A-Z list of higher education terms
This glossary includes common abbreviations and acronyms used across the University of Edinburgh website.
Sub-sites within the University website may also have their own glossary of common terms specific to their discipline.
- AD
- Anno Domini
- A system of dating, which counts years forward from 1 AD, the year traditionally attributed to the birth of Jesus Christ. Used in conjunction with BC, which counts backwards from 1 AD.
- This may also now be referred to as CE, meaning Common Era.
- BA
- Bachelor of Arts, a degree classification
- BEng
- Bachelor of Engineering, a degree classification
- BSc
- Bachelor of Science, a degree classification
- BC
- Before Christ
- A system of dating, which counts years backwards from 1 AD, the year traditionally attributed to the birth of Jesus Christ. Used in conjunction with AD, which counts forwards from 1 AD.
- This may also now be referred to as BCE, meaning Before Common Era.
- BCE
- Before Common Era
- A system of dating, which counts years backwards from 1 CE. Used in conjunction with CE, which counts forwards from 1 CE.
- CE and BCE were introduced to replace AD and BC, though the latter are still more commonly used.
- CE
- Common Era
- A system of dating, which counts years forwards from 1 CE. Used in conjunction with BCE, which counts backwards from 1 CE.
- CE and BCE were introduced to replace AD and BC, though the latter are still more commonly used.
- DClinPsychol
- Doctor of Clinical Psychology, a degree classification
- DSc
- Doctor of Science, a degree classification
- ECA
- Edinburgh College of Art
- EdD
- Doctor of Education, a degree classification
- EEC
- European Economic Community
- EU
- European Union
- EUCLID
- Edinburgh University Complete Lifecycle Integrated Development
- the University’s online application service
- EUSA
- Edinburgh University Students’ Association
- FE
- Further Education
- GSE
- General Certificate of Education
- GCSE
- General Certificate of Secondary Education
- HEI
- Higher Education Institute
- HNC
- Higher National Certificate
- HND
- Higher National Diploma
- LLB
- Legum Baccalaureus, Bachelor of Laws, a degree classification
- LLM
- Legum Magister, Master of Laws, a degree classification
- MB ChB
- Medicinæ Baccalaureus & Baccalaureus Chirurgiæ, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery/Chirurgery, a degree classification
- MA
- Master of Arts, a degree classification
- MSc
- Master of Science, a degree classification
- MBA
- Master of Business Administration, a degree classification
- MCS
- Master of Chinese Studies, a degree classification
- MClinDent
- Master of Clinical Dentistry, a degree classification
- MMus
- Master of Music, a degree classification
- MPhil
- Master of Philosophy, a degree classification
- MSW
- Master of Social Work, a degree classification
- MTeach
- Master of Teaching, a degree classification
- MTh
- Master of Theology, a degree classification
- NHS
- National Health Service
- PGDE
- Professional Graduate Diploma in Education
- PgDip
- Postgraduate Diploma
- PhD
- Philosophiae Doctor, Doctor of Philosophy, which is a doctorate programme in any subject
- rUK
- Rest of United Kingdom
- Fees and funding term used to refer to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- SAC
- Scottish Agricultural College
- SQA
- Scottish Qualifications Authority
- UCAS
- University and College Admissions Service
- UK
- United Kingdom
- USA
- United States of America
Something missing?
You can also use the Edinburgh Acronym Buster - an easy to use tool to look up acronyms to find out what they mean. You do need to be able to login to use this though.
University of Edinburgh Acronym Buster [University login needed]
We have tried to be as exhaustive as possible, but if there are terms you feel are missing from this list, please let us know.