Universities

Outsiders often use 'paper' to mean any written work, but 'assignment' includes a wider variety of tasks given to students beyond just essays.

Casual observers say 'exam' for any test, but insiders use 'final' specifically for comprehensive end-of-term exams to mark course completion.

Non-members say 'class' broadly, while insiders may specify 'lecture' to indicate a formal teaching session, distinguishing it from seminars or labs.

Casual speakers say 'degree' for the whole credential, while insiders refer to 'major' as the specific subject focus within that degree.

People outside use 'teacher' generally, while community members distinguish 'professor' as university-level academic staff.

Globally, insiders often use 'term' to describe a division of the academic year, even if it is longer or shorter than a 'semester' — which is used more by outsiders.

Outsiders use 'study group' casually, while insiders refer to 'tutorials' as small, often instructor-led sessions supplementing lectures.

Outsiders generalize as 'extra-curricular activities', but insiders specifically refer to 'clubs and societies' as organized student groups with formal membership.

Outsiders say 'dorm' informally, but the official term used by universities and insiders is 'residence hall' to describe on-campus housing.

Outsiders may use 'college' and 'university' interchangeably, but members distinguish 'university' as a degree-granting institution often with multiple faculties, whereas 'college' can refer to components or smaller institutions.