Academic glossary
The language of higher education, explained clearly.
Accreditation
An external quality-assurance process. Check its scope, the relevant authority and whether it covers the institution or a specific programme.
Assessment
The work used to judge learning, such as examinations, projects, presentations or a dissertation.
Dissertation
An extended piece of academic work. Its length, purpose and research expectations depend on the programme.
Learning outcomes
Statements of what a learner should know or be able to do after a learning activity or programme.
Methodology
The reasoning behind the selection and use of research methods.
Open access
Availability of scholarly material for readers without a subscription barrier; reuse rights depend on the licence.
Peer review
Evaluation by relevant specialists. It is a form of scrutiny, not a guarantee that every conclusion is correct.
Qualification recognition
A determination about how a qualification is accepted for a particular purpose. The decision depends on the relevant authority and context.
Research proposal
A plan describing a research question, its importance, relevant literature and a feasible approach.
Supervision
Structured academic guidance during a project or research programme; responsibilities should be made explicit.