Glossary of useful terms

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11

Bus service which connects University campus to Coventry and Leamington Spa.

12X

Bus service which connects University campus to Coventry (faster).

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A

Academic Probation

The term used at Warwick to refer to the probationary period (usually of 5 years) which all Assistant Professors are subject to at Warwick.

Ada Lovelace Day

Event organised by the Maths Society to celebrate women in maths. Usually week 3 of term 1.

Admissions

The processes by which students are accepted on degree courses at the University.

A-Levels, Advanced-Level

The final qualification that most UK students obtain when completing mandatory schooling at 18.

Appeals

This is the process by which students may challenge assessment results.

APP TE, Academic and Professional Pathway for Teaching Excellence

University training programme for teaching. New Assistant Professors and Warwick Zeeman Lecturers are usually required to complete this. Successful completion leads to Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

ARC, Academic Resourcing Committee

The University committee which makes decisions about departmental funding.

Arts Centre

Warwick's local arts centre - has concerts, theatre and film, and is especially famous for the comedy scene.

Assembly

The democratic body for staff representation at the University: all staff can attend and vote at its meetings.

Assessments

Exams and pieces of coursework.

Assignments

Problem sheets or pieces of coursework.

Assistant Professor

Permanent position (under probation). Equivalent to the term "lecturer", which is used at most UK universities.

Associate Professor

Permanent position equivalent to "senior lecturer".

Athena SWAN

A charter established and managed by the UK Equality Challenge Unit in 2005 - it recognises and celebrates good practices in higher education and research institutions towards the advancement of gender equality.

AV, audio-visual

A term for technical support as it relates to equipment used in seminar rooms and lecture theatres.

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B

BAMC, British Applied Mathematics Colloquium

The biggest UK applied maths conferences. Every 4 years it is held jointly with the BMC, and every other year it gives the IMA Lighthill prize in collaboration with the IMA.

BBSRC, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Funding body, useful for people doing MathBio.

BMC, British Mathematical Colloquium

UK pure maths conference.

Boar , The

Warwick newspaper, written and published by students.

BSc, Bachelor of Science

The name of the degree awarded after passing three years of study on (most of) the degree programmes.

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C

Campus

The UK term for the main area of land occupied by a University; in the Warwick context, refers to the "main campus", an area which has the University Library at its approximate centre.

Canley

Coventry neighbourhood close to campus. A favourite for student accommodation.

Cannon Park

Area of Coventry adjacent to University campus, and home to a shopping centre.

CATS, Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme

The credit scheme which allows students to mix and match modules to make up their degree.

CDT, Centre for Doctoral Training

Thematic PhD training programmes, usually funded by the EPSRC. In the WMI we are associated with (and contribute to) MathSys and HetSys.

Central Timetabling

The University department responsible for room booking and timetabling.

Circling

A social activity much-beloved by Warwick student societies, basically drinking games.

Cohort

A term used to refer to students collectively at the same point in their degrees, e.g. "The second-year cohort".

Colloquium

Friday afternoon departmental seminar - ideally an accessible talk for everyone in the department. Followed by wine and cheese.

Common Room

Our biggest social space in the department - ideal for lunch, tea and socialising - has a kitchen too.

Comms, Communications

The department of the University that manages internal and external communication in the University.

Community Safety

In the Warwick context, the University department which safeguards campus and provides rapid-reaction support for crises.

Concur

Software used by the University to administer expenses.

Copper Rooms

Student Union nightclub

Course

The Warwick term for a degree course.

Cov

Short for Coventry.

CPD, Continuing Professional Development

General UK term for training provided by your employer.

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D

Department

An organisational sub-unit within Warwick (academic or non-academic). Within Maths, often used to mean the Maths department.

Departmental secretary

Alison Glendinning.

DPGS

Director of Postgraduate Studies (a departmental position), currently Bertram Düring

DTC, Doctoral Training Centre

Similar (predecessor) to CDTs

Duck, Dirty Duck

Student Pub in the Student Union building.

