies, Transatlantic Studies and European Studies. Visit the University of Dundee School of Humanties website.
ICS – Information and Communication Services – provide a wide range of information and technology services for students from induction to "forgotten your password?" Visit their website
ILA - Individual Learning Account – helps to pay for a range of approved courses. Visit their website
IO – International Office – processes all enquiries and applications from international and EU students. Visit their website
ISE – Institute of Sports and Exercise – located on the main campus Old Hawkhill. Visit their website
ISS – International Student Support – offers one to one confidential advice and guidance to international students and their families on a wide range of issues. Visit their website
IT Awareness - look out for the activities related to ensuring that you have built up your IT Awareness record on the University system. You will have begun to do this before you arrive (through your activities on the My Dundee Applicants' Site) and you'll need to activate your on campus record in order to gain full access to the functions available to you once you are a fully matriculated student in Dundee. More information when you sign on in an IT suite in Welcome Week. Visit the IT Awareness website.
Java on-line – for advanced entry to a Computing-related degree this on-line module gives you a head start. Visit their website
Jobshop – on-line vacancy database lists part-time, vacation, graduate, work experience and legal vacancies. Visit their website
Joot Theatre Company – Mediaeval Drama Group. Visit their website
Key Facts – about the University: we were established in 1881 as a College of the University of St Andrews, and received our own Royal Charter in 1967. For more facts, visit the University website
LEA – Local Education Authority – for funding applications from students resident in England and Wales applying to the University of Dundee
Level 1/2/3/4 relates to year of study i.e. Level 1= first year (see Credits above)
Library and Learning Centre - the part of the University of Dundee which oversees E-Learning. Visit their website
Library Boards – funding information for students applying from Northern Ireland
LLB – Bachelor of Law - undergraduate degree
LLM – Master of Law - postgraduate degree
MA – Master of Arts - undergraduate degree
Map – the campus map was updated in 2009 and the numbering of the buildings has been changed
Matriculation – the process of registering as a student of the University of Dundee
Mature student – applicant to university over the age of 21 years, returning to study from different environments
MEng – Master of Engineering – undergraduate degree
Modules – independent and self-contained units of study related to the degree programme and each module is credit rated generally with 20 Scotcat points with six modules (120 credits) to be gained at each of the Levels 1 and 2. Each module will comprise of lectures, tutorials and/or workshops, depending on the subject.
MPhil – Master of Philosophy - postgraduate degree
MSc – Master of Science – postgraduate degree
MSci – Master of Science – undergraduate degree
My Dundee – individual student portal available on the University web site
My PDP – accessed via My Dundee – create your portfolio to record your skills, motivations, qualities, learning style, focus on targets, priorities, help construct your CV
Nursery – the University Nursery has 40 places available for the children of students and staff, aged 2 and upwards. It is open between 08.15-17.15 on weekdays. Visit their website
On Campus – defines students who attend the university in person to study
OPSOC – student operatic society – from Gilbert and Sullivan to Grease
Optional – refers to subject modules from a range which are free choice rather than compulsory
P@SS – Personal Academic Student Skills – a credit module being where students learn, through a whole range of activities and challenges, how to become successful in their studies as undergraduates.Visit their website
Peer Connections – student volunteers provide a welcoming, buddying, befriending and mentoring support to students. Visit their website
Personal Statement – crucial part of your UCAS application form gives you the opportunity to inform the Admissions Tutors why you are interested in their course, what academic skills you possess, any work experience you have and those other interests in your social or sporting life.
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy - postgraduate degree
Placement Base – latest job vacancies, school placements or volunteering information and much more. Visit their website
Plagiarism – passing off some else's writing or ideas as your own
PLUS@Dundee - Personal Learning for University Success at Dundee – a programme designed to welcome you on your arrival with a host of activities over Welcome Week and to support your learning development – whether as an undergraduate or a postgraduate – over your first year in the University of Dundee. Visit their website
Postgraduate – taught or research course requiring a first degree as a condition of entry. Visit the Postgraduate website
PREP–Preparatory Resit Exam Programme – a 2-week revision programme for students who have been unsuccessful in examinations over the academic year. Visit their website.
Pre-requisites – refers to subject module choice dependent on minimum credits accumulated and/or subjects already studied
Principal and Vice-Chancellor – the person who has overall management of the University of Dundee, currently Professor Peter Downes, FRSE, OBE. Visit his website
Principles of Postgraduateness – a Welcome Week course that helps new postgraduate students to examine aspects relating to studying for a higher degree. Visit their website
Programme – degree subject that a student studies
QAA – Quality Assurance Agency – central government department to monitor and ensure universities meet the required standards in academic teaching quality. Visit their website
RAE – Research Assessment Exercise. Visit their website
Rector – the holder of this honorary office is elected by students and is frequently a prominent public figure. The current Rector is Dundee-born Hollywood and Shakespearian actor Brian Cox, CBE. Visit his website
Registry - the University of Dundee department responsible for processing the following student information: matriculation, tuition fees invoicing, council tax exemptions & issues student ID cards
Residences – who manage University of Dundee Student accommodation. Visit their website
Royal Literary Fund - a charity for writers that has been in existence since the 18th century and which funds two Writing Fellows in the University who can help you with developing your writing through two programmes – Just Write (postgraduate students and staff ) and Write Right (undergraduate students). Visit their website
SAAS – Student Awards Agency for Scotland – for fees and funding enquiries apply here if you are resident in Scotland. Visit their website
Schools – same as a subject department – grouped together under one of the four Colleges see College above
Semester – two semesters each academic year beginning in September and January. Visit the semester dates webpage
SLC – Student Loans Company. Visit their website
Social Sciences – in its broadest sense, it is the study of society and the manner in which people behave and the impact they have on the world around us through Geography, Economics, Planning and Psychology. Visit the School of Environmental and Social Sciences and School of Psychology websites
Sports Union – society of all sports clubs. Visit their website
Study Skills– learning at University involves developing a whole range of new skills and tuition is provided by the Academic Achievement and Skills Team. Visit their website
Tariff – UCAS points score for entry to each course (not used by this university whose offers are based on grades or passes)
TQA – Teaching Quality Assessment
TRACK – on-line UCAS system to monitor the progress of your application. Visit their website
Traditional University – refers to those Universities established in the 19th Century, for example the University of Dundee
Tutorial – small group of students and their tutor meet to discuss their work and course issues
UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Visit their website
UCAS Extra – opportunities for applicants who have used-up all of their original choices and are holding no offers to make further applications. Visit their website
Undergraduate – student studying for a first degree
Union – Dundee University Student Association. Visit their website
Unconditional offer (U/O) – an offer of admission on the basis of examinations taken successfully before submitting your UCAS application. No further passes are needed in any examination still to be taken (e.g. in S6 in Scotland).
VLE – Virtual Learning Environment – see My Dundee above
Wi-fi– allows students to access the Internet from their PC or MAC laptop on the main campus and on the Ninewells campus. Visit the website
Withdrawal – when a student decides to permanently leave their course
Writing by Appointment – one-to-one tutorials to help students develop their writing skills and improve their grades. Provided by the Academic Achievement Teaching Team. Visit their website
X-ray crystallography – provides an understanding of complex cellular processes in Biochemistry (we couldn't find anything else for 'X')
Yoga - a popular way to relax, check the classes at ISE above
Zoology – our D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum houses many fascinating species from around the world. Visit their website
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