Student

A student (also spelled 'ardey') is a person engaged in acquiring knowledge or a skill, usually enrolled in an educational institution such as a primary school, secondary school, university, or training centre. The term derives from the Arabic 'ṭālib', which means 'one who seeks' or 'one who desires'.

The status of a student typically has legal and administrative definitions: the person is registered, assigned to a grade or course, and assessed through examinations and assignments. This status can confer specific rights and obligations, such as student discounts on transport, legal residency status in foreign countries, or institutional conduct codes.

Levels of education

Most educational systems divide students into levels: primary, lower secondary, middle secondary, upper secondary, and higher education or vocational training. At the higher level, students are distinguished as undergraduates and postgraduates pursuing master's or doctoral degrees. Divisions and terminology vary from country to country.

Types of enrolment

A student may be full-time or part-time. There is also distance learning conducted via the internet or correspondence, and blended learning. Some students are employed while furthering their education, which affects time management and assessment methods.

Organisations and social role

University students often have representative organisations, such as student councils or national unions, which negotiate with administrations on matters of tuition fees, accommodation, and learning conditions. Historically, student groups have participated in political movements and legal reform, particularly in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Broader usage of the term

Beyond formal institutions, the term 'arday' is used for any person who persistently learns or conducts research on a particular subject, for example 'a student of history' or someone studying Islamic scholarship under a teacher (xalaqad). This usage lies outside the formal enrolment definition.