DUGS

Director of Undergraduate Studies (a departmental position), currently Dave Wood.

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E

EAP, Employee Assistance Programme

Confidential support service designed to help University of Warwick employees deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health and general wellbeing. Accessible here.

Earlsdon

A residential suburb of Coventry.

ECC, Early Career Committee

Committee aimed at supporting and representing early career academic (research and/or teaching) staff in the Maths Institute.

ECF, Early Career Fellowship

Type of fellowship aimed at early career researchers. Most funding bodies have one of these, e.g. LMS ECF, Leverhulme ECF, Royal Society University Research Fellowship, 1851 Research Fellowship (all for people without a permanent position), EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowship or Open Fellowship (replacing EPSRC ECF), EPSRC New Investigator award, and many others.

Echo360

Warwick's Lecture capture system.

ED&I, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

A Warwick (and possibly UK) term for efforts and initiatives to address structural inequalities, lack of diversity and improve accessibility.

EMS, European Mathematical Society

The European-level professional body for mathematicians.

EPSRC, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Research Council / Funding body - the most likely for us to apply to.

ERASMUS, European Union Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students

Mobility system for UG students to spend a year of study abroad.

eVision

A software system used to access various aspects of student records.

Exam board

A departmental committee which signs off on the assessment of modules at the end of the academic year, and decides on degree classifications (in the case of final year exam boards).

Exam checker

Someone (often a graduate student or post-doc) who helps out with marking of exams.

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F

Faculty

Within Warwick, the term for the organisational groups in the University which group academic departments. Maths sits within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

FE, Further Education

A general UK term for all forms of post-secondary school education which does not lead to a University degree; contrast with Higher Education.

Fellowship

Funding type. Usually connected to a person and their project.

First Grant

Early career funding. Recently replaced by the New Investigator Award.

FLF, Future Leaders Fellowship

UKRI recent funding scheme. Aimed at early career researchers with an ambitious and interdisciplinary research programme.

FTE, Full-Time Equivalent

A term used to refer to staffing, particularly when talking about part-time arrangements and grant funding.

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G

G100

The 3-year Maths degree, refers to a UCAS code. Completion means a BSc is awarded.

G103

The 4-year Maths degree, refers to a UCAS code. Completion means an MMath is awarded.

GCSE, General Certificate of Secondary Education

The qualifications obtained by most UK students at the age of 16.

Gibbett Hill

The original Warwick campus and current site for the Medical School, Life Sciences departments, and the Maths Houses. It is separated from the main campus and can be accessed on foot via a path through the woods or by road.

Glow

An LGBTUA+ club night run by the Students' Union.

Grant

Another type of funding. Usually connected to a project and lead by multiple researchers.

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H

Handbook, Undergraduate Handbook

This webpage, which details all the course regulations.

Head of Administration

Deals with policy & strategy and overall administration of the department.

Health and Safety

A general UK term covering the duties of employers to protect the health and safety of their staff at work, and actions taken to do so. Note that in some contexts, this term has loaded cultural connotations.

HE, Higher Education

A general UK term for all forms of post-secondary school education which lead to a University degree; contrast with Further Education.

HESA, Higher Education Statistics Agency

The UK body which compiles statistics about Universities and Higher education.

HetSys

EPSRC funded CDT spanning most science departments. Focuses on physical sciences and using mathematical skills and flexible thinking to solve complex (multi-scale) problems.

HoD, Head of Department

Warwick term for anyone in charge of a department.

HR, Human Resources

General UK term for the branch of an organisation which deals with the administration of personnel, recruitment, etc.

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I

IAS, Institute for Advanced Study

A Warwick organisation which provides some internal research funding and support.

IB, International Baccalaureate

A qualification awarded upon completing school at 18 which is an alternative to A-levels (and is much rarer).

IMA, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications

One of the two UK professional organisations for mathematicians, along with the LMS.

