The word student is etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb studēre , meaning "to direct one's zeal at"; hence a student could be described as "one who directs zeal at a subject". In its widest use, student is used for anyone who is learning.
International variations
Australia
In Australia, after Kindergarten or Preschool, children begin primary school, starting with 'grade prep' (in New South Wales the first year is called Kindergarten, and in South Australia the first year is called 'Reception') and continuing 'year one', 'year two' through to 'year six', except in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, where they go through to 'year seven'. They then move on to secondary school (also known as high school) for 'year seven' ('year eight' in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland) through to 'year twelve'. After year twelve, students may pursue tertiary education at university or TAFE (technical and further education). Children in primary and secondary school are all referred to as students. The term student is used for all learners including primary school, secondary school and university/TAFE.
Canada
In Canada, special terms are occasionally used. In English provinces, the high school (known as Academy or secondary school) years can be referred to simply as first, second, third and fourth year. Some areas call it by grade such as Grade 10, Grade 11 and Grade 12. Provincial variations can include Grade 9 in High School, though in most provinces, Grades 10 through 12 are considered High School, with Grades 7 through 9 called "Junior High." In university, students are classified as first-, second-, third-, or fourth-year students. In some occasions, they can be called Senior Ones, Twos, Threes, and Fours. First years are commonly known as "frosh", and the first week of university for first year students is commonly known as Frosh week.
Continental Europe
In Belgian universities, first-year students are called groentje in Dutch. In French, a bleu or "bizuth" is a first-year student. Second-year students are often called "carré" (square). Some other terms may apply in specific schools, some depending on the Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles attended.
United Kingdom and Ireland
In the past, the term "student" was reserved for people studying at University level in the U.K. Children studying at school were called pupils or schoolchildren (or schoolboys or schoolgirls). However, the American-English use of the word "student" to include pupils of all ages, even at elementary level, is now spreading to Britain, as also other places where British English is primarily used, such as Australia and Singapore. In South Africa, the term "learner" is also used.
In England and Wales, teenagers who attend a college or secondary school for further education are typically called "sixth formers". If pupils follow the average pattern of school attendance, pupils will be in the "lower sixth" between the ages of 16 and 17, and the "upper sixth" between 17 and 18. They "go up" to University after the upper sixth.
In Scotland pupils sit Highers at the end of fifth year (when aged 16-17) after which it is possible for them to gain entry to university. However, many do not achieve the required grades and remain at school for sixth year. Even among those that do achieve the necessary grades it is common to remain at school and undertake further study (i.e. other subjects or Advanced Highers) and then start university at the same time as their friends and peers.
At universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland the term "fresher" is used to describe new students who are just beginning their first year. Although it is not unusual to call someone a fresher after their first few weeks at University, they are typically referred to as first years. There is little derogatory connotation to this name in the UK, except for an occasional reference to "freshers" in a tone that implies naivety. More commonly, it will be used in a kindly fashion. For instance, a University official might ask a student if they are a fresher without any hint of a put down.
The term, "first year" is the more commonly used and connotation free term for students in their first year. The week at the start of a new year is called "Freshers' Week" or "Welcome Week", with a programme of special events to welcome new students. An undergraduate in the last year of study before graduation is generally known as a "finalist", or simply a third year (in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland ) or a fourth year (in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland).
The ancient Scottish University of St Andrews uses the terms "bejant" for a first year (from the French " bec-jaune " – "yellow beak", "fledgling"). Second years are called "semi-bejants", third years are known as "tertians", and fourth years, or others in their final year of study, are called "magistrands".
For school pupils, first of all is primary school and it starts off with an optional "nursery" year followed by Reception (similar to Kindergarten) and then move on to "year one, year two" and so on until "year six". In state schools, children join secondary school when they are 11-12 years old in what used to be called "first form" and is now known as "year 7". They go up to year 11 (formerly "fifth form") and then join the sixth form, either at the same school or at a separate Sixth form college. A student entering a private, fee-paying school (usually at age 13) would join the "third form" — equivalent to year 9. Many schools have an alternate name for first years, some with a derogatory basis, but in others acting merely as a description — for example "shells" (non-derogatory) or "grubs" (derogatory).
United States
In the United States, the first official year of schooling is called kindergarten, hence the students are kindergarteners. Kindergarten is optional in most states, but few students skip this level. Pre-kindergarten, also known as "preschool" is becoming a standard of education as academic expectations for the youngest students continues to rise. Many public schools offer pre-kindergarten programs.
There are 12 years of mandatory schooling. The first eight are solely referred to by numbers (i.e. 1st grade, 5th grade) so students may be referred to as 1st graders, 5th graders, etc. Grades 9 through 12 (high school) have alternate names for students, namely:
Before first year
Some high schools and tertiary institutions use the term "prefrosh" or "pre-frosh" to describe their newly admitted students. Schools often offer a campus preview weekend for prefroshes to know the schools better. Students are considered prefroshes until they register for the first class.
First year
A Freshman (slang alternatives that are usually derogatory in nature include "fish", "fresher", "frosh", "newbie", "freshie", "snotter", "fresh-meat", etc.) is a first-year student in college, university or high school. The less-common gender-neutral synonym "first-year student" exists; the variation "freshperson" is rare.
In many traditions there is a remainder of the ancient (boarding, pre-commuting) tradition of fagging. The student may also be subjected to a period of hazing or ragging as a pledge(r) or rookie, especially if joining a fraternity/sorority or certain other clubs, mainly athletic teams. For example, many high schools have initiation methods for freshmen, including, but not limited to, Freshman Duct-taped Throw, Freshman races, Freshman Orientation, Freshman Freshening (referring to poor hygiene among freshmen), and the Freshman Spread.
Even after that, specific rules may apply depending on the school's traditions (e.g., wearing a distinctive beanie), non-observance of which may result in punishment in which the paddle may come into play.
Second year
In the U.S., a sophomore is a second-year student. Folk etymology has it that the word means "wise fool"; consequently "sophomoric" means "pretentious, bombastic, inflated in style or manner; immature, crude, superficial" (according to the Oxford English Dictionary ). It appears to be most likely formed from Greek " sophos ", meaning "wise", and " moros " meaning "foolish", although it may also have separately originated from the word "sophumer", an obsolete variant of "sophism". Outside the USA the term "sophomore" is rarely used, with second-year students simply called "second years". The term "sophomore" is entirely unknown in Great Britain.
Post-second year
In the USA, a "junior" is a student in the penultimate (usually third) year and a "senior" a student in the last (usually fourth) year of college, university, or high school. A college student who takes more than the normal number of years to gr
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