Your A-Z Guide to Post-Secondary Terminology

It’s hectic enough to try to meet application deadlines for post-secondary without having to figure out the meanings of terms and words you don’t know. Fortunately, that can easily be avoided. Here’s a glossary of some of the most commonly used jargon you’ll find on university websites and application forms.

Academic Probation

This is a time period when students with low marks are given a second chance to pull up their grades. After this period, if no results are produced, the student will most likely be expelled from the school.

Accredited Schools

Accredited schools are regulated by the government to ensure they adhere to certain standards.

Alumni

A graduate or a former student of the school.

Conditional Acceptance

Conditional acceptance may vary depending on the program you’ve applied for. A common example is a requirement of a certain grade average in order to be accepted into that university. In more specialized majors, along with maintaining a certain grade average, you also need to maintain a certain percentage for pre-requisite courses in grade 12, such as Physics 12 for acceptance into the Engineering department.

Cooperative Education (Co-Op)

This type of education combines classroom study with practical work experience in the field.

Credit

Recognition by a school that a course has been completed.

Dean

The administrator in charge of a certain department.

Deferred Admission

Deferred admission postpones enrollment by a term or a year. This is often requested by students who wish to take a gap year (a year off school to travel or work).

Distance Education

A method of learning where education does not take place physically, such as on campus. A common example of this is online education.

Dormitory Residences vs. Apartment-Style Residences vs. Shared Facilities Housing

Dormitories are residential buildings found on university campus. They come in single or double rooms, with meal plans. Apartment-style residences and shared housing are usually located off-campus, and often contain three or four bedrooms.

Double Major

A double major program (also called joint major) allows students to earn two degrees simultaneously.

Early Decision

Early decisions are for students who are certain where they want to go for university. They are eligible to submit their applications earlier. The deadline ranges from November to January. If accepted, students are expected to enroll with the university.

Faculty

Refers to the academic staff of the university. The word can also refer to a department, for example, Faculty of Arts.

Financial Aid

Refers to funding that helps students pay post-secondary expenses. Financial aid can include scholarships, bursaries and student loans.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

This is your grade average from all the courses you took in a given time period.

Honours Degree

An honours degree requires a higher academic standard than a regular degree.

Ombudsperson

The ombudsperson ensures that students’ rights are protected. They provide confidential advice and assistance to students.

Pre-requisite

Many higher-level courses require pre-requisites. These are courses you need to have completed before taking more advanced ones.

Registrar

He or she is responsible for maintaining all the official documents, such as records of enrolment and academic standing in a post-secondary institution.

“Res” (Residence)

A place on campus in which students reside.

Syllabus

A list of courses you need to take for a certain program or a list of requirements you need to complete a certain course.

Teacher’s Assistant (TA)

Teacher’s Assistants help professors with instructional duties. They are often graduate students and teach tutorials to discuss the professors’ lectures in a smaller group setting.

Transcript

A complete list of courses you’ve taken and the grades you’ve received in each.

Transfer Program

A two-year program offered by colleges in which students would transfer to a four-year university program after completion.

Scholarship versus Bursary

Many students don’t realize the subtle difference between a scholarship and a bursary. A scholarship is a grant of money used to pay post-secondary tuition that is awarded to students on the basis of academic achievement. A bursary is granted to students who provide evidence of financial need.

Undeclared Major

When a student is uncertain of what area of study they’d like to pursue, they may enter university with an undeclared major. While it gives the chance for students to get a feel of what they’re really interested in, the downside to this is that it can take a while longer to finish your degree.

Hopefully this list helps clear up some of those confusing terms you come across when you’re surfing the web, going through the websites of various universities. Happy hunting to all applicants, and good luck in your future endeavours!