Impact

The effect of research study, particularly when it concerns generating other research, or successful commercial ventures.

Innovate UK

The UK body which is in charge of encouraging the dissemination of academic research for commercial and industrial use.

Insite

Our internal news website. Usually sends a weekly email with updates.

Intercalated year

A year of an undergraduate degree spent away from Warwick (usually the third of four), either to study elsewhere, or spent working.

Intranet

Internal webpages of the department.

ITS, IT services

The Warwick department responsible for IT support.

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J

Joint degrees

Departmental jargon for the "Maths and X" degrees.

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K

KTP, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

They are an Innovate UK business support solution that enable knowledge transfer between academia and industry. KTPs can range from 12 months to three years during which university experts will assist an industrial partner to create strategic and profitable change within their company.

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L

L3

One of the largest lecture theatres in the University, accessible via the Science Concourse.

LDC

Learning and Development Centre

Leam, Leamington

Short for Leamington Spa.

Lecturer

Outside Warwick, the usual UK term for an academic staff; for example, it is used when stating your job for insurance or financial applications. Most UK universities still use this term, but Warwick moved away from this at least a decade ago; in the Warwick context, it specifically means someone delivering lectures.

Leverhulme Trust

A non-governmental funding body in the UK. Offers funding for early-career and established researchers.

LGBTUA+

Warwick terminology - stands for lesbian, gay, bi+, trans, undefined, asexual or aromantic, and others who experience similar forms of prejudice and discrimination (+).

Line manager

General UK term for your direct superior in a workplace.

LMS, London Mathematical Society

Along with the IMA, one of the two professional organisations for mathematicians in the UK.

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M

Maths Houses

Accommodation options available to our visitors in the WMI. There are five 3-bedroom houses as well as a sixth one with one-bedroom flats.

MathSys

EPSRC-funded CDT focusing on mathematics of real-world systems.

MAT, Maths Admissions Test

Like TMUA and STEP, an exam offered by Oxford university that secondary school students can take to support their application to university. Focuses on assessing problem-solving skills.

MAx.xx

Room numbers in the Zeeman Building.

MAxxx

Standard code format for modules administered by the Maths department; other departments have similar codes, e.g. PXxxx is a Physics module.

Mentor

A member of staff assigned to support those on probation.

MIR@W, Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Research at Warwick

An initiative to fund workshops with the aim of encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.

MMath, Master of Mathematics

The name of the degree awarded after passing four years of study on the Maths degree programme.

Module

A lecture course which counts towards completion of a degree at Warwick.

Monash, Warwick-Monash Alliance

An Australian University with which Warwick has a strategic partnership.

Moodle

The platform used by the University for collating module resources.

MRC

1) Mathematics Research Centre A sub-organisation within the department which coordinates research visitors, workshops and other research-related events.

2) Medical Research Council. 

3) Modern Records Centre - Warwick's archive, located on central campus.

MS.0x

One of the lecture theatres accessible via the main atrium ("The Street") in the Zeeman Building.

MSB, Mathematical Sciences Building

New building which abuts the Zeeman Building, and has offices shared between the Maths, Statistics and Computer Science departments.

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N

NSS, National Student Survey

A national survey of all students completing their degree which is used as part of the UK government's assessment of teaching at Universities, the TEF.

NUS, National Union of Students

The UK body which represents the interests of students.

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O

Oculus

A devoted teaching building on the main campus which houses the largest lecture theatres in the University.

Offer

When students at school are given a place at University, usually conditional on meeting the university entry requirements.

Offer-holder Open Day

Open Days for students who have received an offer from Warwick to give them a taste of life as a student at Warwick, usually in February and March.

OfS, Office for Students

The UK regulator for the University sector.

Open Day

A couple of days per year when students at school are able to visit Warwick before they choose to apply to University

Outreach

Events run to give school children and the general public an insight into maths at university. The current outreach schools liaison is Josephine Evans.

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P

PA, Personal Assistant

A secretary or administrative assistant working exclusively for one particular person.

