Glossaire

Applications and admission

• APS — Akademische Prüfstelle. The German certificate verifying that your Indian degree is genuine. Mandatory for German university applications and one of the longest lead items in the whole file.
• CAS — Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. The reference number a UK university issues once you accept an offer. You cannot apply for the visa without one.
• Conditional offer — an offer that becomes real once you meet a stated condition, usually a final transcript or a language score.
• ECTS — the European credit system. 60 credits is one academic year, and it is what makes credits transfer between EU countries.
• Intake — the month a course starts. Most countries run a large autumn intake and a smaller winter one.
• LOR — letter of recommendation, from a professor or an employer.
• SOP — statement of purpose. The essay explaining why this course, why this country, and why you.
• Uni-Assist — the shared application service many German universities use to check foreign qualifications.
• Universitaly — the Italian national portal where non-EU students complete pre-enrolment before applying for a visa.
• VPD — Vorprüfungsdokumentation. Uni-Assist's preliminary review document, converting your grades to the German scale.

Tests and language

• CEFR — the European framework for language levels, A1 to C2. A1 is a beginner; B2 is what most universities and employers mean by 'you can work in this language'.
• CLB — Canadian Language Benchmarks. Canada converts your IELTS or CELPIP result into a CLB level, and immigration rules are written in CLB, not band scores.
• Duolingo English Test — accepted for admission by many universities, not accepted for several visa routes. Check both.
• IELTS / TOEFL / PTE — the three main English tests. Scores are valid two years.
• GRE / GMAT / SAT — graduate, business school and US undergraduate admission tests. GRE and GMAT scores are valid five years.
• TestDaF / DSH / telc — German-language tests for admission to German-taught programmes.
• DELF / TEF — French certifications. DELF for university, TEF for immigration.

Money

• Blocked account — a German bank account holding a year's living costs, released to you monthly. Proof of funds for the visa.
• Proof of funds — evidence that you can pay tuition and live for the first year. Every country has its own figure and its own rules about whose money counts.
• Semester contribution — the administrative fee German public universities charge instead of tuition. It usually includes a public transport pass.
• Sponsor — the person funding your study, usually a parent. Their documents get scrutinised as closely as yours.
• Tuition — what the course costs. At many European public universities this is zero or close to it, which is the entire reason we push them.

Visas and after

• Biometrics — fingerprints and a photograph, taken at a visa centre as part of the application.
• CRS — Comprehensive Ranking System. The score Canada ranks Express Entry candidates by.
• ECA — Educational Credential Assessment. Canada's check that your foreign degree is equivalent to a Canadian one.
• EOI — Expression of Interest. The profile you lodge before being invited to apply, used by Australia and by several Canadian provinces.
• EU Blue Card — a work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals, with mobility across member states.
• PGWP — Post-Graduation Work Permit. Canada's post-study work route, and not every institution qualifies for it.
• PNP — Provincial Nominee Program. A Canadian province nominating you, worth 600 CRS points.
• Permesso di soggiorno — the Italian residence permit, applied for within eight working days of arrival.
• Skills Assessment — Australia's mandatory check that your qualifications and experience match your nominated occupation.
• TIE — Spain's Foreigners' Identity Card, applied for within 30 days of arriving.

Questions we are actually asked