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Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Academic Year
Runs from September 1 to August 31 and is divided into Winter and Summer sessions, each with two terms:
Winter Session 1: September 1–December 31
Winter Session 2: January 1–April 30
Summer Session 1: May 1–early July
Summer Session 2: early July–August 31

admission
The process of evaluating applicants for acceptance to a university, school, or college. The admission process is separate from the process of registering for courses.

advising
Personal assistance to students in dealing with academic issues.

alumni
People who have graduated from a university, school, or college.

assessed financial need
This is an amount calculated using a standardized method, and helps predict how much money you will need once your resources have been subtracted from your educational costs and living expenses.

audit/auditors
Taking courses for no academic credit. Auditors may attend lectures without writing examinations.

B

baccalaureate
See bachelor's degree

bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is awarded upon successful completion of a program of study. Traditionally a bachelor's degree must be completed before one can embark on a master's or doctoral degree program. Bachelor's degree programs are also known as "undergraduate programs" and people studying in them are referred to as undergraduates.

bursary
Non-repayable award given on the basis of assessed financial need. UBC offers bursaries through the General Bursary Program, which is open to students in Canada.

C

certificate programs
Certificate programs offer specialized and intensive professional study that leads to a certificate rather than a degree. Unlike diploma programs, most certificate programs do not require a previous degree for admission. Certificate programs can be completed in one to two years intensive study, or part-time for a longer period. UBC Continuing Studies offers a large number of certificate programs.

Concurrent Studies
A BC Secondary School student who is taking UBC courses for credit is enrolled in a Concurrent Studies program.

Continuing Studies, UBC
Offers non-credit courses and non-credit certificate programs. Administers preparatory writing and math courses. The English Language Institute is also part of Continuing Studies.

counselling
Generally refers to one-on-one assistance with personal issues.

course
A course is one of the building blocks of your program. You can find descriptions for all courses currently approved by UBC's Senate in the Calendar. Not all courses listed are offered each year.

course information
The published information on courses includes: subject code, subject area, description, credit value, prerequisites.

course numbering
Usually, courses numbered 100 to 199 are primarily for first-year students; those numbered 200 to 299 are primarily for second-year students; similarly 300 to 399 for third-year students and 400 to 499 for fourth-year students. Courses numbered 500 and above designate graduate-level courses and are only available to undergraduates with permission from the department concerned.

course schedule
A listing of credit and non-credit courses and the days, times, and locations they are offered.

credit
In the course descriptions, the credit value of a course, where given, is shown in parentheses following the course number. In general, 1 credit represents one hour of instruction or two to three hours of laboratory work per week throughout one term of a Winter Session. A credit is approximately one term hour. Most courses at UBC have a 3-credit value and have a duration of one term.

D

degree
The academic credential conferred upon a student who has completed a given course of study. The three types of degrees are bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees.

degree audit
A process of matching program requirements against courses taken, i.e., ensuring that you're taking the right courses to get a degree.

diploma

1. 1. An academic qualification received after completing a diploma program (distinct from a degree).
  2. The actual document certifying that a student has completed their degree or diploma. Also known as a parchment.

diploma program
Diploma programs are one to two years long and lead to a diploma rather than a degree. They are usually geared toward employment in a particular field, or in some cases to develop professional competence in areas supplemental to one's field. UBC offers diploma programs; most require a bachelor's degree for admission.

discussion group
Some lectures have affiliated discussion groups for which you are required to register separately.

Distance Education and Technology
Offers credit courses by online correspondence and tutoring to students who wish to complete courses away from campus.

doctoral degree
The highest university degree. Generally a student must complete a bachelor's degree and usually a master's degree before embarking on doctoral studies. People completing their doctoral degrees are referred to as doctoral students or graduate students. Most commonly designated as PhD.

domestic students
Students who are either Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

E

early admission
A process whereby high school students may apply and be accepted to university earlier than usual. Admission is contingent upon satisfactory completion of their high school diploma.

elective
A course that is not specifically required for your program; optional.

English Language Admission Standard
The minimum standard for spoken and written English language skills that a student must achieve for admission to UBC.

exam schedule
A listing of days, times, and locations of final examinations.

exchange programs (Go Global: Student Mobility Programs)
Opportunities for students to pursue some of their studies at another institution, often in another country, while remaining registered at UBC.

F

financial assistance
Assistance granted to students on the basis of assessed financial need. Forms of financial assistance include: government student loans and grants, bursaries, work study, and UBC loans. Canadian federal and provincial grants, loans, and work study programs are generally available only to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

FYI Guide
A publication for newly admitted students that includes information on academic advising and how to register.

G

graduate student
A student who is completing a master's or doctoral degree.

1. 1. A financial need-based form of government assistance that is usually administered in conjunction with the federal and provincial student loan programs (e.g., Canada Study Grant for Students With Dependent Children, Canada Study Grant for Female Doctoral Students, Canada Study Grant for Students with Disabilities, etc.).
  2. A grant awarded to graduate students and professors by private and government agencies, or by industry, to fund research activities at the university.

Great Trek
In 1922, UBC students marched from the old Fairview campus (at 12th Avenue and Oak Street, Vancouver) to the unfinished Point Grey campus to demand that the government provide the money needed to construct the university. The government agreed, and the event became known as the Great Trek.