PCAPP

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic and Professional Practice

PDRA, Post-doctoral Research Associate

Someone post PhD carrying out research on a specific project under supervision of a permanent member of staff.

Personal tutor

A term which refers to members of staff acting in a pastoral role as a mentor to their tutees.

PG, Postgraduate

A student continuing their studies after their undergraduate course.

Pigeon loft/holes

A Warwick Maths term for labelled open-fronted shelving with spaces for passing documents.

Pop

A popular club-night run by the Students' Union.

Professor

The highest level research focused staff can be promoted to.

Promotion

Assessment of research, teaching, impact and collegiality to move to Associate Prof., Reader and Professor. See guidelines for both research and teaching focused staff. These correspond to different salary scales.

Provost

Senior academic leader within the University, currently Prof. Emma Flynn.

Public Engagement

Events organised to engage with the public, and demonstrate the research and studies that go on at Warwick e.g. the Science Gala.

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Q

QAA, Quality Assurance Association for Higher Education

An independent charity working to benefit students by reviewing standards and quality in higher education, providing key sector guidance, and providing practical support for members.

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R

Radcliffe

A conference hotel on campus that can be used for visitors, holding conferences etc.

RCUK, Research Councils UK

Old term for UKRI.

Reader

An Associate Professor with access to the highest two salary points in the FA 8 scale.

REF, Research Excellence Framework

The UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers (HEPs). The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research.

Regulation

A university rule.

Research Associate

General Warwick term for a member of staff at Grade 6 whose main responsibility is research.

R&IS, Research & Impact Services

Provides support for research i.e. grant proposals, see their website. WMI has a Maths Research Development Manager who does this role in the department.

Rootes

The grocery store on campus located opposite the arts centre.

Royal Society

Is a Fellowship of the world's most eminent scientists. It is also a source of grants such as the University Research Fellowship.

RSE, Research Software Engineer

Someone who works in industry and combines professional software expertise with an understanding of research.

Russell Group

A body which represents and lobbies for 24 self-selected top Universities in the UK.

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S

Sab, Sabbatical Officer

One of the elected officers of the Students' Union.

Scarman

A conference hotel on campus similar to Radcliffe

Science Concourse

Long corridor which connects various science departments, accessible via the raised walkway outside the University Library.

Science Gala

The annual science gala at Warwick offers the general public the opportunity to see the research and studies that go on.

SCRTP, Scientific Computing Research Technology Platform

The platform manages a Linux-based desktop computing environment, provides high performance computing (HPC) facilities and access to research software engineering (RSE) expertise for researchers at Warwick.

Security

See campus security.

Senate

Along with Council, one of the two top committees in the University. Oversees all academic functions in the University.

Senior Administrator

See Head of Administration.

Senior Tutor

A departmental staff role charged with overseeing student welfare.

SGSLC, Staff-Graduate Student Liaison Committee

A committee that represents graduate student views within the department.

SIAM

Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics

Smack

Nightclub in Leamington which is popular with students.

Society

A student organisation focused on a particular activity.

Sports Hub

The main building housing sports facilities on campus.

SSLC, Student Staff Liaison Committee

A committee that represents undergraduate student views within the department.

STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

An umbrella term for these subjects.

STEP, Sixth-Term Examination Paper

Like TMUA and MAT, an exam that secondary school students can take to support their application to university. Focuses on assessing problem-solving skills.

STFC, Science and Technology Facilities Council

A government funded research council that supports research in the field of astronomy and space-related research

Street , The

Main atrium at the main entrance of the Zeeman Building.

Study Group with Industry

A study group with industry is an open workshop in which academics and PhD students work on interesting problems suggested by industry. They usually take place over a week, and in particular without any form of Non Disclosure Agreement or Intellectual Property Rights restriction. The aim is to stimulate new research and solve key industrial challenges.

Success Factors

Software used for HR administrative tasks by the University.

