Glossary of University Lingo: Words Every Student Needs to Know

When you start university, you’ll hear a number of academic terms and phrases that might seem unfamiliar to you at first. Don’t worry! We don’t expect you to grasp every bit of university lingo right away.  

To help you settle in, we’ve put together a handy glossary of key university terms you’ll come across as you begin your studies with us: 

Glossary of Key University Terms

Academic Integrity:  Academic integrity is about being honest and transparent in your work. 

Academic misconduct: Academic misconduct is any action that could give you an unfair advantage in assessed work, such as plagiarism, collusion or cheating.  

Assessment (summative):  A formal assessment where the mark counts towards your final unit mark. 

Assessment (formative): An assessment that does not count toward your final unit mark but is instead used to provide you with feedback and assess your progress on the unit. 

Chaplaincy: A service offering spiritual and pastoral support to students of all faiths or none, along with access to volunteering schemes and other activities that provide development and support opportunities. Often including spaces for reflection, prayer, and community activities. Our new chaplaincy space is now open in the Cavendish Building. You can contact our Chaplaincy team by email: [email protected].   

Course: A programme of study offered by Manchester Met, leading to a degree or other qualification, such as a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or diploma. 

Course Rep: A student representative elected to voice the opinions and concerns of their peers regarding their course, working with staff to improve the student experience. 

Dean: The academic leader of a School, responsible for its overall management, academic standards, and strategic development. 

Department: A specific academic unit within a School or Faculty that focuses on a particular subject area or field of study, e.g. the Department of English.  

End of Module Survey: Your opportunity to provide specific and local feedback on your learning experience to ensure that we can continue to make enhancements and celebrate excellent practice, finding ways to share this across the university. 

Faculty: An academic division comprising several Schools or Departments, usually led by a Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor or Dean – e.g. the Faculty of Science and Engineering.  

Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor: A senior academic leader responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of a particular Faculty. 

Future Me: Our exclusive careers and personal development programme that will help you to plan your future, develop your employability skills, and prepare for life after university. 

Induction Survey: A survey run by The Union at the start of the academic year to gather feedback from new students about their induction experience. 

Jobs4Students: A Manchester Met service that helps you find part-time work, internships, and employment opportunities during your studies. Find out more here. 

Module: A self-contained unit of study within a course, often focused on a specific topic or subject area and assessed separately. 

Moodle: Our online learning platform where you can access course materials, submit assignments, and participate in online discussions. 

MyMMU: Our student portal (app) where you can access their timetable, grades, email, and other Manchester Met services. 

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL): A support scheme where experienced students (PAL Leaders) guide new or less experienced students in their studies, often through group sessions. 

Peer Guides: Experienced students who provide informal support and advice to new students, helping them settle into university life. 

Personal Learning Plan (PLP): A tailored plan created for students with additional needs or disabilities, outlining the support and adjustments needed to facilitate their learning. 

Personal Tutor: An academic staff member assigned to support and guide students through their studies, providing advice on academic progress and personal development. 

Programme Leader: A Programme Leader oversees the entire degree course. They may also be referred to as a course leader. 

Pro Vice-Chancellor: A senior member of the University’s executive team responsible for a specific area, such as education or research.  The Pro-Vice-Chancellors also support the Vice-Chancellor in providing academic leadership to the University. 

RISE: Our Rise flagship programme offers you additional learning opportunities outside of your standard curriculum, such as skills workshops, volunteering, or research projects. 

SafeZone: A safety app which allows students to connect quickly with campus security for assistance or in emergencies. Find out more here. 

School: A larger organisational unit within the university, typically composed of several departments that focus on related subject areas – e.g. Manchester School of Art. 

Semester: Refers to how we split up the academic year. There are two semesters. Semester One runs from the start of academic year in September, ending before Christmas. Semester Two starts in January and runs until the start of the summer break, which is normally in June.

Student Hub: Our student hubs are dedicated advice centres, where you can access support, resources, and information about university life, including academic and personal support. Find out more here. 

Student Life Website: Your dedicated website providing information and resources about university life, support services, events, and student communities. 

Student Officer: An elected student representative, part of The Union, who advocates for student interests and helps shape university policies. 

Student Voice Survey: A university-wide survey designed to collect student feedback on feedback on your programme, the services, and facilities that you use, and your wider academic experience. 

Study Skills: Workshops, resources, or individual support sessions designed to help you improve your academic skills, such as essay writing, research, and time management. 

Unit Leader: A Unit Leader is responsible for individual units (modules) on your course or programme.