Terminology Guide
PDF versionWe know that the abbreviations and Cambridge-specific jargon can be a little bewildering at first so have compiled the following list as a guide. Please let the Teaching Office know if we have missed any important terms out.
Glossary of Cambridge-specific terminology
| Demonstrator | A person (often a postdoc) who helps supervise labs and practical classes |
| Director of Studies | An academic (usually a College Fellow) who oversees an undergraduate's academic studies on behalf of the College |
| Easter Term | The third of three Terms in the academic year, between Easter and midsummer |
| Fellow | A senior member of the College, in an academic post, who is involved with College affairs |
| Lent Term | The second of three Terms in the academic year, between Christmas and Easter |
| Michaelmas Term | The first of three terms in the academic year, between October and Christmas |
| Part I | First and second years of the undergraduate degree programme |
| Part IA | First year of the undergraduate degree programme |
| Part IB | Second year of the undergraduate degree programme |
| Part IIA | Third year of the undergraduate degree programme |
| Part IIB | Fourth year of the undergraduate degree programme |
| Part II | Third and fourth years of the undergraduate degree programme |
| Tutor | An academic (usually a College Fellow) responsible for the pastoral care of students |
| Tripos | Undergraduate degree programmes at the University of Cambridge are known as Triposes |
| Supervision | This is the main form of teaching in College by Supervisors whose specialism is relevant to the area of study being taught. These are normally carried out individually or in small groups. |
Commonly used abbreviations and acronyms
| AV | Audio-visual |
| BA | Bachelor of Arts |
| CAD | Computer-aided design |
| CamCORS | Cambridge Colleges Online Reporting System for Supervisions |
| CAPE | Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics |
| CET | Chemical Engineering Tripos |
| COMET | Online module choice system for third and fourth year undergraduates |
| CUES | Cambridge University Engineering Society |
| CUSU | Cambridge University Students’ Union |
| DPO | Design and Project Office within the Department of Engineering |
| ECP | École Centrale Paris |
| IfM | Institute for Manufacturing within the Department of Engineering |
| LPE | Language Programme for Engineers |
| LU | Department of Engineering’s Language Unit |
| MEng | Master of Engineering |
| MET | Manufacturing Engineering Tripos |
| MPhil | Master of Philosophy |
| NSS | National Student Survey |
| NUS | National University of Singapore |
| SSJC | Staff Student Joint Committee |
| VLE | Virtual Learning Environment (the Department uses Moodle as its VLE) |
Last updated on 04/09/2017 15:52