The following is a list of terms that you will find referenced in this online guide.

A-D  G-H  I-L  M-T 

academic advisor: A faculty member assigned to a student to offer academic information, guidance, and advice throughout the student's program.

Billing Authorization: A document sent by LASPAU to your university listing what charges, if any, should be billed to LASPAU.

bursar: The university official who monitors and manages all student accounts.

collect call: A telephone call in which the charges are paid by the recipient of the call rather than the person who makes the call.

completion of program date : Also known as "termination of program date," this is the date by which you are expected to complete your program. This date is determined in consultation with LASPAU and your academic advisor.

deductible: The portion of a medical bill that you must pay before your insurance company will pay any expenses.

dossier: The packet of documents (transcripts, letters of reference, essay, etc.) that LASPAU submits as your application to a university.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): Standardized exam required for university admission for programs in the business fields.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Standardized exam required for university graduate admission for many programs in non-business fields of study.

grantee: A sponsored student (when used by LASPAU, this refers to a student in a LASPAU-administered program); a grant recipient.

home country: The country from which you originated.

home institution: The institution (a university, research center, nongovernmental organization, private business, or public sector entity) where you were working at the time you received your grant.

host country: The country in which you are studying.

host institution: The academic institution at which you are studying while you are in your host country.

insurance premium: The money paid to purchase a health insurance policy.

international student advisor: A university official who handles the specific concerns of international students.

LASPAU responsible officer and alternate responsible officer: The LASPAU responsible officer is the staff member who supervises, and is ultimately responsible for, all matters concerning the immigration status of students. An alternate responsible officer is a designee of the responsible officer who also handles immigration matters.

maintenance: The monthly stipend provided by your contract to cover living expenses during your program.

nonwaivable fees: Fees charged by the university that are not optional and must be paid.

Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy; an advanced degree awarded for many fields in the humanities.

prerequisite: A class that must be completed or set of skills that must be obtained before one is allowed to enroll in a course.

quarter: A period of time that encompasses approximately 1/4 of the academic year.

registrar: The university official in charge of student academic records, including registration, enrollment, transcripts, and grades.

syllabus: A summary of the contents of a course, including assignments and the dates of tests and assignments due.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A standardized test to measure English ability for nonnative speakers, sometimes required for university admission in English-speaking countries.

transcript: An official document produced by the university registrar's office that provides information on a student's courses, grades, and academic standing. A cumulative transcript provides a record of all academic work completed to date in a student's program.

tuition waiver: A reduction in the tuition charges or an agreement not to charge any tuition at all, provided by a university as a type of financial assistance.

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