Further Education comes with its own language — qualification levels, apprenticeship terms, funding schemes, and acronyms that aren't always explained the first time you see them. This glossary brings together the key terms you'll come across when exploring courses, applying for a place, or supporting a child, apprentice, or employee through their studies at Nottingham College. From A Levels and T Levels to Access to HE, apprenticeship funding, and course levels explained, use this page as a quick reference to understand exactly what each term means and how it applies to your journey with us.
A
- A Levels
- Level 3 academic qualifications, typically studied over two years by 16–18 students, often as a route to university.
- Access to HE
- Access to Higher Education. Level 3 qualification designed for adults without traditional qualifications who want to progress to university.
- Admissions
- Our team who handle course applications for our courses.
- Advanced Learner Loan
- A government loan for students aged 19+ studying Level 3–6 courses; the outstanding balance is written off if the student goes on to complete a higher education course funded by Student Finance England.
- ALS
- Additional Learning Support (ALS). Support provided to students with additional educational needs while studying at college.
- ASF
Adult Skills Fund (ASF). A government programme supporting adult learners in non-devolved areas to gain skills, leading to further progression or employment.
B
- BTEC
- Vocational qualification awarded at various levels (e.g. Level 1 award), focused on practical, work-related learning.
C
- Career Coach
- A tool that maps courses to careers for insight into future employment prospects using various datasets and Labour Market Information.
- Century Tech
- Online platform for English and maths resources and assessments
- Clearing
- The process of finding a place on a University Level course at Nottingham College, either through UCAS or direct to the college.
- Conditional offer
- An offer to study a course with Nottingham College, subject to the conditions outlined.
- Contact Centre
- Our advisers who answer telephone enquiries, live chat and emails sent to the enquiries@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk email.
- CPD
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This may refer to CPD days which are staff training days or CPD courses, which anyone can enrol onto to upskill their knowledge in a particular area
- CSR
- The college's framework guiding its community, sustainability and employer-partnership commitments.
D
- DfE
- The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy in England.
E
- EDI
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Being inclusive, respectful and valuing each other.
- eduroam
Provides researchers, teachers, and students network/WiFi access when visiting an institution other than Nottingham College.
- EHCP
- Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP. An education, health and care (EHC) plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support.
- Emtec
- Nottingham College's specialist automotive education and training provider, working with employer partners in the motor industry.
- Enrichment
- Extracurricular activities, trips and experiences offered alongside a student's main course of study.
- Enrolment
- The process of officially joining the college and enrolling onto your chosen course.
- Entry Level
These are qualifications for students who have no prior qualifications. Each entry level qualification is available at three sub-levels - 1, 2 and 3. Entry level 3 is the most difficult.
- Equal
- E-learning platform for online courses.
- ESOL
- English for speakers or Other Languages. Entry-level courses supporting English language development for non-native speakers.
F
- FE
- Further Education (FE). Further study after secondary school (Year 11) at a college. Nottingham College is one of the largest Further Education providers in the UK.
- Fletchers
- The commercial restaurant/theatre facilities operating within the City Hub campus.
- FOI
- Freedom of Information (FOI). The statutory right to request information from public bodies such as Nottingham College.
- Future Now
- The name of the college's strategic plan
G
- Gatsby Benchmarks
A framework for good career guidance provision in schools and colleges.
- Get ready for college
- Applicant events usually taking place in June/July as part of your application to college before enrolment.
- Governors
- The college's governing body responsible for strategic oversight.
H
- HE
- Higher Education (HE). Referred to as university-level study at Nottingham College.
- HNC
- Level 4 vocational higher education qualification, roughly equivalent to the first year of a degree.
- HND
- Level 5 vocational higher education qualification, roughly equivalent to the second year of a degree.
I
- IAG
Information, Advice or Guidance (IAG). A framework for providing support services designed to help students make informed choices about courses and future careers.
- Interact
- Moodle/Virtual Learning Evnironment for additional course resources/learning.
K
- King's Trust
The King's Trust helps people aged 11 to 30 to build confidence, get a job or launch a business.
L
- LapSafe
- Laptop smart lockers and charging stations situated on Nottingham College campuses
- Learner Hub
- Student account for mananging applications, interviews and more.
- Learning Agreement
- An official agreement between a student and the college when enrolling onto a course.
- LMI
- Labour Market Information (LMI). Data and insight about employment trends, in-demand skills and job opportunities, used to inform careers guidance.
- LOOM Salon
- The commercial and training salon facilities situated within the Nottingham College Adams Building campus.
- LRC
- Learning Resource Centre (LRC). These provide books, journals, CDs, DVDs, PCs, tablets, laptops and other resources.
M
- Meet the team
- Applicant interview events which take place when you apply for a course.
- MFA
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA). A security measure required for accessing various Nottigham College systems.
- MIS
Management Information System (MIS). Can refer to our software, which manages student records, or MIS department who run and maintains these systems.
- My Nottingham College
- An app to view various information such as your timetable, exams, attendance and more
N
- NCS
National Careers Service (NCS). Government-funded service in England providing careers information, advice and guidance. We can help you make decisions at all stages in your career.
- NEET
- Young adults (typically aged 16 to 24) who are not in any form of education, training or employment.
O
- Ofsted
- The UK regulator for education standards.
P
- Parent Portal
- Portal for parents where their child/ward has consented to share their college progress.
- PEEP
- Persoal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). A tailored escapte strategy for indiviual who may need assistance during an emergency, such as a fire on a college campus.
- People Services
- The name Nottingham College refers to its Human Resources (HR) department as.
- PGCE
Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PCGE) a one-year full-time entry qualification.
- Pre-16
- Referred to as 14-16, specific education programmes for home-educated or students referred by their school.
- Private Candidate
- Someone who is not enrolled as a student but sits an exam through the college's exam centre.
S
- Safeguarding
- The college's policies and procedures for protecting the welfare of students.
- SAR
- Subject access request (SAR), may also be referred to as a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR). A official process of requesting data that Nottingham College holds on an individual data subject.
- School Leaver
- A student progressing directly from secondary school into college, apprenticeship or work.
- SEND
- Special educational needs and disability (SEND). Nottingham College provides a variety of SEND courses suitable for those with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, or medical conditions.
- Service Desk
- Our IT Service Desk team who help troubleshoot and triage IT queries or issues.
- SSPR
- Self Service Password Reset (SSPR). Microsoft Online Password reset portal for resettng your college Microsoft account.
- Stragetic Plan
- The college's three year strategy, outlining the priorties and direction for the college.
- StudentNet
- Student portal for current Nottingham College students, providing news, events and general information about the college.
T
- T Levels
- Two-year, technical Level 3 qualifications equivalent to three A Levels, combining classroom learning with an industry placement (minimum 45 days), designed as an alternative to A Levels/apprenticeships.
- The Gateway
- A specialist facility/building at the Basford campus for students with additional learning needs.
U
- UCAS
- Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). It is the central UK organisation that manages applications for undergraduate courses.
- Unit D
- Refers to the Exams and Conference centre located on 126 Canal Street.
V
- V Levels
- V levels are new Level 3 vocational qualifications in England for students aged 16 to 19, launching in September 2027.
W
- We unlock potential through learning
- The Nottingham College mission statement.
Z
- ZERO
- Our sustainability strategy and initiatives to becoming Carbon Net Zero.