At King's we use specific terminology during the undergraduate and postgraduate application process. The admissions glossary of terms explains the meaning of common terms and words you might encounter to help you navigate the process smoothly.

Accepting an offer is a process whereby an applicant formally notifies the University that they would like to join the programme they hold an offer for. Once an offer is accepted, the application status is updated to 'Firm'.

Applies to postgraduate applicants only: The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is a UK Government process for international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects. If you will be a researcher or student in one of these sensitive subjects, you must apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before you can study or start research in the UK.

Find out if you need ATAS clearance on Student Services Online.

A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a permit issued by the Home Office (a UK Government department) which shows evidence of the holder's immigration permissions. A BRP can be used to confirm your identity, right to study, or your right to public services or benefits.

More information about BRP can be found on the GOV.UK webpages.

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is a reference number which confirms you have been unconditionally accepted on a programme of study in the UK.  The CAS reference number is linked to an electronic document containing details of your programme, and it is essential in order to make a successful student visa application.

Information about CAS can be found on Student Services Online.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: Clearing is a UCAS service provided for students to look for alternative programmes. If you didn’t get a place on a programme – whether you didn’t receive offers, declined your offers, or didn’t get the grades you needed – Clearing allows you to apply for programmes that still have space available. 

More information about clearing can be found on the UCAS website.

A conditional offer is an offer to study that requires certain condition(s) are met before you are fully accepted. Conditional offers are often subject to deadlines by which an applicant must meet their condition(s) before their place is confirmed and they are fully accepted.   

Confirmation is the process whereby, once you have met all of your offer conditions, your offer is updated to unconditional and your place is confirmed.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: A contextual offer means the university takes your personal circumstances into account when making you an offer. This might be a reduced or adjusted offer, such as an offer which is a grade or two lower than the advertised entry requirements, or other support, such as a guaranteed interview.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is a public body that carries out checks to ensure the suitability of a student to work with certain groups. You may need to complete a DBS Check in order to join certain programmes that will involve working with children and/or vulnerable adults. This check helps King's decide whether it is suitable for you to work with these groups. 

Details about the DBS are available on our admissions webpages.

Deferral is the process of transferring your offer to a future academic year or intake. If you have received an offer but will be unable to start the programme at the applied-for intake, it may be possible to request a deferral. Please note deferrals are not currently permitted for any postgraduate taught programmes. 

A deposit is a payment made in order to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment, and may be required either at the point of accepting your offer, or prior to joining your programme.

A digital transcript is an electronic version of a student's official academic transcript, showing the modules taken and the marks achieved for all periods of study during their programme. Digital transcripts of certificates require the Admissions Office to directly verify then with the institution via their approved methods.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: UCAS Extra is a service you can use to apply for alternative Undergraduate places if you do not hold an offer from your first five choices.

Your fee status is a designation which determines the level of tuition fees you'll be charged. Your fee status depends on factors including your nationality, immigration status, where you live, and how long you have lived there. If you have Home fee status, you will be charged Home fees, and if you do not have Home status you will have Overseas fee status and be charged Overseas fees. 

Find out more about the fee status on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.

The status of Firm indicates you have accepted an offer. If you have received a conditional offer and are 'Conditional Firm', you will still need to meet your condition before you can become Unconditional Firm. In a UCAS undergraduate application, your Firm choice is an offer you accept as your first choice.

A funding letter confirms that your sponsor undertakes to pay the tuition fees for your programme on your behalf. A funding letter must include full details of your programme and sponsorship to be accepted.

Gathered field is a method of assessing applications that involves grouping applications together for equal consideration, assessing them in a consistent manner regardless of which was received first. Gathered fields are often used on the most competitive programmes, and may result in longer than average outcome timeframes, as decisions are made as a group once a large number of applications have been received.

A grade scale is a guide that provides an explanation of the grading system used by an educational institution. A grading scale may be required to determine the equivalency of grades between different countries or institutions.

The IELTS Test Report Form (or TRF) is the official confirmation of your IELTS English language test result that can be shared as proof of your English language proficiency. This can either be a paper copy or an electronic version (eTRF).

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: In a UCAS undergraduate application, your Insurance choice is an offer you accept as your second choice – just in case you don’t meet the conditions of your first choice Firm offer.

