University jargon buster for parents and carers

Academic schools

At NTU we have eight academic schools which encompass our departments and subject areas. These are:

• Nottingham Business School
• Nottingham Law School
• Nottingham School of Art & Design
• School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
• School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
• School of Social Sciences
• School of Science and Technology

Find out more about our academic schools here.

Admissions

The Admissions team process applications and make course offers.

Alumni

A student who has graduated becomes an alumni of the university they studied at. Check out our alumni community for more information.

Applicant Portal

The Applicant Portal is where students apply and track their application.

Most UK undergraduates apply through UCAS. This portal is mainly for international applicants applying only to NTU, or for other course types like postgraduate, part-time, or apprenticeships.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) / Bachelor of Science (BSc) / Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)

This is the degree title the student will be working towards at undergraduate level.

Clearing

If your student doesn’t secure a place on a course, whether that’s because they decline their offers or don’t meet the grade requirement for them, Clearing will allow them to apply for courses that still have vacancies. Clearing gives students another opportunity to find a university place after receiving their results.

Conditional offer

This is an offer of a place on a course with conditions that need to be met to secure it. These are usually related to academic qualifications the applicant is taking and meeting certain grades. Most students receive a conditional offer. Your student will need to meet specific entry requirements before their place is confirmed.

Confirmation

Confirmation is when universities receive exam results and confirm whether students have met their offer conditions.

Contextual offers

Contextual offers are lower entry requirements for students who’ve faced barriers that may have affected their education.

They help universities recognise potential, not just grades.

DBS and FTP checks

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Fit to Practice (FTP) checks take place before enrolment on some courses including but not limited to teaching and social work. Your student will be emailed instructions on how to complete these checks.

Defer

If an applicant wishes to take a year out between applying for their course and starting on it, they can choose to defer.

Enrolment

This is when your student formally completes the administrative requirements to become a student at NTU. They need to enrol at the start of each academic year. Students complete enrolment before starting their course and gaining access to university systems and services.

Firm choice

If an applicant accepts an offer of a place on a course from a university as their first choice, this becomes their firm choice. This is the university they want to attend most if they receive an offer.

Foundation year

Foundation years are a stepping stone into university courses via a 'year zero', which provides academic support and builds the knowledge required to move onto the first year of the student's chosen course. A foundation year can help students gain the knowledge and skills needed before progressing to a full degree.

Further Education (FE)

Further Education. This refers to any course of study between secondary level and higher education, such as A-levels and college courses.

Grant

A form of financial aid that does not need to be paid back. There are government grants available for students who meet the right criteria.

Higher Education (HE)

This refers to any university-level course of study.

Home student

A home student is someone studying in their home country. Home student status can affect tuition fees and student finance eligibility.

Insurance choice

If an applicant accepts an offer of a place on a course from a university as their second choice, this becomes their insurance choice in case they don’t meet the conditions of their firm choice. This acts as a backup option if they do not meet the conditions of their firm choice.

Joint honours

A joint honours course enables a student to study two courses as one full course. This will usually mean studying half of the modules from both courses, offering a unique degree title that can stand out on a CV and provide a wider breadth of knowledge. Find out more about NTU's joint honours courses in Arts and Humanities subjects.

Loans

Students can apply for government-funded loans to help cover the cost of university.

• Maintenance Loan - helps with living costs like accommodation, travel and course materials.
• Tuition Fee Loan - covers course fees and is paid directly to the university.

Repayments start after your student finishes their course and is earning above a certain amount.

NTU ID

An NTU ID is a student's unique NTU student number. It is on the email we send when their place at NTU is confirmed and looks like this: N0123456. This will be needed to book NTU and UPP-managed halls.

Open day

Events that provide the opportunity to visit a university, tour its facilities and campuses, and find out more about studying there. Find out more about open days.

Personal statement

This is a statement needed alongside the university application explaining why the student is applying and why they would be a great candidate. It’s the chance for the applicant to sell themselves, so they should make it count. See our advice on writing a personal statement. This is an opportunity for your student to explain why they are suitable for their chosen course.

Postgraduate

Students can undertake postgraduate study after they have successfully completed an undergraduate bachelor’s degree, or if they have equivalent work experience. Postgraduate qualifications include Masters degrees, Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas, PhDs and professional qualifications.

UCAS

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This is the organisation that handles and processes nearly all university applications. You can find out more about UCAS and check the progress of an application once it has been submitted on their website.

UCAS Extra

UCAS Extra is a service that allows applicants to add another university choice if they have declined their offers from all five of their original choice or have not received an offer from them. Students can use UCAS Extra if they have used all five choices but are not holding any offers.

Unconditional offer

This is an offer of a place on a course with no conditions that need to be met. The place will be theirs if they wish to accept it. This means the university has already confirmed their place, regardless of future exam results.