Educational abbreviations
Educational abbreviations are condensed forms of longer terms, used primarily to streamline communication in administrative, pedagogical, and institutional contexts. They save space, simplify complex terminology, and create standardised references within academic writing, forms, curriculum documents, and everyday professional dialogue. Their use promotes efficiency but requires contextual knowledge to be understood correctly.
Educational abbreviations by categories:
1. Academic Degrees & Certifications
AA – Associate of Arts
AS – Associate of Science
BA – Bachelor of Arts
BSc – Bachelor of Science
MA – Master of Arts
MSc – Master of Science
MEd – Master of Education
MBA – Master of Business Administration
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy
EdD – Doctor of Education
JD – Juris Doctor (Law degree)
MD – Doctor of Medicine
DDS – Doctor of Dental Surgery
DVM – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
CFA – Chartered Financial Analyst
PGCE – Postgraduate Certificate in Education (UK teacher certification)
QTS – Qualified Teacher Status (UK)
NVQ – National Vocational Qualification (UK)
BTEC – Business and Technology Education Council (UK vocational qualification)
GED – General Educational Development (US high school equivalency)
HND – Higher National Diploma (UK)
LLB – Bachelor of Laws
LLM – Master of Laws
MPH – Master of Public Health
MSW – Master of Social Work
MFA – Master of Fine Arts
MPhil – Master of Philosophy
ThD – Doctor of Theology
PsyD – Doctor of Psychology
DPT – Doctor of Physical Therapy
2. Administrative & Institutional Roles
HoD – Head of Department
DoS – Director of Studies
SLT – Senior Leadership Team
SMT – Senior Management Team
CEO – Chief Executive Officer (of educational trust/company)
CFO – Chief Financial Officer
Registrar – Often abbreviated in emails/schedules as REG
DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office
OFA – Office of Financial Aid
OCR – Office of Civil Rights (US Dept of Education)
OIA – Office of Independent Adjudicator (UK higher education complaints)
SA – Student Affairs
HR – Human Resources
IT – Information Technology Department
LRC – Learning Resource Centre
SIS – Student Information System (also the team managing it)
AR – Academic Registry
QA – Quality Assurance Office
EO – Education Officer
TA – Teaching Assistant
RA – Research Assistant
GA – Graduate Assistant
LA – Learning Assistant
HLTA – Higher Level Teaching Assistant
SENCO – Special Educational Needs Coordinator
DSL – Designated Safeguarding Lead
CPO – Child Protection Officer
CARE – (Office of) Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education
Ombuds – Ombudsperson Office
Alumni Relations – Often AR in internal comms
DevOff – Development Office
Comms – Communications Department
FacMan – Facilities Management
H&S – Health and Safety Office
3. Pedagogical Methods & Learning Theories
PBL – Project-Based Learning / Problem-Based Learning
CBL – Challenge-Based Learning
TBL – Team-Based Learning
UBD – Understanding by Design
DI – Direct Instruction
CL – Cooperative Learning
IBL – Inquiry-Based Learning
FL – Flipped Learning
ML – Mastery Learning
AL – Adaptive Learning
UDL – Universal Design for Learning
SDL – Self-Directed Learning
COL – Communities of Learning
TPR – Total Physical Response (language teaching method)
CLT – Communicative Language Teaching
PPP – Present, Practice, Produce (language teaching model)
TTT – Test-Teach-Test
ESA – Engage, Study, Activate (teaching model)
LO – Learning Objective
LO – Learning Outcome
SOLO – Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (taxonomy)
HOTS – Higher-Order Thinking Skills
LOTS – Lower-Order Thinking Skills
ZPD – Zone of Proximal Development (Vygotsky)
SC – Scaffolding
MI – Multiple Intelligences (Gardner)
PZ – Project Zero (Harvard Graduate School of Education framework)
GRR – Gradual Release of Responsibility model
KWL – Know, Want to know, Learned (chart/strategy)
KWHLAQ – Extended version of KWL (Know, Want, How, Learn, Apply, Question)
QFT – Question Formulation Technique
SRSD – Self-Regulated Strategy Development
DBL – Design-Based Learning
GBL – Game-Based Learning
4. Assessment & Evaluation
GPA – Grade Point Average
CGPA – Cumulative Grade Point Average
SAT – Scholastic Assessment Test
ACT – American College Testing
AP – Advanced Placement
IB – International Baccalaureate
GCSE – General Certificate of Secondary Education (UK)
A-Level – Advanced Level (UK)
O-Level – Ordinary Level (historical UK)
NVQ – National Vocational Qualification (UK assessment)
TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language
IELTS – International English Language Testing System
GRE – Graduate Record Examination
GMAT – Graduate Management Admission Test
LSAT – Law School Admission Test
MCAT – Medical College Admission Test
PLAR – Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
RPL – Recognition of Prior Learning
CAT – Cognitive Abilities Test
MAP – Measures of Academic Progress
STAAR – State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness
