Glossary of Terms

Academic Regulations
The regulations which govern all academic provision at the University.

APL
This is the Accreditation of Prior Learning and is the process used to assess and formally recognise learning which has taken place in the past. The APL process enables applicants to present prior learning in order to claim credit and, therefore, exemption from part of a course of study.

Appeal
An appeal is a request for reconsideration of a decision made by the University Assessment Boards. An appeal enables you (where there are grounds) to request that a decision about an assessment outcome is reconsidered.

Assessment
This is the means by which your learning is evaluated and an outcome received for a module you have studied. There are a number of ways you can be assessed, these include: examination, coursework, portfolio, presentation or viva.

Attendance
This can be either full-time or part-time and is related to the number of hours you study on a particular course. Most courses have a specific method of attendance associated with them. It is, however, possible to study on some full time courses as a part time student - you would then take the course over a longer period than those taking the course full time.

Clearances
These are the requirements you must fulfil in order to be admitted to a particular course. They may be a combination of previous qualifications, medical clearance, disclosure checks (DBS), references or previous experience. The Admissions team for your particular course will have provided information on these as part of your application and acceptance process. 

Compensation
Compensation refers to when a failed module mark is overlooked by a University Assessment Board; the failed mark is retained but the credit is given. There are specific criteria which must be met. 

Credit
This is the unit of value attributed to any particular module. Credits are combined to build the total required for specific awards. Credit can also be transferred internationally through the schemes such as ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation Scheme).

Data Protection
All information held about by you by the University whether in electronic or paper format is held in compliance and in accordance with this Act. More information can be found on our main website.

DBS
The Disclosure and Barring Service. This came into force on 1 December 2012 following the merger of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the ISA (Individual Safeguarding Authority). The primary role of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is to help employer or organisations make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups through its criminal record checking and barring functions. There are two levels of DBS check; enhanced and standard. 

Deferral - Course
It is only possible to defer your course during the first two weeks from the start date. This process suspends your engagement with the course for this academic year and returns you to being the status of an applicant for the next intake.

Diploma Supplement
A document which can be requested on completion of your course, providing information which allows your qualification and course content to be compared across international boundaries. View our Certificates and Transcripts page for information on the portability and content of diploma supplements.

Direct Entry
Joining an existing cohort of students at higher level or year of study. Using credit through APL allows this in place of completing modules ordinarily studied on the course itself. Any APL claim would have to be formally recognised and approved during the admissions process.

EC Outcomes
Please see Extenuating Circumstances.

Erasmus
Erasmus is the European Union's flagship educational exchange programme for Higher Education students, teachers and institutions.

Examination
This is a formal timed assessment. The main University exam periods are in January and May, with resit exams in August. 

Extenuating Circumstances
Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) is a phrase which is used to describe serious and exceptional factors outside your control which adversely affected performance during study. These factors may have prevented you from attending examinations or other timed assessments, or caused you to miss assessment submission dates. An EC claim can be submitted for considered by a panel with regard to affected module(s).

Extension of Registration
A mechanism by which you would formally apply to extend the period of your registration.

External Examiner
External examiners are employed by the University to verify the standards of the University’s awards. They ensure that the assessment process is sound, and is being fairly and consistently operated in line with the regulations.

Fitness to Practise
This is a requirement related to registration and employment with a number of professional bodies. Further information can be found here, or within our Student Code of Conduct and Adjudication Procedure.

Fitness to Study
This is a requirement related to registration and continuation of your course. Further details can be found here

Freedom of Information
Gives members of the public the right to request access to information, and places obligations on the University on how it must respond. More information can be found here.

GTC
The General Teaching Council for England ceased to exist from 01 April 2012 and was replaced by the Teaching Agency and subsequently the National College for Teaching and Leadership which was discontinued in 2018. It's functions have been absorbed by a new Teaching Regulation Agency within the Department of Education.

The General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) was replaced by the Education Workforce Council (EWC) in 2015. www.ewc.wales

Scotland (www.gtcs.org.uk) and Northern Ireland (www.gtcni.org.uk) have their own General Teaching Councils which are still in operation  

Harvard Referencing System
The referencing system used within the University of Cumbria. Please see this page for more information.

Health and Care Professions Council
The regulator set up to protect the public and keep a central register of those qualified and able to practise as health professionals within specified health professions. Further information is available at their website www.hpc-uk.org.

ICON
This is the name of your online student record. Please see our ICON webpage for further information about functionality and information.

Intercalation
To suspend your studies for a period of time. Please see Changes to your Course for further information.

Late Submission
Please see information under the Assignments section for further information on submission deadlines.

Level of Study
This relates to the level of study on the Burgess scale. It is a standard academic measure and indicator of courses across the UK’s academic programmes.

Malpractice
Malpractice is defined under the University’s regulations as any attempt by a student to gain an unfair advantage in assessment. Examples include cheating in examinations, colluding with other students in coursework, and plagiarism.  