A degree where students study at more than one institution, usually with the degree awarded jointly from each institution at the end of the programme.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: The King's Living Bursary (KLB) is a scheme that financially assists new full-time, home, undergraduate students who need extra funding to complete their studies. Students do not need to apply for the bursary and will be contacted automatically as long as they meet the eligibility criteria related to their household income. 

Find out more on our funding webpages.

An official transcript is a formal record of all the modules studied and the marks achieved for all periods of study during a programme.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: In a UCAS undergraduate application, the Personal ID is the ten-digit number you get when you begin your UCAS application – displayed in 123-456-7890 format on every email you will receive from UCAS.

Visit the UCAS website for details.

The personal statement is a written submission from the applicant that provides an opportunity to demonstrate why they're a good student for the programme, and why the University should select their application over those of other candidates.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: The point of entry for a programme denotes which year of the programme you start at – for example ‘Point of entry: 2’ means you would start in the second year of the programme.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: Predicted grades are the grades a teacher, tutor, or other qualified adviser believes a student will achieve when they complete their secondary education.

Applies to postgraduate applicants only: A Project Approval Form (PAF) is a form required for those planning a postgraduate research degree, and is designed to ensure that applicants are admitted to their degree in accordance with university policy on good practice. It must be completed and fully approved by the Faculty before an applicant is given a formal offer by the university. The PAF ensures that adequate arrangements are in place to support the applicant and the research project.

A reference is a statement from someone to support your suitability for both degree study generally, and the programme that you have applied for specifically. It is intended to help the university assess your suitability and to help distinguish between applicants. 

Find our more about references on our admissions webpages.

A reference is a statement from someone that supports your suitability for both degree study generally, and the programme that you have applied for specifically. It is intended to help the University assess your suitability and to help distinguish between applicants. For postgraduate taught programmes that require an academic reference, this statement should come from an academic involved in your previous studies (such as your undergraduate degree).

You are ordinarily resident in a residence area if you have habitually, normally and lawfully resided in that area from choice. This term is relevant to the assessment of your fee status.

These are different varieties of funding opportunities that provide monetary grants to support students with the cost of going to university. Students may be selected to receive a funding opportunity based on set eligibility criteria, or on academic achievement. 

Find funding opportunities on our funding database. 

The Study Abroad programme allows students who are currently studying for their degree at an overseas institution to spend either a semester or a full year at King’s.

Discover more about Study Abroad opportunities on our Study Abroad webpages.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is the UK's shared admissions service for undergraduate higher education. UCAS services facilitate young people and mature learners towards university, college, or degree apprenticeships. They also provide information, advice, and guidance to support educational progression. 

Get all the information you need on the UCAS website.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: UCAS Hub is the platform to search, save, and review study options – as well as apply for programmes and track applications made through the UCAS process.

Applies to undergraduate applicants only: In a UCAS undergraduate application, this is the ten-digit number you get when you begin your UCAS application – displayed in 123-456-7890 format on every email you will receive from UCAS.

The UK National Information Centre for global qualifications and skills (UK ENIC) is an organisation that provides guidance on qualification comparisons. It provides services for individuals and organisations, advising on equivalencies against UK qualification framework levels. 

Visit the UK National Information Centre website for details.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is a national advisory body supporting educational organisations and international students with guidance and information. They cover many aspects including immigration and tuition fee status. King's uses guidance produced by UKCISA to assess our applicant's fee status.

Find more information on the UK for International Student Affairs website.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the UK Government body that is responsible for making decisions about who has the right to visit, study or work in the country. If you will need a student visa to study in the UK, the UKVI is the body you will apply to.

Details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

An unconditional offer is an offer that is made without any conditions. This means that you have been assessed to meet all the entry requirements, and to secure your place on the programme you will just need to formally accept the offer.

If you verify something, you check that it is true by careful examination or investigation. In the case of Admissions this would usually be verifying documentation to ensure these are accurate and official. This can be done through contacting your awarding institution or using online official verification systems.

Withdrawing an application is the process of taking yourself out of consideration for a programme that you've applied to but have not yet received a decision on.

Declining an offer is the process of receiving an offer and turning that offer down.