This document provides definitions and explanations of common university terminology or "jargon" to help current students understand acronyms and language used in their studies. It defines terms like academic transcript, alumni, census date, credit, deferred, elective, faculty, lecture, major, minor, plagiarism, and testamur. The purpose is to help students feel more confident navigating their degree by clarifying confusing university terms.

1. JARGON JOURNAL FOR
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Like anything new, university can be a little confusing
at first, especially when it comes to getting your
head around university terminology and acronyms.
Sometimes it can feel a little frustrating trying to
interpret the language, especially if you’re the first
person in your family to study at university.
Over the course of your degree you will become more
familiar and confident with university jargon, but if you
want a head start, this list will help you, so you have
more time to focus on what’s important… your studies!
Academic transcript
An academic transcript is the official record of your grades to date. This document shows the level of
achievement you have obtained across all the courses you’ve studied so far.
Alumna
This is the term used to describe a single female graduate.
For example, ‘Today we’re joined by USQ alumna Jessica.’
Alumni
Once you graduate from a university you become a member of their alumni, which is a network
of graduates from a particular university. Being an alumni often means that you get the chance to
network with former classmates and explore ways you can support each other in your careers. The
term ‘alumni’ refers to any group of graduates, regardless of gender.
For example, ‘I’m really excited about the next USQ alumni event. I can’t wait to catch up with everyone!’
HOW TO UNTANGLE UNI LINGO
AND GET ON WITH YOUR STUDIES!

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Alumnus
This is the term used to describe a single male graduate.
For example, ‘We’re pleased to introduce USQ alumnus Jack.’
Ask USQ
Ask USQ is an online resource support tool that is available 24/7 to all students and includes answers
to frequently asked questions.
Census date
Census dates are the specific days by which all enrolment and/or payment details must be finalised.
If you’re thinking about dropping a course or changing your enrolments for the semester, you’ll need
to make any adjustments before the census dates, otherwise you may face financial and/or academic
penalties. It’s important to note that the financial census dates and academic census dates usually fall
on different days. Your USQ wall calendar and the USQ website can provide further information on
the census dates for each semester.
Commonwealth Assistance Form
A Commonwealth Assistance Form (CAF) is used by students who are wanting to defer their
course fees and are enrolled in commonwealth supported places, or those who are eligible to obtain
commonwealth assistance.
Co-requisite
Co-requisite courses are two courses that contain material and learning that complement or
supplement each other and must be studied at the same time. This means that if you have two co-
requisite courses, you need to be enrolled in both at the same time.
Course
Also known as: subject, class, unit
Similar to high school, content or coursework at university is broken down into different and smaller
blocks of learning. Each university refers to these blocks differently. Some call them subjects (similar to
high school) and others call them units or classes. At USQ, we refer to each block as a course.
For example, ‘Most of my courses are really good this semester, I’ve just got one that’s challenging me.’

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Course code
A course code is the unique code assigned to a course that helps you and the university to identify
particular courses, search for information and complete enrolments. Course codes include a
combination of letters and numbers. The letters indicate the area of study that the course belongs
to. The first number in a course code generally indicates the suggested year within which a student
would study that course. For example, in the course code PRL2003, the letters PRL represent the study
area of Public Relations and the number 2 suggests that this course is appropriate for a student’s
second year of study.
Credit
Also known as: credit point, RPL (recognition for prior learning), exemption
While studying at university, either when submitting your initial application or during your studies, you
may be eligible to apply for credit for previous learning or work experience. Applying for credit means
you’re asking for the university to recognise past study or work experience and allow that knowledge
to contribute toward your current or desired university program. If successful in your application for
credit, the university will advise you of the number of credit points you’ve been granted and this may
mean you won’t have to study the full number of units required for your program, which could help
you to complete your studies sooner.
For example, ‘I was granted credit for my work history so now I only have to study 22 units instead of 24.’
Deferral
Deferral is kind of like reserving a seat for a later date. If you want to study at university and have
been offered a place but aren’t ready to begin your studies now (for example, if you’re taking a gap
year), you can respond to your offer by formally deferring your studies. Current students also have the
opportunity to defer study during their program for up to two years. This means that the university
will hold your place within the program.
For example, ‘I’ve got a great opportunity to work overseas for 6 months. I think I’ll defer and start my studies when
I get back.’
Elective
Electives are a chance for students to further complement their studies or to branch out and sample
courses from other schools and possibly even other faculties. Electives offer a taste of another
study area, however, not all program sequences include electives so you will need to look at your
recommended enrolment pattern or speak with your Student Relationship Officer if you want
to find out more about your options.

