Terms that will usually be used by university students on a daily basis.
| WORD | EXPLANATION |
| MATRIC EXEMPTION | Results achieved on your Senior Certificate to gain access to a University |
| ENROLMENT | Application toward a degree at a university |
| AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE | You are awarded enrolment in a university by meeting all the requirements |
| STUDENT | An individual who studies at a tertiary institution |
| STUDENT NUMBER | A number allocated to a student for administrative purposes |
| COURSES | Subjects taken quarterly, semesterly or yearly during the duration of your degree |
| PRE-REQUISITE COURSE | A course that needs to be completed before the next course can be taken |
| QUARTER COURSE | A subject taken over a period of three months |
| SEMESTER COURSE | A subject taken over a period of six months |
| YEAR COURSE | A subject taken over a period of a year |
| BRIDGING COURSE | This subject enables you to gain entry into a course which you were not accepted for based on your initial admission application |
| AGGREGATE/PARTICIPATION MARK | The mark awarded before the exam to qualify for the exam. This comprises of class tests and projects and is used together with your exam mark to work out your final mark |
| DEGREE | Qualification received after completion of course e.g. BCom |
| UNDER GRADUATE | This is usually a three to four year qualification completed at a tertiary institution recognised as a university |
| POST GRADUATE | This will include your honours and Master’s degree. Can only be obtained after completion of an undergraduate course |
| DISSERTATION | This document needs to be handed in before qualifying for a Master’s degree |
| HONOURS | A Post Graduate qualification |
| MASTERS | A Post graduate qualification which can only be obtained after completion of an Honours degree |
| DOCTORATE | A Post Graduate qualification which can only be obtained after completion of a Master’s degree, also known as PHD |
| DEAN | This will be the head of a faculty |
| PROFFESSOR | Usually referred to as Prof. This individual has contributed greatly in their field |
| ALUMNI | A graduate of the university who has completed their qualification |