Teaching and learning lexicon

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Academic Advisement is a multi-faceted aspect of Campus Solutions which allows staff to define, within Programs and Plans, different types of course lists (i.e. mandatory and optional) and set up requirements (comprising those course lists) that need to be satisfied. This acts as a means to track progression, and also allows the courses to be filtered appropriately on a Student’s Self Service (so that they can choose their courses themselves). It also facilitates the production of an Academic Advisement Transcript which reports on the courses a student has taken, and outlines where requirements have been met / not met.

Academic Advising is the process of providing academic advice to students in accordance with the University’s Policy on Personalised Learning.

Academic Advisors are members of academic staff who have responsibility for providing academic development guidance to a specific learner or group of learners.  Each learner should be informed of the named individual who is their academic advisor.

Academic Advisor Toolkit is an online resource providing a one-stop set of resources for Academic Advisors and those who work with them to provide a framework of academic and pastoral support to undergraduate students: Administrators; Student Support Officers; Programme Directors; Course Unit Tutors; Peer Mentors/PASS Coordinators etc. Access the Academic Advisor Toolkit.

Academic Appeal is the term used for the procedure for students to appeal against a final decision of a board of examiners, or a progress committee, or a graduate committee or equivalent body which affects a student’s academic status or progress in the University. You can find out more on the appeals and complaints pages.

Academic Experience is the learners’ experience of studying on their course, and their experience of any other resources, support, facilities and opportunities that the provider makes available to support learners’ learning (QAA, 2023). 

Academic Freedom means that staff and students may engage in intellectual debate and critical enquiry, this must however be within the law. Academic staff should therefore be mindful of issues that may be controversial, and should approach debate around these areas with care and consideration.

Academic Group is the terminology used in Campus Solutions to denote the School.

Academic Malpractice is the term used for any activity – intentional or otherwise - that is likely to undermine the integrity essential to scholarship and research. It includes plagiarism, collusion, fabrication or falsification of results, and anything else that could result in unearned or undeserved credit for those committing it. You can find out more on the academic malpractice page.

Academic Programme is the terminology used in Campus Solutions to describe the top level of programme definition in the system (i.e. the main degree program that the student is studying).  Each Academic Programme has at least one corresponding Academic Plan, which defines the specialisation within the program (i.e. the ‘route’ via which a student obtains their degree).  Programs and Plans can have two relationships – one to one or one to many. One to one is where a Program has a single Plan associated with it – in other words, there is no specialisation. One to many is where a Program has several Plans associated with it – in other words, there are various specializations of study, from which the student can choose.

Academic Standing relates to a student’s overall level of academic achievement.

Academic Standing Rule is the part of Campus Solutions which, when marks have been entered to the student’s Term Record, can predict who is eligible to progress and is used as part of the exam grid which is produced.

Academic Year is, normally, a 12 month period, beginning and ending in September (UG) & October (PGT), in which programmes are taught and assessed.

Accommodation Guarantee all UK and EU unaccompanied undergraduates are guaranteed accommodation in a University Hall of Residence in their first year of study, subject to certain conditions.

Accommodation Office is part of The University of Manchester and provides a service to all students of the University, administering and allocating over 8,000 University owned bedrooms. Visit the Accommodation Office website.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is the generic term used for the award of credits on the basis of  
demonstrated learning which has taken place in the past.  The Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning’ (AP(E)L) is the formal recognition of prior learning gained through other experience, including paid or unpaid work, self-directed study or through leisure pursuits.  APL and AP(E)L are accepted by The University of Manchester to encourage wider participation of students, with varying educational experiences and open access to its programmes of study.  

Accrediting Body is normally a professional association which formally accredits programmes within a particular discipline.

Additional Costs Policy relates to the fact that students must be able to complete their programme without incurring any significant additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Read the Additional Costs Policy.

Additional Support Needs is the support given to students as a result of a declared disability.

Admission is the process by which prospective students are admitted to the University to study.

Advance HE is a member-led charity of and for the sector that works with partners across the globe to improve higher education for staff, students and society. More information is avialable on this page.

Aegrotat Degrees are unclassified degrees granted to students who have fulfilled all requirements for graduation but were prevented by illness from attending the final examinations.

A Level is a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16–18, which are used to determine entry to University.

Alternative Assessments are available only for students in approved categories where the need is foreseeable.  At present the categories approved are students on recognized exchange or collaborative programmes including Erasmus; and students who hold an approved sports scholarship. Find out more on the assessment pages.

Alternative Award is the alternative terminology used for an exit award.

Alumni are former students of an institution.

