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Academic English & Research vocabulary · Graduate Study and Supervision

Coursework

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

/ˈkɔːswɜːk/nounCommon term

In academic english & research, coursework means: The courses a student must complete as part of a degree, or, in British English, the assessed assignments done during a course rather than in exams.

In Turkish: ders aşaması, dersler, dönem ödevleri

How it is used

In graduate programs, students usually finish coursework before the qualifying exam and thesis stage. In the UK, a module may be assessed 50% by coursework (essays, reports, projects) and 50% by exam. It is uncountable: 'a lot of coursework', not 'courseworks'.

Example sentences

  1. I finished my coursework in the first two years and then started my dissertation.

  2. This module is assessed entirely by coursework, with no final exam.

Common collocations

  • complete coursework
  • coursework requirements
  • assessed by coursework
  • coursework deadline
  • postgraduateRelating to study after a first university degree, such as a master's or PhD; as a noun, a student at this level.
  • qualifying examA major examination that doctoral students must pass, usually after coursework, to show they are ready to begin their dissertation research.
  • PhDDoctor of Philosophy: the highest university research degree, awarded after several years of original research and a thesis.
  • supervisorAn academic who guides a student's thesis or research project, giving feedback on plans, drafts and progress.

More terms: Graduate Study and Supervision

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