Common Acronyms

Please find a list of common acronyms and their definitions outlined below. These acronyms are used by SIA, Planning, and across the HE sector. If we have any missing acronyms please feel free to let us know at business-intelligence@york.ac.uk.

Acronym	Meaning	Notes
AAR	Annual Accountability Return (HEFCE)
ABC	Askham Bryan College
AGR	Audit Grant Report (ITT providers need to submit audited accounts to the Teaching Agency on an annual basis)
AHRC	Arts & Humanities Research Council
AHSSBL	Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law departments
APCL	Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning
APEL	Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning
AP(E)L	Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning	Collective term for APCL and APEL
API	Application Programming Interface
APL	Accreditation of Prior Learning	Used as collective term for APCL & APEL, or as a synonym for APCL.
AAPSG	Access Agreement Preparation Sub-Group	York
ARC	Academic Registrars Council
ARMA	Association of Research Managers and Administrators
ASO	Academic Support Office	York
ASSUR	FSSG annual sustainability assurance report
AUA	Association of University Administrators
BAME	Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (also BME, BEM and other variations)
BBSRC	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
BGP	Block Grant Partnership (AHRC funding framework for PhD studentships)
BEIS	(Department for) Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
BIU	Business Intelligence Unit	York
BMSG	Better Management Steering Group	York
BoS	Board of Studies
BOS	Bristol Online Survey
BSG	Business Systems Group (former)	York
BUFDG	British Universities Finance Directors Group
BUILA	British Universities' International Liaison Association
CAHR	Centre for Applied Human Rights	York
CAS	Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (relates to Tier 4 / UKBA Visa)
CASE	Council for the Advancement and Support for Education
CBoS	Chair of Board of Studies
CELT	Centre for English Language Teaching	York
CERIF	Common European Research Information Format
CHE	Centre for Health Economics	York
CHyM	Centre for Hyperpolarisation in Magnetic Resonance	York
CII	Centre for Immunology and Infection	York
CIRC	Collaborative International Research Centre	York
CLCF	Centre for Low Carbon Futures
CML	Centre for Medieval Literature
CMS	Centre for Medieval Studies	York
CModS	Centre for Modern Studies	York
CNAP	Centre for Novel Agricultural Products	York
CORDIS	Community Research and Development Information Service (EU)
CRB	Criminal Records Bureau (now DBS)
CROS	Career Researcher Online Survey	York
CRD	Centre for Reviews and Dissemination	York
CRAC	Careers Research & Advisory Centre
CREMS	Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies	York
CRIS	Current Research Information System (or Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme)
CSR	Comprehensive Spending Review
CUC	Committee of University Chairs
CWS	Centre for Women's Studies	York
CYC	City of York Council
DA	Directly Allocated (research funding)
DARO	Development and Alumni Relations Office	York
DBS	Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB)
DDS	Data Dissemination System (DDS) (HESA)
DEFRA	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DI	Directly Incurred (research funding)
DLHE	Destination of Leavers in Higher Education (6 month, longtitudinal 40 month?)
DMT	Departmental Management Team
DoHS	Department of Health Sciences	York
DPA	Data Protection Act
DRC	Departmental Research Committee	York
DSA	Disabled Students' Allowance
DTC	Doctoral Training Centre
DTLLS	DTLLS - Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector
DTP	Doctoral Training Partnership
DVC	Deputy Vice-Chancellor
DWS	Digital Work Space
EBITDA	Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (financial term)
EC	European Commission
EEA	European Economic Area (EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)
EPSRC	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
ESG	Enterprise Systems Group (formed from BSG+WSG) (out of use as of 2021; see Digital Services instead)	York
ESSG	Enterprise Systems Steering Group
ESRC	Economic and Social Research Council
ELQ	Equivalent or Lower Qualification
ERC	European Research Council
EU	European Union
e-Val	MRC Online Survey (now ResearchFish)
FD	Foundation Degree
FACTS	(subject)-Full Average Costs of Teaching a Student
fEC	Full Economic Costing (related to TRAC)
FASG	Faculty Admin Support Group	York
FB	Faculty Board	York
FEG	Faculty Executive Group	York
FLTG	Faculty Learning and Teaching Group	York
FRG	Faculty Research Group	York
