student
stu·dent [student students] [ˈstjuːdnt] [ˈstuːdnt] noun
1. a person who is studying at a university or college
• a medical/science, etc. student
• a graduate/postgraduate/research student
• an overseas student
• a student teacher/nurse
• a student grant/loan (= money that is given/lent to students to pay for their studies)
• student fees (= to pay for the cost of teaching)
• She's a student at Sussex University.
• a dramatic increase in student numbers
• He's a third-year student at the College of Art.
• I did some acting in my student days.
see also mature student
2. a person who is studying at a school, especially a secondary school
• a 15-year-old high school student
compare pupil
see also A student
3. ~ of sth (formal) a person who is very interested in a particular subject
• a keen student of human nature
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin student- ‘applying oneself to’, from the verb studere, related to studium ‘painstaking application’.
Culture:
student life
The popular image of student life is of young people with few responsibilities enjoying themselves and doing very little work. This is often not true. Many older people now study at college or university, sometimes on a part-time basis while having a job and looking after a family. Many students are highly motivated and work very hard.
In Britain reduced government support for higher educationmeans that students can no longer rely on having their expenses paid for them. Formerly, students received a grant towards their living expenses. Now most can only get a loan, which has to be paid back. From 1999 they have had to pay a fixed amount towards tuition fees and from 2006 universities will be able to increase the amount up to a maximum of £3 000 per year. In the US students already have to pay for tuition and room and board. Many get a financial aid package which may include grants, scholarships and loans. The fear of having large debts places considerable pressure on students and many take part-time jobs during the term and work full-time in the vacations.
Many students in Britain go to a university away from their home town. They usually live in a hall of residence for their first year, and then move into a rented room in a private house or share a house with housemates. They may go back home during vacations, but after they graduate most leave home for good. In the US too, many students attend colleges some distance from where their parents live. They may live on campus in one of the halls, or off campus in apartments and houses which they share with room-mates. Some students, especially at larger universities, join a fraternity or sorority, a social group usually with its own house near the campus. Fraternities and sororities often have names which are combinations of two or three letters of the Greek alphabet. Some people do not have a good opinion of them because they think that students who are members spend too much time having parties.
In Britain the interests of students are represented by a student’s union which liaises with the university on academic matters, arranges social events and provides advice to students. Individual unions are affiliated with (= linked to) the NUS. The student union building is usually the centre of student life and has a bar and common room, and often a restaurant and shops. British universities have a wide range of societies, clubs and social activities including sports, drama and politics. One of the highlights (= main events) of the year is rag week, a week of parties and fund-raising activities in support of various charities.
Especially in their first year, US students spend a lot of time on social activities. One of the most important celebrations, especially at universities which place a lot of emphasis on sports, is homecoming. Many alumni (= former students) return to their alma mater (= college) for a weekend in the autumn to watch a football game. During homecoming weekend there are also parties and dances, and usually a parade.
When social activities take up too much time, students skip lectures (= miss them) or cut class (AmE) and take incompletes (AmE), which means they have to finish their work after the vacation. In the US this has the effect of lowering their course grades, but most US universities expect this behaviour from students and do little to stop it. Students are thought to be old enough to make their own decisions about how hard they work and to accept the consequences. A few students drop out (AmE flunk out) but the majority try hard to get good grades and a good degree.
More About:
students
A student is a person who is studying at a school, college, university, etc.
An undergraduate is a student who is studying for their first degree at a university or college.
In BrE, a graduate is a person who has completed a first degree at a university or college. In NAmE graduate is usually used with another noun and can also apply to a person who has finished high school: ▪ a high school graduate ◊ ▪ a graduate student.
A postgraduate is a person who has finished a first degree and is doing advanced study or research. This is the usual term in BrE, but it is formal in NAmE and graduate student is usually used instead.
Synonyms:
student
pupil • schoolboy/schoolchild/schoolgirl
These are all words for a child that attends school.
student • a person who is studying in a school, especially an older child: ▪ Students are required to be in school by 8.30. ◊ ▪ Any high school student could tell you the answer.
pupil • (BrE) a person who is being taught, especially a child in a school: ▪ The school has over 850 pupils.
Pupil is used only in British English and is starting to become old-fashioned. Student is often preferred, especially by teachers and other people involved in education, and especially when talking about older children.
schoolboy/ • schoolgirl/ • schoolchild • a boy, girl or child who attends school: ▪ Since she was a schoolgirl she had dreamed of going on the stage.
These words emphasize the age of the children or this period in their lives; they are less often used to talk about teaching and learning: an able schoolboy/schoolgirl/schoolchild
a(n) good/bright/able/brilliant/star/outstanding student/pupil
a naughty schoolboy/schoolgirl/schoolchild
a disruptive student/pupil
a(n) ex-/former student/pupil
a school student/pupil
to teach students/pupils/schoolboys/schoolgirls/schoolchildren
Example Bank:
• He often takes part in student demonstrations.
• He studied metallurgy as a mature student, having spent ten years working in a foundry.
• I first came to America as an exchange student.
• I'm thoroughly enjoying student life.
• Ninety-four students were enrolled in the class.
• She first went to London as a student.
• She had to take out a student loan to help her through college.
• She studied metallurgy as a mature student.
• She travelled a lot in her student days.
• She's a former student of mine who graduated in the 80s.
• Student numbers at the college have increased by 25 per cent.
• The students are encouraged to think creatively.
• one of the best students the college has ever had
• taking part in a student demonstration
• teachers who engage students in meaningful discussions
• Any high school student could tell you the answer.
• Disruptive students may be excluded from school.
• He was a deeply observant man, a close student of the natural world.
• He was an outstanding student.
• I was always a straight A-student.
• Older students do not have to wear school uniform.
• She's a keen student of human nature.
• Student drivers often grip the wheel too tightly.
• Students are required to be in school by 8.30am.
• The more able students should manage these exercises easily.