Module
A module is one of the units of study which make up your course. Each module has specific amount of credit associated with it. Module credit is accumulated on successful completion of individual modules, to be presented for eligibility for validated awards.

Module - Core Module
A module which you must take as part of your course.

Module - Compulsory Module
A module which you must take as part of your course.

Module - Qualificatory Module
A module which you are required to complete and pass as an integral part of your course. These modules often have a pass or fail grading and are usually on courses which lead to registration with a professional body.

Module - Elective/Optional Module
An elective/optional module is one where there will be a number of modules available and you are able to choose which of these or which combinations of these you wish to study on your course. Not all courses have elective/optional elements.

Module Diet
The module diet is the combination of compulsory and elective/optional modules which are being studied within an academic year. You will either confirm (if you have no choice and are registered on a prescribed course) or select elective/optional choices available on your course. The module diet will display the relevant modules totalling the total amount of credit you are required to take in the current level of study.  

Module Confirmation Board (MCB)
These boards review the modules you have taken and the grades you have achieved and make recommendations about your progression to the University progression and Award Board (UPAB). The University has a two tier assessment process. At the first tier, module marks are presented at the Module Confirmation Board (MCB) for consideration. At the second tier, the University Progression and Award Board (UPAB) considers each individual student’s profile of marks. 

National College for Teaching and Leadership
This was formed on 01 April 2013 following the merger of the Teaching Agency (TA) and the National College for School Leadership. The National College for Teaching and Leadership was discontinued in 2018 - it's functions have been absorbed by a new Teaching Regulation Agency within the Department of Education.

NHS
National Health Service

NHS Grants Unit
The funding body for those registered on courses leading to professional health registration such as Radiography, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Nursing. 

NMC
Nursing and Midwifery Council – this is the professional registration body for those working and qualified within these professions within England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands. www.nmc-uk.org.

PAd - Programme Administration
The first point of contact on each campus or site for students for academic information regarding their course of study at the university. Find out more here.

Part-time deferred status
This is now known as Reassessment without Attendance status - please look under Reassessment.

PAT
Personal and Academic Tutor.

Plagiarism
This is a one of the types of malpractice.

Progression
Students need to achieve a certain amount of credit before they are permitted by the University Assessment Board to continue on to the next level of study.

QTS
Qualified Teacher Status. Those fully registered as being suitably qualified, having met the necessary criteria, to be employed as a teacher in the UK. 

Reassessment
Reassessment is offered when students have failed a module. This gives the chance to resubmit in order to pass and achieve the credit.

Reassessment without Attendance status
If they have reassessments above the amount permitted in the academic regulations, students may be classified as a Reassessment without Attendance status student by the University Assessment Board. Formal study is suspended for up to twelve months and students will be expected to undertake reassessment in the failed modules. Students will continue to have access to services, including library, IT and academic skills support. An Assessment Contract will be completed to agree requirements for attendance at taught sessions and tutorials and to document any actions the student is required to take.

Registration
The process by which the university collects your information at the start of the academic year and ensures that you are formally enrolled on your course of study. If you are receiving funding from SFE registration must be complete before the University can confirm your attendance to release funding. You are required to register on your course each academic year. If you are registered on more than one course you will need to register on each course individually.

Registration Period
The normal time period within which you would start and complete your course.

SFE - Student Finance England
Government agency through which higher education students in England apply for funding. 

SLC
Student Loans Company is a UK public sector organisation established to provide financial services, in terms of loans and grants. Over one million students are supported annually in colleges and universities across the four education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. www.slc.co.uk

Student Charter
The Student Charter sets out our commitments to you, makes clear what we expect from you and specifies that which we will work in partnership to achieve.

Suitability Declaration
Students who register on a course which will qualify them to teach need to complete this prior to commencement of their course. The Admissions team will have provided more information on this during your application.

Transcript
This is a list of all modules that you have taken and the grades that you have achieved. You will receive a transcript of results with your degree certificate pack when you are awarded.

Transfer
To change courses or modules that you have registered for.

TRN (also referred to as TTRN)
Teacher Reference Number, your registration number with the Teaching Regulation Agency within the Department of Education.

University Progression and Award Board (UPAB)
This board reviews students’ progress and determines whether they have met the requirements for progression to the next level of study. For completing students it determines the award outcome, including classification (if appropriate). The University has a two tier assessment process. At the first tier, module marks are presented at the Module Confirmation Board (MCB) for consideration. At the second tier, the University Progression and Award Board (UPAB) considers each individual student’s profile of marks. 

Validation
The programme validation process is a key mechanism through which the University assures academic standards.

Waiver
A module may be waived at the University Assessment Board’s discretion, and is normally only in exceptional circumstances. It is when credit is discounted from a student’s profile of marks so that they can be awarded. For further information, please see section F14 of the academic regulations. 

Withdraw
To permanently withdraw from your studies and leave the course you are registered for by completing the necessary documentation.