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Faculty
Faculties are used to group together several schools of study. USQ has two faculties, the Faculty of
Business, Education, Law and Arts (BELA) and the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences (HES).
Faculties offer specialised support, opportunities and guidance to students studying within their specific schools.
Forum
A forum is an online group-chat that takes place within USQ’s StudyDesk. Each course that you study
will have its own forums that are overseen by the course lecturer. Any student enrolled in a course,
whether they study on-campus and online, can contribute questions, comments or ideas to these
forums and all students can view each other’s posts and responses.
For example, ‘Did you see the lecturer posted some more notes about the assignment in the forum last night?’
Full-time study
A student who is enrolled in 6 or more courses during one academic year is classified as a full-time
student. Throughout the duration of their program, students may change from full-time to part-time
study and vice-versa as their commitments and circumstances change. This information is especially
important to keep in mind for students who are receiving Centrelink payments based on their study loads.
Grade Point Average
Also known as: GPA
For each course you complete you will be given an overall course grade which combines the results of
all assessment items and exams that you’ve submitted for that course. Your GPA combines all of your
total course results so far into one number that represents your overall level of academic achievement.
Some students include their GPA in their résumés and some jobs may require you to have a particular
GPA in order to apply. Your GPA may fluctuate throughout your studies, depending on the course
grades you receive each semester. USQ students can view their current GPA on UConnect. The
highest GPA you can receive is a 7 and a 4 is a pass.
Graduand
Often confused with: graduate
When a student is certified as having completed all the requirements of their academic program, but has
not yet had their award conferred (in other words, the student is eligible to graduate but has not yet been
awarded with their testamur from the Chancellor of the university), they are referred to as a graduand.
For example, ‘Could all 2015 graduands please form a line across the stage?’

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Graduate
Often confused with: graduand
When a student has completed all the requirements of their academic program and has had their
award conferred (they’ve received their official testamur), they are called a graduate. In other words,
once you’re presented with your testamur, you are officially a graduate!
For example, ‘Congratulations to the graduates of 2015!’
ICT maintenance day
ICT runs regular scheduled maintenance days throughout the year to ensure USQ Systems are up to
date and an optimal service is provided.
UConnect Announcements are posted prior to system maintenance days and outline what systems
will be unavailable.
Lecture
Also known as: class
Students attend lectures to learn about their course material. Each course will usually have at least
one lecture time per week that students will attend (online students can participate and view lectures
from home). All lecturers (the name given to teachers at university) are different and some may run
their lectures interactively, while others may choose more traditional teaching styles. Students are
expected to do prior- and post-lecture readings as well as take notes during their lectures.
For example, ‘Thanks for lunch, I’ve just got to get going to my next lecture.’
Major
Within a program, majors, minors and electives are used to structure the selection of courses that a
student studies. Majors are used to define the main area of study within a program and can then be
complemented by minors and possibly electives. Majors typically comprise of 8 or 12 units (which translates
to approximately the same number of courses). Some programs allow students to study a double-major.
Meet-Up
In Meet-Up sessions, small groups of students work together on learning activities and assessment
planning to help them develop a deeper understanding of their course material and be well prepared
for assignments and exams. Meet-Up sessions are run for specific courses and are led by other
students who have already finished that course and performed well. This first-hand experience and
peer-to-peer learning style is popular among students at USQ.

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Minor
Minors are smaller sub-groupings of courses that can complement a student’s major. If you’re
interested in a topic but don’t want that to be the main focus of your study, you may be able to study
it as a minor. Minors provide a smaller sample of a particular study area. Some programs may allow
students to study only one minor sequence, or they may have the option to study two.
Mortarboard
Also known as: grad cap, graduation hat
Mortarboard is the official name given to the iconic black graduation cap worn by undergraduate,
post-graduate and masters students when they attend their graduation ceremonies. Doctoral
graduands wear a different kind of cap called a bonnet.
Part-time study
A student enrolled in less than 6 courses per academic year is classified as a part-time student. At
USQ, many students balance study with work and family commitments, so enjoy the flexibility of
being able to study part-time.
Plagiarism
In simple terms, plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work or ideas without acknowledging
them appropriately, and therefore presenting their work and ideas as though they were your own. The
USQ library offers a range of resources to help students reference properly within their assignments
and avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism at university is considered a serious form of academic misconduct and
penalties may apply.
Post-graduate study
Also known as: Post-grad study
Post-graduate programs are studied once a student has completed an undergraduate program or has
the required type and amount of industry experience. They are typically shorter and more specialised
programs of study.

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Pre-requisite
Also known as: pre-rec
Before you can be considered for entry into a particular program or course, you may need to have
completed what is called a pre-requisite. A pre-requisite is something that a student must do (such
as complete a course, sit an interview or submit a portfolio) before they can progress any further into
that course. For example, some courses have pre-requisite courses that students must complete first
to make sure they have a good foundation of knowledge before progressing into more complex or
specialised course content.
Program
Often confused with: degree
A program is the sequence of study that makes up a degree qualification. In other words, your
program is the road map of your study; it sets the boundaries and scope of your learning and gives
structure to the different courses available at university. Programs are made up of a combination of
majors, minors and electives. Different types of programs will have different structures. For example,
not all programs include electives and some programs may allow students to study a double-major.
For example, ‘I’m thinking I might like to change my program next semester.’
Program duration
Program duration is the length of time within which students can complete their studies for that
particular program. These timeframes apply to all students, whether they’re studying full-time or part-
time. For most programs, students are given 6 years to complete their studies, however, in exceptional
circumstances longer study periods may be negotiable.
Recommended enrolment pattern (REP)
USQ provides recommended enrolment patterns to help students structure their enrolments. An
REP outlines in what year and in what semester courses should be studied. REPs take into account
pre-requisites and structure courses so that more difficult and intensive courses are undertaken
in later years of study. USQ encourages students to follow their program’s REP, however, they
are not compulsory and ultimately, students control their enrolment pattern. Students can find
the recommended enrolment pattern for their program by searching their program in the USQ
Handbook and clicking on the Recommended Enrolment Pattern link in the bottom left-hand corner.

