Education terms: U
27 terms starting with U, with where each one is used. Choose a term for related terms.
Classfern Pro: report writer, Ask Fern, forum and jobs – no ads. What's in Pro Join Classfern Pro
- U.S. Department of Education (ED) United States
- The federal department that administers federal education funding, enforces civil rights laws in education and collects data; most education decisions are made by states and districts.
- UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- The organisation that runs the central application system for undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges.
- UCAS tariff All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A points system that converts post-16 qualifications and grades into UCAS points so different qualifications can be compared for university entry, for example an A* at A level is 56 points.
- UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- An admissions test used by many UK medical and dental schools.
- UCI (Unique candidate identifier) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A 13-character code that identifies a candidate across all exam boards.
- UK GDPR (UK General Data Protection Regulation) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- The UK's main data protection law (with the Data Protection Act 2018), which governs how schools collect, use and keep personal data.
- ULN (Unique learner number) England
- A 10-digit number that identifies a learner aged 14 and over in England and links to their personal learning record.
- UMS (Uniform mark scale) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A system used in older modular qualifications to convert raw marks on units into a common scale so they could be added up.
- Unauthorised absence All four UK nations (details may differ)
- An absence the school has not approved, such as an unapproved term-time holiday.
- Unconditional offer All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A university offer with no academic conditions still to meet.
- UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) International
- The international treaty setting out children's rights, including the right to education (Articles 28 and 29); Scotland has incorporated it into law.
- Undeclared United States
- A US college student who has not yet chosen a major.
- Undergraduate All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- A student studying for a first degree, such as a bachelor's degree.
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) International
- The UN agency for education, science and culture, which leads on the global education goal SDG 4.
- Ungraded (U) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A result below the lowest grade in a qualification, meaning no grade is awarded.
- Uniform All four UK nations (details may differ)
- The clothing pupils must wear at school, set by the school's uniform policy; much more common in UK schools than in US public schools.
- Unit plan United States All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A plan for a whole unit of study covering several weeks, including goals, lessons and assessments.
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) United States All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A framework for designing teaching so all learners can access it, by offering multiple means of engagement, representation and action and expression.
- Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) England
- Free school lunches for all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state schools in England.
- Universal screener United States
- A short assessment given to all students to identify those at risk of difficulties.
- University All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- An institution that awards degrees and usually carries out research.
- University technical college (UTC) England
- An academy in England for 14 to 19 year olds that specialises in technical subjects such as engineering or computing and is sponsored by a university and employers.
- Unqualified teacher England
- A person teaching without QTS, allowed in academies and independent schools and in some roles in maintained schools.
- Unweighted GPA United States
- A GPA on the standard 4.0 scale with no extra points for course difficulty.
- UPN (Unique pupil number) England Wales
- A 13-character identifier given to each pupil in state schools in England and Wales.
- Upper pay range (UPR) England
- A higher pay range in England for experienced classroom teachers who apply and meet the criteria.
- Upper sixth England Wales
- A traditional name for Year 13, the final year of sixth form.
Being checked against official sources. Definitions are written in our own words; always check the official guidance for your country.
Definitions are written by Classfern in our own words for teachers in the UK and the US. They are short explanations, not legal or official definitions: always check the official guidance for your country, nation or state. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government department, inspectorate or exam board named here.
Learn how – Glossary: watch the 1-minute video · print (PDF)