Glossary
A
Advisor

A staff member who provides academic guidance and support to students regarding their studies.

Academic Transcript

The official record of all courses completed and grades achieved by a student.

Assessment

Methods of evaluating student learning, such as exams, projects, or assignments.

Academic Standing

A measure of a student’s overall performance, often determining whether they are in good academic progress or on probation.

Academic Probation

A status assigned to students whose GPA falls below the required minimum.

B
Bursary/Scholarship

Financial support provided to students based on merit or need.

C
Course

A unit of teaching that typically lasts one semester and is led by one or more instructors.

Credits

A measure of the workload of a course, often used to determine degree requirements.

Curriculum

The structured set of courses, requirements, and regulations that define a degree program.

Course Prerequisite

A course that must be completed before enrolling in another, often to ensure

Cumulative GPA

A numerical average of all grades earned, often used for academic performance tracking.

D
Department

An academic unit within a faculty that focuses on a specific field of study.

Degree

An academic qualification awarded by the university after completing the required program of study.

Degree Audit

A systematic check of a student’s progress toward meeting all degree requirements.

Deferred Exam

An exam taken at a later date due to illness or exceptional circumstances.

Drop/Add Period

A set timeframe when students can add or drop courses without penalty.

E
Elective

A course chosen by the student that is not compulsory for their program but counts towards degree requirements.

F
Faculty

A division within the university that groups together related academic departments and programs.

G
Glossary

A list of academic and institutional terms included in MyAdvisor

H
Handbook

The official document outlining degree rules, course information, and university policies.

Helpbot

An AI-powered chatbot within MyAdvisor that provides instant answers to common student queries.

L
Leave of Absence

A temporary withdrawal from studies with the possibility of returning.

M
Major

The primary area of study chosen by a student for their degree.

Module

A single unit of teaching, such as a semester-long course, that contributes toward degree completion.

Matriculation

The formal process of enrolling in a university.

N
NQF Level

The National Qualifications Framework level indicating the complexity and depth of a course or qualification.

P
Prerequisite

A requirement that must be fulfilled before enrolling in a particular course.

Program of Study

A student’s specific degree path, including compulsory and elective courses.

PeopleSoft/Student Portal

An online system where students register, view results, and manage records.

Plagiarism

The unacknowledged use of someone else’s work; a serious academic offense.

R
Registration

The process by which students officially enroll in courses for a semester.

Roadmap Pass/Fail Check

A feature in MyAdvisor that helps students identify whether they have passed the requirements to progress to future courses.

Registrar

The administrative office responsible for student records, registration, and graduation.

Research Ethics

Principles governing responsible and fair academic research.

S
Semester

A division of the academic year during which courses are taught and assessed.

Syllabus

A summary of a course, including topics covered, learning outcomes, and assessments.

Study Abroad/Exchange

A program allowing students to complete part of their degree at a partner institution.

T
Transcript

The official record of a student’s academic performance, including courses taken and grades received.

Timetable

The official schedule of lectures, tutorials, and practicals for a given course.

Thesis/Dissertation

An extended piece of independent research required in some degrees.

W
Workload

The estimated hours of study, assignments, and class time required for a course.