Editing Student (section)

==Europe==
Europe uses the traditional, first form, second form, third form, fourth form, fifth form and six form grade system which is up to age eleven.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

===Finland===
[[File:Mathematics lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology.jpg|thumb|Students in a [[lecture]] on [[linear algebra]] at the [[Helsinki University of Technology]]]]
In [[Finland]] a student is called "opiskelija" (plural being 'opiskelijat'), though children in compulsory education are called "oppilas" (plural being 'oppilaat'). First level of education is "esikoulu" (literally 'preschool'), which used to be optional, but has been compulsory since the beginning of year 2015. Children attend esikoulu the year they turn six, and next year they start attending "peruskoulu" (literally "basic school", corresponds to American elementary school, middle school and junior high), which is compulsory. Peruskoulu is divided to "alakoulu" (years 1 through 6) and "yläkoulu" (years 7 through 9). After compulsory education most children attend second-level education (toisen asteen koulutus), either lukio (corresponds to high school) or ammattioppilaitos (Vocational School), at which point they are called students (opiskelija). Some attend "kymppiluokka", which is a retake on some yläkoulu's education.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

To attend ammattikorkeakoulu (University of applied sciences) or a university a student must have a second-level education. The recommended graduation time is five years. First year students are called "fuksi" and students that have studied more than five years are called "N:nnen vuoden opiskelija" (Nth year student).

===France===
The generic term "''étudiant''" (lit. student) applies only to someone attending a university or a school of a similar level, that is to say pupils in a cursus reserved to people already owning a [[Baccalauréat]].{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} The general term for a person going to primary or secondary school is ''élève''. In some French higher education establishments, a ''bleu'' or "bizuth" is a first-year student. Second-year students are sometimes called "carrés" (squares). Some other terms may apply in specific schools, some depending on the [[classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles]] attended.

===Germany===
[[File:Europa-Institut graduation.jpg|thumb|The new graduates of the [[Europa-Institut]] in Germany gather to throw their mortar boards in the air as part of a graduation ceremony.]]

In [[Germany]], the German cognate term ''Student'' (male) or "Studentin" (female) is reserved for those attending a university. University students in their first year are called ''Erstsemester'' or colloquially ''Ersties'' ("firsties"). Different terms for school students exist, depending on which kind of school is attended by the student. The general term for a person going to school is ''Schüler'' or ''Schülerin''. They begin their first four (in some federal estates six) years in primary school or ''Grundschule''. They then graduate to a secondary school called ''[[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]]'', which is a university preparatory school. Students attending this school are called ''Gymnasiasten'', while those attending other schools are called ''Hauptschüler'' or ''Realschüler''. Students who graduate with the [[Abitur]] are called ''Abiturienten''.

===Ireland===
In [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], pupils officially start with primary school which consists of eight years: junior infants, senior infants, first class to sixth class (ages 5–11). After primary school, pupils proceed to the secondary school level. Here they first enter the junior cycle, which consists of first year to third year (ages 11–14). At the end of third year, all students must sit a compulsory state examination called the [[Junior Certificate]]. After third year, pupils have the option of taking a "transition year" or fourth year (usually at age 15–16). In transition year pupils take a break from regular studies to pursue other activities that help to promote their personal, social, vocational and educational development, and to prepares them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society. It also provides a bridge to enable pupils to make the transition from the more dependent type of learning associated with the Junior Cert. to the more independent learning environment associated with the senior cycle.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

After the junior cycle pupils advance to the senior cycle, which consists of fifth year and sixth year (usually ages between 16 and 18). At the end of the sixth year a final state examination is required to be sat by all pupils, known as the [[Irish Leaving Certificate|Leaving Certificate]]. The Leaving Cert. is the basis for all Irish pupils who wish to do so to advance to higher education via a points system. A maximum of 625 points can be achieved. All higher education courses have a minimum of points needed for admission.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

At [[Trinity College Dublin]] under-graduate students are formally called "junior freshmen", "senior freshmen", "junior sophister" or "senior sophister", according to the year they have reached in the typical four year degree course. ''Sophister'' is another term for a [[Sophomore year|sophomore]], though the term is rarely used in other institutions and is largely limited to Trinity College Dublin.

At university, the term "fresher" is used to describe new students who are just beginning their first year. 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 "[[Orientation week|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".

===Italy===
[[File:Universität Bologna Deutsche Nation.jpg|thumb|Admission of a student in "Germanic Nation", [[University of Bologna]], 15th century]]
In Italian, a ''matricola'' is a first-year student. Some other terms may apply in specific schools, some depending on the [[liceo classico]] or [[liceo scientifico]] attended.

According to the [[Goliardia|goliardic]] initiation traditions the grades granted (following approximately the year of enrollment at university) are: ''matricola'' (freshman), ''fagiolo'' (sophomore), ''colonna'' (junior), and ''anziano'' (senior), but most of the distinctions are rarely used outside Goliardia.

===Sweden===
In [[Sweden]], only those studying at university level are called students (''student'', plural ''studenter''). To graduate from upper secondary school (''gymnasium'') is called ''ta studenten'' (literally "to take the student"), but after the graduation festivities, the graduate is no longer a student unless he or she enrolls at university-level education. At lower levels, the word ''elev'' (plural ''elever'') is used. As a general term for all stages of education, the word ''studerande'' (plural also ''studerande'') is used, meaning 'studying [person]'.

===United Kingdom===
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2020|reason=There is a lot of unreferenced and in many cases irrelevant information in this section}}
Traditionally, the term "student" is reserved for people studying at university level in the [[United Kingdom]].

At universities in the UK, the term "fresher" is used informally 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" or "first year students".

The ancient Scottish [[University of St Andrews]] uses the terms "bejant" for a first year (from the French "''bec-jaune''"&nbsp;– "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".

In [[England and Wales]], primary school begins with an optional "nursery" year (either in a [[primary school]] or a privately run nursery,) followed by reception and then move on to "year one, year two" and so on until "year six" (all in primary school.) 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 pupil 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).

In [[Northern Ireland]] and Scotland, it is very similar but with some differences. Pupils start off in nursery or reception aged 3 to 4, and then start primary school in "P1" (P standing for primary) or year 1. They then continue primary school until "P7" or year 7. After that they start secondary school at 11 years old, this is called "1st year" or year 8 in Northern Ireland, or "S1" in Scotland. They continue secondary school until the age of 16 at "5th year", year 12 or "S5", and then it is the choice of the individual pupil to decide to continue in school and (in Northern Ireland) do AS levels (known as "lower sixth") and then the next year to do A levels (known as "upper sixth"). In Scotland, students aged 16–18 take Highers, followed by Advanced Highers. Alternatively, pupils can leave and go into full-time employment or to start in a technical college.

Large increases in the size of student populations in the UK and the effect this has had on some university towns or on areas of cities located near universities have become a concern in the UK since 2000. A report by Universities UK, ''Studentification: A Guide to Opportunities, Challenges and Practice'' (2006) has explored the subject and made various recommendations.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Studentification': a guide to opportunities, challenges and practice |url=http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Documents/studentification_guide.pdf|date=11 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711045126/http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Documents/studentification_guide.pdf|archive-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> A particular problem in many locations is seen as the impact of students on the availability, quality and price of rented and owner-occupied property.