Uni students! Do you say 'semester' or 'term' ?
Scroll to see replies
They have different meanings in an academic sense.
Term should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are three periods.
Semester should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are two teaching periods.
If your Uni has 3 teaching periods and you call them semesters then you're not only pretentious but a bit dim too - go for trimester if you must.
We have Michaelmas, Lent and Summer which in itself seems needlessly pretentious when you could simply say 'term 1, 2 and 3'
Term should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are three periods.
Semester should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are two teaching periods.
If your Uni has 3 teaching periods and you call them semesters then you're not only pretentious but a bit dim too - go for trimester if you must.
We have Michaelmas, Lent and Summer which in itself seems needlessly pretentious when you could simply say 'term 1, 2 and 3'
I used to say semester while I was at Uni 
Semester, that's what my Uni calls it so I just go with that. I prefer the word over 'term' anyway...don't ask why 
When I was previously at uni we said Teaching Block 1 and 2 as far as I can remember, because that's what the uni called them. I never used 'term' - because the teaching wasn't arranged into the three terms.
I'm about to start uni again and will be calling them semesters - partly because that's what they're called here, and partly because teaching is absolutely clearly divided - you don't even talk about being in a certain year on this course - you talk about being on a certain semester (because there is course start twice a year, so there are two 'year groups' for each academic year).
I'm about to start uni again and will be calling them semesters - partly because that's what they're called here, and partly because teaching is absolutely clearly divided - you don't even talk about being in a certain year on this course - you talk about being on a certain semester (because there is course start twice a year, so there are two 'year groups' for each academic year).
Term. I don't know anyone that uses the term semester. It sounds too American.
Both terms are fine as long as they are used correctly - they are not interchangeable! Their use depends on what you want to say. 
Generally speaking, one term equals three months and is often accompanied with a break!
Autumn term (ends with the Winter break)
Spring term (ends with the Easter break)
Summer term (ends with the three-month summer break!)
Semesters, however, are like two big chunks of the academic year! Semester one is usually from Sept. to Jan. , and semester two from Feb. to May/ June.
As an aside, "semester" is not an American word at all! You guys are just not used to calling it like that in your country (or just don't know your LATIN!). In many other European countries, 'semester' is the formal word used by universities! The academic year is divided by semesters instead of trimesters (a.k.a 'terms' in the UK) like it used to be for us all in high school. I'm quite shocked that you guys think it's only American!
Generally speaking, one term equals three months and is often accompanied with a break!
Autumn term (ends with the Winter break)
Spring term (ends with the Easter break)
Summer term (ends with the three-month summer break!)
Semesters, however, are like two big chunks of the academic year! Semester one is usually from Sept. to Jan. , and semester two from Feb. to May/ June.
As an aside, "semester" is not an American word at all! You guys are just not used to calling it like that in your country (or just don't know your LATIN!
). In many other European countries, 'semester' is the formal word used by universities! The academic year is divided by semesters instead of trimesters (a.k.a 'terms' in the UK) like it used to be for us all in high school. I'm quite shocked that you guys think it's only American!(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by SophieSmall
Semester just because that's the term my uni uses, if they called it term then I would probably do so also.
Semester is the term your uni uses.
hahaha
Original post by rayquaza17
Semester is the term your uni uses.
hahaha
hahaha
haha good spot.
I say semester also because that's what my uni uses
Posted from TSR Mobile
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by StretfordEnd
They have different meanings in an academic sense.
Term should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are three periods.
Semester should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are two teaching periods.
If your Uni has 3 teaching periods and you call them semesters then you're not only pretentious but a bit dim too - go for trimester if you must.
We have Michaelmas, Lent and Summer which in itself seems needlessly pretentious when you could simply say 'term 1, 2 and 3'
Term should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are three periods.
Semester should be used specifically in schools/universities where there are two teaching periods.
If your Uni has 3 teaching periods and you call them semesters then you're not only pretentious but a bit dim too - go for trimester if you must.
We have Michaelmas, Lent and Summer which in itself seems needlessly pretentious when you could simply say 'term 1, 2 and 3'
This is correct. I discovered what semester actually met when I was looking at studying abroad!
We have Semester 1 and Semester 2 exams, so I just go with 'semester' as it's plastered on everything the uni does.
When referring to high school, I'll go back to talking about terms.
When referring to high school, I'll go back to talking about terms.
My uni is one of those which has both - three terms and two semesters. They overlap and confuse the hell out of everybody, including the staff.
We were supposed to be switching to a completely 'semesterised' system, to facilitate teaching modules over a single semester with exams at the end (one semester ending in January, the other in June). However there's been some sort of political internal wrangle and some departments are clinging to delivering modules over the first and second terms with exams only in the third term.
We're just waiting to see which faction wins, but it might involve another couple of years of confusion.
We were supposed to be switching to a completely 'semesterised' system, to facilitate teaching modules over a single semester with exams at the end (one semester ending in January, the other in June). However there's been some sort of political internal wrangle and some departments are clinging to delivering modules over the first and second terms with exams only in the third term.
We're just waiting to see which faction wins, but it might involve another couple of years of confusion.
Original post by Contrad!ction.
We have Semester 1 and Semester 2 exams, so I just go with 'semester' as it's plastered on everything the uni does.
When referring to high school, I'll go back to talking about terms.
When referring to high school, I'll go back to talking about terms.
That Bath logo in your sig cracks me up btw
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- University timetable
- SFE paying me for a maintenance loan even though I’m not studying this semester
- How exactly is the third installment of student finance paid?
- Where to check to know when i start uni?
- do I drop out
- Scottish University 2nd Year Entry
- SFE: Resiting a module (40 credits) semester 2
- student finance if u withdraw
- Honest opinion about BSc Human Neuroscience degree at the University of Birmingham
- Why does the foundation course start earlier?
- Advice on finding single semester accomodation in Nottingham
- Picking course modules
- I’m Y1 Bath Architecture, Ask me anything
- Timetables
- Why do I have to rent a place at university?
- Studying Imperial MEng Chemical Engineering course
- Started Masters not attending
- Why is it important to reflect on your uni experience in the holidays
- When do universities finish for Christmas?
- Where do I find people to sublet my room to while I’m abroad for a semester?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
Got a third in my second year and the highest I’ve achieved in third year was 55%Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
Got a third in my second year and the highest I’ve achieved in third year was 55%