FTSG	Faculty Technical Support Group	York
FOI(A)	Freedom of Information Act
FPE	Full Person Equivalent (HESA)
FRAM	Forecasting Routes, Admissions and Modules (UoY Project)
FSR	Finance Statistics Return (HESA)
FSSG	Financial Sustainability Strategy Group (HEFCE)
FST	Fee Status Code (HEFCE) (identifies whether a students pays Home or Overseas fees)
FTE	Full-Time Equivalent
GRUP	Global Research University Profiles
GTA	Graduate Teaching Assistant
GTP	Graduate Teacher Programme (Teaching Agency)
GtR	Gateway to Research
GTTR	Graduate Teacher Training Registry
HCS	HESA Course (HCS) records
HEAR	Higher Education Achievement Record
HEBCI(S)	Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (Survey)
HEBRG	Higher Education Better Regulation Group
HEBSS	Higher Education Bursary and Scholarship Scheme
HECoS	Higher Education Classification of Subjects (successor to JACS)
HEDIIP	Higher Education Data & Information Improvement Programme
HEFCE	Higher Education Funding Council for England
HEFCW	Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
HEIDI	Higher Education Information Database for Institutions
HEIF	Higher Education Innovation Fund
HELOA	Higher Education Liaison Officers Association
HESA	Higher Education Statistics Agency
HESA IRIS	HESA's Information Reporting Interface Service
HESA (US)	Higher Education Strategy Associates (US publication, disambiguation)
HESES	Higher Education Students Early Statistics (Survey) run by HEFCE
HESPA	Higher Education Strategic Planners Association
HoD	Head of Department
HMS	HESA Module Subject
HRC	Humanities Research Centre
HSCI	Department of Health Sciences	York; DoHS is preferable
HTTP	HyperText Transfer Protocol
HTTPS	HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure
HY	Higher York
ICARS	International CASE Alumni Relations Survey
IDC	Inter-Departmental Centre	York (e.g. Women's Studies, Medieval Studies)
IEE	Institute for Effective Education	York
IELTS	International English Language Testing System
INSET	In-service training (for teachers)
IPC	International Pathways College
ITSO	IT Support Office	York
ITT	Initial Teacher Training
JACS	Joint Academic Coding System (version 2, version 3)
Je-S	Joint Electronic Submissions (Research Councils)
JISC / Jisc	Jisc / Joint Information Systems Committee
KCL	King's College London
KIS	Key Information Sets
KPI	Key Performance Indicator
KTP	Knowledge Transfer Partnership
LE	Learning Environment (TEF)
LFA	Languages for All	LFA
LOA	Leave of absence
LPN	Low Participation Neighbourhood
LTP	Long Term Planning
MBBS	Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
MDS	Medical and Dental Survey
MOA	Mode of Attendance
MRAO	Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions, and Outreach	York
MRBP	Marketing and Recruitment Business Partner
MRC	Medical Research Council
MTP	Medium Term Planning
NARIC	National Academic Recognition Information Centre (for the UK)
NCTL	National College for Teaching and Leadership
NERC	Natural Environment Research Council
NIHR	National Institute for Health Research
NMS	New Modular Scheme	York
NPTF	Non-Publicly Funded Teaching (TRAC)
NSP	National Scholarship Programme (HEFCE)
NSS	National Student Survey
NUMS	New University Modularisation Scheme	York
ODBC	Open DataBase Connectivity
OFFA	Office for Fair Access
OFSTED	Office for Standards in Education
OfS	Office for Students
OPML	OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language)
OPPA	Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni	York
ORCID	Open Researcher and Contributor ID
OTTP	Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (Teaching Agency)
PANIC	Short Term Planning
PEP	School of Politics, Economics and Philosophy	York
pFACT	Project Financial, Accounting and Costing Tool
PFT	Publicly Funded Teaching (TRAC)
PGCE	Postgraduate Certificate of Education
PGR	Postgraduate Research
PGT	Postgraduate Taught
PGWT	Postgraduates Who Teach
PhD	Doctor of Philosophy
PI	Performance Indicator (National Statistics)
PI	Principal Investigator (Research)
PISG	Performance Indicators Steering Group (HEFCE)
PITG	Performance Indicators Technical Group (HEFCE)
PRDU	Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit	York
PRES	Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
PSRB	Professional or Statutory Regulatory Bodies
PSS	Professional Support Services
PTES	Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey
PTE	Pearson Test(s) of English
PVC	Pro Vice-Chancellor
QAS	Quick Applicant Setup (SITS)	York
QCDA	Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency
QR (HEFCE)	HEFCE Quality-Related Research Grant
QSS	Quick Student Setup (SITS)	York