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Residential College
Also known as: Res college, college, on-college
At USQ, our on-campus student accommodation facilities are called residential colleges. Living ‘on-
college’ is an affordable option for students who want or need to live out of home in order to study at
university. A range of fully catered, self-catered and semi-catered accommodation is available through
our residential colleges.
For example, ‘I’ve met some really great people living on-college.’
Residential school
Also known as: Res-school
Residential schools give students studying via distance education the chance to come on-campus for
face-to-face lectures and intensive workshops to develop their skills and learning. Residential schools
usually last for several days and accommodation is available on-campus at Toowoomba, or students
may arrange their own off-campus accommodation. Some Residential Schools are compulsory, others
are voluntary.
Schools
Also known as: departments
Within faculties, there are different schools (like categories) of study. Under each school is the
variety of programs that are offered in that study area. For example, within the Faculty of Business,
Education, Law and Arts is the School of Commerce. The school of Commerce includes programs
related to accounting and finance. Faculties and schools are used to break down and categorise the
many study options and courses that universities offer to make sure students have structure and
support throughout their studies.
Student Services and Amenities Fee
Also known as: SA Fee, student amenities fee
The Student Services and Amenities Fee was introduced by the Federal Government in 2012 to
provide university students with a wider range of services and resources related to health and welfare,
orientation and support, student development and enrichment and study assistance programs.
The amount of the fee you will have to pay will depend on your student’s individual study load per
semester and must be paid at the beginning of each semester. At USQ, the Student Services and
Amenities Fee funds great initiatives like USQ Phoenix Central, Career Hub, HeyU Magazine,
Social Hub and The Beyond the Books Online Series.

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Student contribution
This refers to the amount of money that a student is required to contribute towards their university
studies. This contribution amount applies only to students studying in a Commonwealth Supported
Place and the amount you are required to pay may vary depending on what program of study you
choose to undertake (some cost more than others).
Student Relationship Officer
Also known as: SRO
At USQ, students are assigned their very own Student Relationship Officer (SRO) who they can
contact any time they need assistance or support. SROs have a great knowledge of the University’s
resources, processes and procedures and are there to help students navigate the challenges they may
encounter during their time at university.
Testamur
Also known as: graduation certificate
As a university graduate, you are presented with a certificate that signifies you have successfully
completed your program of study. This certificate is officially called a testamur, however many
students refer to this document as their graduation certificate.
Tutorial
Also known as: tutes
Tutorials are run to complement lectures and usually, depending on the number of students enrolled
in a course, there will be multiple tutorials run throughout the week for the same course. Tutorials are
therefore usually smaller than lectures and are a hands-on opportunity for students to ‘break down’
the information they have learnt in their lectures, participate in learning activities, discuss assessment
items and prepare for exams. Tutorials can be run by lecturers, tutors or students in their later years of
study.
Undergraduate program
Also known as: undergrad
Typically completed over 3 or 4 years, undergraduate programs are studied by students who have not
previously graduated from university. In other words, these are the programs available to first-time
university students.

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If you’re still unsure of any of the terms you hear or see used at uni or if you
have any questions, feel free to get in touch with Ask USQ.
CRICOS: QLD00244B NSW02225M TEQSA: PRV12081 31.1.2 02.2017 Graphics © Shutterstock
The First in Family Project (Phase 2) is funded through the Commonwealth Government’s Higher Education Participation Program (HEPP) in 2016,
to improve the access, participation and success of students from communities under-represented in higher education.
Units
Also known as: credit points
In order to complete their program and receive their degree, students will need to accrue a particular
number of units of study. Units are used to indicate the value of a course. The majority of courses are
worth one unit, however some may be worth more. Most undergraduate programs call for 24 units,
which means a student will need to complete 24 courses. Some universities refer to units as credit
points.
USQStudyDesk
USQStudyDesk is the online portal that USQ students use to access course materials, submit
assignments, talk to lecturers and other students and access support, information and the USQ online
library. Students require a username and password to access their USQStudyDesk. Having online
access to your learning materials means you can study whenever and wherever is convenient to you.
Workshop
Sometimes a lecture and tutorial may be combined into one lesson and this is called a workshop.
Workshops usually run for longer than a single tutorial or lecture.