PARCC – Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
NAEP – National Assessment of Educational Progress (US "Nation's Report Card")
PIRLS – Progress in International Reading Literacy Study
TIMSS – Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study
PISA – Programme for International Student Assessment
OFQUAL – Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (UK)
CAB – Course Assessment Board
EAB – Exam Assessment Board
VIVA – Viva Voce (oral examination)
MCQ – Multiple Choice Question
SAQ – Short Answer Question
LAQ – Long Answer Question
EOY – End of Year Exam
5. Specialised Programs & Student Support
SEN – Special Educational Needs
SEND – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
EAL – English as an Additional Language
ELL – English Language Learner
ESL – English as a Second Language
EFL – English as a Foreign Language
G&T – Gifted and Talented
IEP – Individualised Education Program/Plan
EHCP – Education, Health and Care Plan (UK)
504 Plan – Section 504 Plan (US disability accommodations)
RTI – Response to Intervention
MTSS – Multi-Tiered System of Supports
PBIS – Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports
CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (school counseling)
SEL – Social-Emotional Learning
PSHE – Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (UK)
CEIAG – Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance
WP – Widening Participation (UK higher education access programs)
UAL – University Access League/Program
HEOP – Higher Education Opportunity Program (US)
TRIO – US federal outreach programs (e.g., Upward Bound)
GEAR UP – Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
DSPS – Disability Support Programs and Services (US community colleges)
CAL – Center for Active Learning
WRC – Writing Resource Center
ARC – Academic Resource Center
TLC – Teaching and Learning Center
SAFE – Student Assistance and Family Empowerment program
CARE – Campus Assessment, Response & Evaluation team
STEP – Student Transition and Enrichment Program
6. Educational Technology & Digital Learning
LMS – Learning Management System (e.g., Canvas, Moodle)
VLE – Virtual Learning Environment
CMS – Course Management System / Content Management System
SIS – Student Information System
ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning (university-wide system)
BYOD – Bring Your Own Device
1:1 – One-to-One device programs
ICT – Information and Communications Technology
EdTech – Educational Technology
AIED – Artificial Intelligence in Education
XR – Extended Reality (VR/AR/MR)
VR – Virtual Reality
AR – Augmented Reality
MR – Mixed Reality
MOOC – Massive Open Online Course
SPOC – Small Private Online Course
COOC – Corporate Open Online Course
CMS – Content Management System
LRS – Learning Record Store
xAPI – Experience API (Tin Can API)
SCORM – Sharable Content Object Reference Model
AICC – Aviation Industry CBT Committee (old e-learning standard)
SIS – School Information System
PIMS – Pupil Information Management System
SIF – Schools Interoperability Framework
RSS – Really Simple Syndication (content feeds)
OER – Open Educational Resources
OCW – OpenCourseWare
Creative Commons – Often CC with licenses (CC BY, CC NC)
PDF – Portable Document Format
LTI – Learning Tools Interoperability
SSO – Single Sign-On
CMS – Classroom Management Software
IWB – Interactive Whiteboard
7. Policy, Organisations & Accreditation
Ofsted – Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (UK)
DfE – Department for Education (UK)
ED – Department of Education (US)
OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
EUA – European University Association
AAU – Association of American Universities
AACSB – Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
ABET – Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
WASC – Western Association of Schools and Colleges
NEASC – New England Association of Schools and Colleges
QAA – Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (UK)
HESA – Higher Education Statistics Agency (UK)
UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UK)
CNAA – Council for National Academic Awards (historical UK)
AICTE – All India Council for Technical Education
NASP – National Association of School Psychologists
NEA – National Education Association (US teachers' union)
ATA – Alberta Teachers' Association (Canada)
ESFA – Education and Skills Funding Agency (UK)
LGA – Local Government Association (UK education oversight)
NCLB – No Child Left Behind Act (US, historical)
ESSA – Every Student Succeeds Act (US)
FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (US)
GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation (EU, impacts student data)
SENDA – Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (UK)
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (US)
TEF – Teaching Excellence Framework (UK)
REF – Research Excellence Framework (UK)
KSA – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (competency framework)
NQF – National Qualifications Framework