Higher Eduction - Common terms
ACADEMIC – someone who teaches at a university
ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY – a different way of getting to university (not straight from school). Universities sometimes use this term on their websites. See Educational Access Scheme.
ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) – the score your son/daughter is given as a result of sitting their HSC. Universities have a minimum ATAR for each course and this can vary from year to year.
BACHELOR DEGREE – the name of a first degree course and usually takes 3 to 5 years of study. Names of degrees are often shortened to: BA (Bachelor of Arts); BSc (Bachelor of Science); BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) etc.
COMBINED DEGREE – a degree in two areas. It can take 4-6 years of study to graduate from the two degrees. For example, your son/daughter might combine Sports Science/Business if they’d like to run a gym, Arts/Law if they’re interested in being a lawyer in the performing arts, or International Studies/Nursing if they’re interested in nursing in a non-English speaking country.
FACULTY – a university division e.g. Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Business. Some universities call their faculties schools e.g. School of Medicine, School of Economics.
GRADUATE – a student who has completed a university degree.
HECS-HELP – the government’s interest free loan scheme that allows your son/daughter to defer (pay later) their course fees until they are earning wages above a certain amount.
HSC (Higher School Certificate) – the HSC is the NSW qualification of students who successfully complete secondary education. It is awarded on the basis of a combination of school-based and external examination assessments.
HONOURS – an additional period of study – usually a year – during which your son/daughter takes additional subjects (often research-based). Abbreviated to ‘Hons’, e.g. BA (Hons).
EDUCATIONAL ACCESS SCHEME – an alternative entry to university for students who have experienced long term disadvantages while studying. Visit the UAC website for more details.
PATHWAY COURSE – a course designed to help your son/daughter get into university, particularly if they did not complete the HSC or need to improve their English. School Careers Advisors and university staff can help with information about this.
POSTGRADUATE – a student who is studying a second degree such as a Master’s or Doctorate, or any level of study beyond a Bachelor’s degree. Abbreviation: PG, post-grad.
SUBJECT or UNIT – part of a degree. If your son/daughter studies full-time, he/she will normally do 4 subjects each semester. Each subject is worth a certain number of credit points which count towards his/her degree.
TERTIARY EDUCATION – any study after high school. Also called Higher Education.
TAFE – some high school students study at TAFE as part of their HSC. TAFE also offers courses that will help your child get into a university course.
UAC (Universities Admissions Centre) – UAC has information about all courses for all universities and processes all applications from school leavers for NSW and the ACT.
VET (Vocational Education and Training) – these courses are sometimes taught through your child’s high school, a registered training organisation or TAFE. They include courses for hospitality, engineering and trades such as carpentry and mechanics.