"B"

Confused by any education words and phrases you have come across? Use this glossary to find out what they mean!

Simply select the letter your word begins with to search for its meaning.

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BA
Abbreviation of the first-degree qualification Bachelor of Arts.

Bachelors degree
First degree usually obtained after three years or more of full-time study.

BACIHFE
British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education. Organisation that runs an accreditation scheme for UK private colleges.

BALEAP
British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes. Organisation that works to develop the provision of English-language teaching for international students in higher education institutions in the UK.

BASELT
The British Association of State English Language Teaching. Association of state universities and colleges in the UK. Responsible for quality assessment of English-language courses for international students and teachers. Accredits numerous courses.

block release
Continuous period (usually several weeks) where an employer allows an employee time away from work to attend an educational institution.

boarding school
A boarding school is an educational institution where some or all pupils not only study, but also live, amongst their peers. The word 'boarding' in this sense means to provide food and lodging.

bridging course
General name for any course preparing students who need to improve their academic study skills or language ability before they progress to higher level study.

BSc
Abbreviation of the first-degree qualification Bachelor of Science.

BTEC
Business and Technician Education Council. Body which validates BTEC Certificates and Diplomas.

BTEC Certificate and Diploma
Vocational qualifications available at various levels.

bursary
Financial award granted by an institution to a student. Bursaries have strict selection criteria, and are usually for a fixed amount, very often less than the full cost of a course.