Supervisor

Specific Warwick Maths term for undergraduates and postgraduates who conduct small group teaching (supervisions) for first- and second-year undergraduates.

SU, Students' Union

The body which represents and provides various kinds of support for students at the University, coordinating and running various businesses and societies on campus.

Symposium

Historically, a year-long thematic programme of talks and workshops held in the department, funded by the EPSRC.

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T

Tabula

Software used for personal tutoring tasks and administration of teaching by the University.

TA, Teaching Assistant

A PhD student who is assigned to an undergraduate module to run support classes

Taught Programmes Office (TPO), Undergraduate Office

The "front desk" of the Maths department, in B0.01 in the Zeeman building.

TCC, Taught Course Centre

A multi-university organisation which runs graduate-level courses across multiple maths departments in the UK.

Teaching Associate

General Warwick term for a member of staff at Grade 6 whose main responsibility is teaching.

Teaching Committee

The departmental committee responsible for oversight of teaching.

TEF, Teaching Excellence Framework

A UK government initiative for the regular assessment of teaching in Universities.

Term

The academic year in Warwick is divided into three 10-week terms, Term 1 from October – December, Term 2 from January – March/April and Term 3 from April – June.

TMUA, Test of Mathematics for University Admission

Like MAT and STEP, an exam that secondary school students can take to support their application to university. Focuses on assessing problem-solving skills.

Tutorial

 A meeting between a personal tutor and tutee(s).

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U

U1, U2, U3

Bus services which run between University Campus and Leamington, run by Stagecoach.

UCAS, Universities and Colleges Admissions System

The organisation which coordinates University admissions for undergraduate courses in the UK.

UCEA, Universities and Colleges Employers Association

The organisation which represents Universities as employers for the purpose of determining pay and conditions (but not pensions).

UCU, Universities and Colleges Union

The trade union which represents academic and professional services staff at grades 6 and above in the University.

UEB, University Executive Board

Analogous with the executive board in a UK company, the highest day-to-day decision-making level in the University.

UG, Undergraduate

A student on a first degree at a UK University.

UG, Undergraduate

A student taking their first degree at University.

UKRI, UK Research and Innovation

The name for the main governmentally-funded research funding organisation in the UK.

Undergraduate Workroom

A room on the ground floor of the Zeeman building available for undergraduates to use for study.

University Council

Along with Senate, one of the two top committees in the University. Functions essentially as the University "board of directors".

University House

The building where many of the central administrative departments and teams of the University have their offices.

URF, University Research Fellowship

A prestigious research fellowship scheme run by the Royal Society open to those not yet employed in a permanent academic post.

USS, Universities Superannuation Scheme

The pension scheme covering many staff employed at many UK universities.

UUK, Universities UK

The organisation which represents heads of UK Universities for lobbying purposes and for negotiating terms of the USS pension scheme.

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V

Varsity

Pub just adjacent to campus.

VC, Vice Chancellor

Head of the University, currently Stuart Croft.

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W

Warwick in Africa

Programme designed to support teaching and learning in partner schools in Africa, focusing on Mathematics and English. The programme includes a student volunteering programme and a teacher support programme.

WBS, Warwick Business School

The business school at Warwick.

Welcome Week

The Warwick term for the week before the University term starts in the Autumn.

Wellbeing

The University department that provides counselling and mental health support to students and staff.

WMG, Warwick Manufacturing Group

One of the largest departments in the University, devoted to the study of Manufacturing; separate from the Engineering Department.

WMI, Warwick Mathematics Institute

Official title of the department.

WMS, Warwick Maths Society

The student subject society for Mathematics.

WRAP, Warwick Research Archive Portal

A preprint server for research documents produced at Warwick.

WZL, Warwick Zeeman Lecturer

3-year fixed-term assistant professor positions specific to Maths at Warwick. Named after Christopher Zeeman, founder of the department.

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Z

Zeeman Building

The building which houses much of the Maths department, along with several of the largest lecture theatres in the University.

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