Lesson

College and University

Higher education vocabulary

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

College and University Vocabulary

This lesson focuses on essential words and expressions used in higher education contexts: colleges, universities, programs, campus life, academic roles, and administrative terms. You'll learn meanings, common collocations, and examples useful for TOEIC reading and listening tasks.

  • Key terms for studying, applying, and working on campus
  • Common collocations (e.g., 'major in', 'apply to', 'earn a degree')
  • Practice quizzes to check vocabulary understanding

Table

Key College & University Terms

Term Meaning Example
campus The grounds and buildings of a university or college The company will host an open day on the university campus.
lecture A formal talk given to students on a particular subject The finance lecture covers budgeting and forecasting.
seminar A small group class focused on discussion and active participation She leads a seminar on business communication every Thursday.
professor A senior academic instructor or researcher at a university The professor published a paper on supply-chain resilience.
undergraduate A student studying for a bachelor's degree Many undergraduates complete internships during the summer.
postgraduate A student studying for an advanced degree (master's, PhD) The postgraduate program includes a research component.
tuition Fees paid for instruction at a school or university Tuition increases affected the university's budget planning.
scholarship Financial aid awarded to a student based on merit or need She received a scholarship to fund her MBA studies.
dormitory A building where students live; student housing International students often book dormitory rooms early.
syllabus An outline of topics and requirements for a course The course syllabus lists assignments and grading criteria.

Tip

Key Collocations to Remember

Many academic terms appear in fixed combinations. Learning these collocations helps you understand TOEIC texts and speak naturally.

  • 'major in' + subject: She majors in Economics.
  • 'apply to' + university/program: He applied to three graduate programs.
  • 'earn a degree' or 'get a degree' after completion
  • 'attend a lecture' / 'give a lecture' depending on role

Focus on verb + noun combinations (collocations) more than literal translations.

Example

Examples in context

She will enroll in an MBA program this fall.

The professor scheduled office hours to discuss the research project.

Our company partners with the university for internship placements.

He received a scholarship that covers tuition and housing.

Tip

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watch for these universal errors when using college and university vocabulary.

  • Confusing similar academic terms (e.g., 'lecture' vs. 'seminar')
  • Using incorrect prepositions (e.g., 'apply on' instead of 'apply to')
  • Wrong article use with institutions (e.g., 'the university' vs 'university' contexts)
  • Mixing up countable and uncountable uses (e.g., 'tuition' is uncountable)

When in doubt, check collocations and prepositions—they're often fixed.

Quiz

Which word refers to student housing on campus?

Hint: Think about where students sleep and live during term time

Quiz

Complete: He decided to _____ Biology.

Hint: Focus on the verb + preposition used for a field of study

Quiz

Choose the correct collocation for completing academic studies:

Hint: Think about the verbs commonly used with 'degree'

Key Points

Vocabulary

campus

noun CEFR A2 //ˈkæmpəs//

The grounds and buildings of a university or college.

The new research center is located on the campus.

Vocabulary

lecture

noun CEFR B1 //ˈlɛktʃər//

A formal talk given to a group of students about a particular subject.

Attendance at the economics lecture is mandatory.

Vocabulary

seminar

noun CEFR B2 //ˈsɛmɪnɑːr//

A class or meeting for discussion and intensive study of a topic.

The marketing team attended a seminar on consumer behavior.

Vocabulary

professor

noun CEFR B1 //prəˈfɛsər//

A senior academic teacher and researcher at a university.

The professor specializes in international business law.

Vocabulary

tuition

noun CEFR B1 //tʃuːˈɪʃən//

The money paid for instruction at a school or university (uncountable).

Rising tuition is a concern for many families.

Vocabulary

scholarship

noun CEFR B2 //ˈskɒlərʃɪp//

Financial support awarded to a student based on merit or need.

She earned a scholarship to study abroad for one year.

Vocabulary

dormitory

noun CEFR A2 //ˈdɔːrmɪtɔːri//

A building providing shared living quarters for students (dorm).

First-year students often live in the campus dormitory.

Vocabulary

syllabus

noun CEFR B2 //ˈsɪləbəs//

A document that outlines the topics, schedule, and assessment for a course.

The syllabus includes deadlines for all assignments.