QTS	Qualified Teacher Status
RA	Research Associate
RAE	Research Assessment Exercise (old)
RC	Research Council
RCUK	Research Councils UK
REF	Research Excellence Framework
RGC	Research Grants and Contracts	York
RMAS	Research Management and Administration System
ROCE	Return On Capital Employed
ROS	Research Outcomes System
RPG	Regulatory Partnership Group	HEFCE
RSAT	Research Student Administration Team	York
RSP	Research Strategy and Policy	York
RTP	Registered Teacher Programme (Teaching Agency)
SATSU	Science and Technology Studies Unit	York
SCONUL	Society of College, National and University Libraries
SCA	Standing Committee on Assessment	York
SCC	Special Cases Committee	York
SCP	Strategic Change Programme	York
SDMI	Student Data and Management Information	York
SEI-Y	Stockholm Environment Institute at York	York
SES	Student Enquiry Screen
SET	Science, Engineering & Technology
SFC	Scottish Funding Council
SFE	Student Finance England
SFS	Student Financial Support (formerly SFSU)	York
SHA	Strategic Health Authority
SIG	Special Interest Group
SIVS	Strategically Important and Vulnerable Subjects
SKE	Subject Knowledge Enhancement (AGR for TA)
SLC	Student Loans Company
SME	Subject Matter Expert
SMG	Senior Management Group	York (historic)
SNC	Student Number Control (HEFCE)
SO	Student Outcomes and Learning Gain (TEF)
SPA	Supporting Professionalism in Admissions
SPRU	Social Policy Research Unit	York
SPSW	Social Policy and Social Work	York
SPS	School of Social and Political Science	York
SRA	Student Recruitment and Admissions	York
SSC	Shared Services Centre (RCUK)
SSDT	Student Systems Development Team	York
SSL	Secure Sockets Layer
SSR	Staff-Student Ratio
STAR-J	File provided by UCAS to HEIs at the end of the application cycle (once examination results have been confirmed; usually mid-to-late November). Containing demographic data about York's accepted applicants.
STAR-X	File provided on request by UCAS to HEIs at the end of the application cycle (once examination results have been confirmed; usually mid-to-late November). Containing demographic data about all York's applicants (i.e., for both received applications and placed applicants).
STFC	Science and Technology Facilities Council
STEM	Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
STEMM	Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine
T (HEFCE)	HEFCE Teaching Grant
TA	Teaching Agency (now National College for Teaching and Leadership)
TA	Transactional Analysis
TEL	Technology Enhanced Learning
TDA	Teaching Development Agency (then TA, now NCTL)
TDE	Tableau Data Extract
TDS	Tableau Data Connection
TEF	Teaching Excellence Framework
TFTI	Theatre, Film, Television, and Interactive Media	York
THE/THES	Times Higher Education (Supplement)
TLA	Three Letter Acronym
TLDR (TL;DR)	Too Long; Didn't Read
TNE	Transnational Education
TOEFL	TOEFL (formerly Test Of English as a Foreign Language)
TQ	Teaching Quality (TEF)
TRAC	TRansparent Approach to Costing
TTME	Targeting Tracking Monitoring and Evaluation
TYMS	The York Management School	York
TWB	Tableau WorkBook
TWBX	Tableau WorkBook with eXtract (Packaged workbook)
UAT	User Acceptance Testing
UCAS	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
UCISA	Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association
UCL	University College London
UEB	University Executive Board	York
UG	Undergraduate
UKBA	UK Border Agency (Former)
UKCISA	UK Council for International Student Affairs
UKPRN	The UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN) is an identification number assigned to providers who register with the UKRLP.
UKRLP	UK Register of Learning Providers
UKRO	UK Research Office
UKVI	UK Visas and Immigration
UPP	Universities Partnerships Programme
UoA	Unit of Assessment
UoY	The University of York
URC	University Research Committee
UTC	University Teaching Committee
UUK	Universities UK
VC	Vice-Chancellor
VCIF	Vice-Chancellor's Initiative Fund
VLE	Virtual Learning Environment
YC / YCL	York College
YCCSA	York Centre for Complex Systems Analysis	York
YESI	York Environmental Sustainability Institute	York
YHEC	York Health Economics Consortium
YIM	York Interdisciplinary Modules
YNiC	York Neuroimaging Centre	York
YRD	York Research Database	York
YSIS	York Students In Schools	York
YSJ	York St John
WP	Widening Participation
WPSA	Widening Participation Strategic Assessment (relates to OFFA)
WRoCAH	White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities
WRRO	White Rose Research Online
WSG	Web Services Group (former)	York
XML	eXtensible Markup Language

Strategic Insight and Analysis

Common Acronyms

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