Alumni Loyalty Bursary Scheme is the Faculty’s scheme to encourage 1st class undergraduate students to return to postgraduate taught study in the Faculty, within three years of successful completion of their undergraduate programme. More information is available on the recruitment page.

Annual Performance Review (APR) assesses the performance of the primary activity centres of the University (faculties and the Professional Support Services).  The meetings include a detailed analysis and evaluation of the operational performance of each Faculty, School, Directorate, Division and Office within the University.

Annual Report is the report, prepared by the University’s Teaching and Learning Support Office (TLSO), for Senate on the number and nature of appeals, identifying any general issues that may have arisen. The annual report on student cases details the number and nature of cases handled each academic year by Faculties and Professional Support Services. The data reported relates only to formal cases and does not include the significant number of cases which are resolved informally by Schools, PSS Directorates and other central service providers.

Annual Review of Teaching and Learning (ARTL) The University uses an annual and extended meeting of the Teaching and Learning Strategy Group (TLSG) as a mechanism for ensuring the oversight, review and further development of its policies, procedures and structures for the support and enhancement of teaching and learning. This event is the culmination of the continuous monitoring of programmes in the university, with an emphasis on self-review and action planning. In addition, there will be a member of the group who is external to the University and a Students' Union representative. This meeting usually takes place in November each year.

Appeals and Complaints Network is a sub-group of the Faculty’s Teaching and Learning Committee.

Application is the process by which prospective students apply to study at The University of Manchester.

Applied Learning is an approach to learning and teaching that focuses on how academic subjects (humanities, science, etc.) can apply to the real world.

Articulation (Guaranteed and non-guaranteed) is the process by which a qualification and/or credits from a programme of study undertaken at an approved partner institution is recognised as giving advanced standing for entry to programmes at the University.  The partner institution is responsible for the recruitment and selection of students; for the registration and regulation of students (including complaints and appeals procedures); for the design of the programme; for its delivery; for the quality of the student learning experience; for the standards of the credit/award; and for financial matters. The University is responsible for ensuring that the output standards set and achieved by students are equivalent to those set and achieved by University students taking the programme and entering the same stage of their studies. The University currently has two types of articulation; the first is what is termed ‘guaranteed articulation’ and this guarantees progression to the University and this brings with it quality and standards requirements similar to that of a validation arrangement. The second (non-guaranteed articulation) does not guarantee progression to the University but allows the credits to be considered for advanced standing, through the usual admissions process.  Both types of articulation require a signed agreement.

Assessment Literacy involves staff and learners engaging in dialogue to promote a shared understanding of the basis on which academic judgements are made. Engaging learners and making use of examples and/or self and peer-assessment activities, where appropriate, helps learners to understand the process of assessment and the expected standards, and to develop their assessment literacy.   

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is a national funding agency supporting both arts and humanities research. Visit the AHRC website.

AskMe is a visual campaign that enables students to identify knowledge holders and key information points should they have any queries during their first couple of weeks at the University.  Staff wearing an AskMe badge are identifying themselves as someone who can be of assistance or take ownership of any enquiries that a student may come to them with.

Assessed Coursework is that which contributes to the final mark of a unit.

Assessment refers to all the processes employed by staff to make judgments about the achievement of students in units of study and over a programme of study. They are the method(s) used for measuring student progress toward and achievement of the intended learning outcomes of the course unit / programme.

Assessment Criteria are the characteristics by which students’ achievement is judged or appraised. It is what students have to do during assessment tasks in order to demonstrate that they have achieved the intended learning outcomes.

Assessment Framework is a University document detailing the practice, policies and procedures related to assessment. Read about the Assessment Framework.

Associate Dean (AD) is responsible to the Deputy Dean and Vice Dean (Teaching, Learning & Students) for assisting with and promoting the development and achievement of strategies for Teaching, Learning and Students in the Faculty of Humanities.  There are a number of ADs in the Faculty, each with a distinct portfolio.

Attrition is the term used for the’ loss’ or negative changes to the student numbers.

Audio Feedback is a tool used in teaching and learning to deliver feedback to students.  This can be Audio only (a digital audio file such as an MP3); Asynchronous Audio-Visual (embedded audio files in documents, such as Word docs or PDFs); Synchronous Audio-Video (moving Image and audio together, such as video footage or screencasts). Read the Top ten hints and tips on audio feedback.

Augmented Reality is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are supplemented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

Award the degree, certificate or diploma which is conferred following the successful completion of a defined programme of study.

Award Boards decide upon and issue final awards. They would normally meet in June for Undergraduate awards and October/November for Postgraduate Taught awards. In cases of Foundation Studies, Award Boards would decide upon whether a learner has met the progression criteria for their chosen degree programme. If this is not the case, the Award Board would offer possible alternatives if this is deemed appropriate.