H

home province
For student loan purposes, the home province is where you have been living before you started full-time post-secondary education. For example, if you are graduating from secondary school in Ontario and immediately starting a degree at UBC, your home province is Ontario. This definition is a rough guideline only; for specific residency criteria, contact your home province’s student assistance provider.

I

independent student
For financial assistance purposes, you are considered independent if you can meet and verify any one of the following conditions:

- have been out of high school for at least 48 months (four years)
- are married, living common-law, separated, divorced, widowed, or a single parent
- have worked full-time in the labour force for two periods of 12 continuous months each since leaving high school
- are a ward of the court

interdisciplinary studies
Combining studies and research from different subject areas.

international student
Any student who does not hold Canadian citizenship or Permanent Resident status in Canada. This includes students from the United States.

J

K

L

Language Proficiency Index (LPI)
A method of rating the standard of English language usage that must be met by all incoming undergraduate students before they are allowed to register for first-year English courses. The LPI, with some exceptions, is determined through a written examination.

liquor licence
Must be obtained for any campus event where alcohol will be served.

M

master's degree
The degree after a bachelor's degree and usually preceding a doctoral degree. Students studying for a master's degree are referred to as "graduate students." Designated as MA, MSc, etc., depending on the field of study.

mature applicants
A student who is at least 23 years of age, a resident of British Columbia, whose activities have led to intellectual development, but who lacks formal university entrance requirements.

multifaith calendar
A listing of religious holidays for a variety of faiths.

myUBC
A web portal which brings together information from across campus and makes it accessible from one place.

N

need-based financial aid
Assistance based on a means test, usually the standard assessment of need used in adjudicating eligibility for federal and provincial loans and grants. Need-based aid includes: government student loans and grants, bursaries, work study, and UBC loans.

O

orientation
Sessions combining information and social events that are designed to welcome and transition new students to the UBC community.

P

PhD
Abbreviation for "Doctor of Philosophy." This is the designation for doctoral degrees in most fields of study.

postbaccalaureate programs
See professional programs

postgraduate student
See graduate student

prerequisite
A prerequisite is a course you must successfully complete prior to registering in another course. Course descriptions show prerequisites where applicable.

professional programs
Also known as post-baccalaureate programs. A program entered after full or partial completion of a bachelor's degree to train for a specialized professional field.

program
The series of courses that leads to a particular degree.

prospective student
A student who is thinking about applying to UBC.

Q

R

reading week
A week in which there are no classes, usually in mid-February. For some it is a break to read and for others a break from reading.

registration
The process of registering in a program of courses. This is separate from the process of admission.

S

Schedule
See course schedule, exam schedule

scholarship
Non-repayable award based on academic excellence and involvement in school and/or community. The vast majority of scholarships at UBC are awarded based on nominations; you do not need to apply.

section
Courses at UBC are offered in sections and each section has an individual location and time. When you register for a course, you can choose the time and term that works best with your schedule. While a section is most commonly a lecture, it may also be a laboratory or a discussion group (tutorial). Many classes have required labs or tutorials in addition to the lecture, so you’ll need to register in sections of those activities as well.

session
At UBC we have two sessions: Winter Session runs September to April; Summer Session runs May to August. Each session includes two terms.

standard timetables
Some programs use a pre-planned timetable that incorporates most of the courses required for that program of study.

student authorization
See study permit

student loan
A major source of need-based financial assistance provided by the federal and provincial governments. The governments pay interest on student loans while the borrower is engaged in full-time study, but the borrower must begin repaying loan principal and interest six months after he/she ceases to be registered in at least 60% of a full course load. Students who have exhausted aid available through government loans may qualify for short- and long-term loans directly from UBC. Usually, a credit-worthy co-signer is required in order to qualify for a UBC loan.

Student Service Centre
The password-protected website where you can register for courses, change your address, check your grades, etc.

student visa
See study permit

study permit
A document that must be obtained from Citizenship and Immigration Canada by all international students in order to study in Canada.

T

TA
Teaching assistant, usually a graduate student, who leads undergraduate tutorials or seminars.

term
Each session has two terms: Winter Session terms are September to December and January to April. Summer Session terms overlap: Term 1 (mainly evening courses) is May to August and Term 2 (mainly daytime courses) is July to August.

timetable
A schedule listing the days and times that courses (or examinations) are held.

transcript
A document listing grades for all courses in all semesters at a particular school or university.

transfer student
A student entering UBC from another post-secondary institution.

tutorial
A small discussion group (sometimes called a seminar); a break-out from a large section of a course.

Tuum Est
The UBC motto. Latin for “It’s Yours”, or “It’s Up to You.”

U

unclassified student
A student who holds a degree and who wishes to enrol for studies not intended to lead to a particular degree or diploma.

undergraduate student
Any student in a bachelor's degree program.

unmet need
The difference between assessed financial need and the funding provided by government financial assistance.

V

visitors (visiting students)
A student enrolled at another university who is taking courses at UBC for credit at their home university.

W

Work Study
A need-based form of financial aid which supplements government student loans and grants by allowing qualified individuals to work at a fair wage on campus, often in positions which relate to their area of study. Before applying for work study, candidates must first have qualified for government assistance in excess of $3,400 for the current academic period.

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Last reviewed 12/3/2010 12:27:38 PM