Academic calendar
Term III 2025/2026 runs Jun 7, 2026 – Sep 18, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Postgraduate Day/Evening Semester I 2026Postgraduate Distance First Semester 2026
- Term III 2025/2026Relevant now
- Term III 2025/2026
- Riverside Campus Term III 2025/2026
- Postgraduate Day/Evening Semester II 2026Postgraduate Distance Second Semester 2026
- Term I 2026-2027Term I 2026/2027 (Provisional)
- Riverside Campus Term I 2026/2027 (Provisional)Term I 2026/2027 (Provisional)
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 72 of 72 terms
A
- Academic Bankruptcy
- A humorous or self-deprecating term for failing multiple courses or having no hope of passing an exam.
- Academic Square
- A designated outdoor area on campus where students gather for group studies and academic discussions.
- Academic Suicide
- A term used when a student neglects their studies for social activities or 'monk' traditions, leading to poor grades.
- Africa
- One of the main hostel blocks named after the continent.
- AIESEC
- The local chapter of the international student exchange and leadership organization.
- America
- A student hostel block within the 'continents' residential area.
- Asia
- A student hostel block within the 'continents' residential area.
- Australia
- A hostel block typically housing undergraduate students.
B
- BC
- The Business Centre, the primary hub for private food vendors, tuck shops, and student services.
C
- CBU-ASU
- Copperbelt University Academic Staff Union, the union for lecturers often mentioned in the context of campus calendars.
- CBU-CF
- Copperbelt University Christian Fellowship, a large and active religious student organization.
- CBU-CU
- Copperbelt University Christian Union, a large student religious organization.
- CBU-ICT
- The student-led Information and Communications Technology association.
- CBU-SDA
- The Seventh-day Adventist student group, very active on campus.
- CBUMSA
- Copperbelt University Medical Students Association, representing students at the Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine.
- Chamboli
- A hostel block named after the local mining township.
- COBUSU
- Copperbelt University Students Union, the primary student government body.
- Component
- A specific continuous assessment score or test result that contributes to a final course grade.
D
- DH
- The main Dining Hall where students congregate for meals.
E
- EAZ
- Engineering Association of Zambia, specifically the student chapter for CBU engineering students.
- Europe
- A student hostel block within the 'continents' residential area.
G
- Gal
- A female student at Copperbelt University.
- Gal's Square
- The central courtyard area within the female hostels.
H
- HELSB
- Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, the government body providing student funding.
K
- Kafue
- One of the primary male hostels on the Riverside campus.
- Kanyama
- A term used to describe a student who is physically tough or behaves in a rowdy, 'street-smart' manner.
- Kanyama
- A nickname for Hostel Blocks 1 and 2, known for being the most rowdy or 'tough' residential area, named after a famous high-density area in Lusaka.
- Konkola
- A student hostel block named after the Konkola Copper Mines.
- Kopala
- Slang for the Copperbelt region and its distinct culture/identity, often used by students to show local pride.
- Kuponona
- A term used to describe failing an exam or struggling significantly with academic work.
- Kwasila
- A local slang term meaning 'it is finished,' frequently used by students to signal the end of exams.
L
- Luangwa
- A major male residential hostel.
M
- Middle East
- A specific hostel block known for its location relative to the other 'continent' hostels.
- Moma
- A female student at the university.
- Momau
- A female student at Copperbelt University.
- Monk
- A male student at Copperbelt University.
- Monk Square
- The central social hub on campus where students gather for meetings, protests, or socializing.
- Monk Square
- The central social and residential hub specifically associated with the male hostels.
- Monk's Food
- A general term for the basic, affordable meals served in the university dining hall, typically nshima with beans or cabbage.
- Monk's Kitchen
- Informal term for student-prepared meals or small informal eateries near the hostels.
- Monk's Meal
- A simple, budget-friendly meal typically consisting of nshima and a basic side like beans or cabbage, common among male students.
- Monk's Square
- The central social hub and open area where students gather for meetings or relaxation.
- Monk's Square
- The central courtyard and social hub surrounded by the male hostels.
- Monkery
- The collective culture, traditions, and sometimes rowdy behavior associated with the male student body.
- Mooching
- The act of hanging around friends during meal times to share their food.
- Mopani
- A specific hostel block named after the Mopani Copper Mines.
- Mshila
- Informal food stalls and vendors located just outside the campus gates, popular for affordable local meals.
- Munchies
- A popular on-campus fast-food outlet and social gathering spot.
- Mwasu
- A first-year student or freshman, often used during the orientation period.
- Mwenye
- A slang term used to refer to a first-year student or freshman.
N
- New Hostels
- The more recently constructed student accommodation blocks which offer slightly different amenities than the older 'Continents'.
- Northpoint
- A newer residential area or hostel block located on the periphery of the main campus.
- Nshima
- The staple maize-meal dish served daily, often used as a shorthand for 'lunch' or 'dinner'.
- Nun
- A female student at Copperbelt University.
P
- Prefabs
- The 'pre-fabricated' housing units, often referred to as 'The Village', used for student accommodation.
Q
- Quench
- To study intensely, often late into the night or during exam periods.
- Quizzing
- The act of studying intensely, often late at night.
R
- Riverside
- The general term for the main campus residential area and surrounding student housing in Kitwe.
S
- SA
- The Dean of Student Affairs office, which handles housing, welfare, and student conduct.
- SBA
- School of Business Association, representing students within the School of Business.
- Squatting
- The common practice of an unregistered student living in a hostel room with a registered student.
- Supp
- A supplementary examination taken after failing a course during the regular session.
T
- The Caf
- The main university dining hall where meal plan services are provided.
- The Continents
- A collective name for the main hostels named after continents, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and America.
- The Ghetto
- A colloquial name sometimes used for the older, more crowded hostel blocks like Africa or Asia.
- The Monk
- The main student dining hall or cafeteria, named after the nickname for male students.
- The Monk's Life
- A term describing the humble, often frugal lifestyle of a CBU student.
- The Monk's Prayer
- A traditional chant or ritual performed by male students during campus gatherings or protests.
- The Slab
- An outdoor concrete area near the dining facilities where students often eat and socialize.
- The Village
- The general residential area encompassing the student hostels on campus.
Z
- Zambezi
- A prominent female hostel on campus.
- ZASU
- Zambia Association of Student Unions, which COBUSU is a member of.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- BC
- Refers to the Bursary Committee or student loan payments; checking 'BC' status is a critical start-of-semester task.
- BCS
- Refers to the Bursaries Committee (now HELSB); students use this term when discussing their government loans or meal allowances.
- Bursary
- Refers to the government student loan/allowance; students often wait for 'Bursary' to be paid to cover living expenses.
- CA
- Continuous Assessment; the marks earned through tests and assignments before the final exam.
- Clearance
- The mandatory administrative process of obtaining signatures from various departments before graduating or vacating hostels.
- Dag
- The Dag Hammarskjöld Library, the main university library.
- Eduroam
- The campus-wide wireless network that allows students to access the internet using their university credentials.
- Graduation Square
- The central open-air venue used for graduation ceremonies and major student gatherings.
- Great Hall
- The main ceremonial building used for graduations and high-profile university functions.
- HELSB
- Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, the government body that manages student loans.
- Jambo
- A popular shopping and social hub located just outside the campus gates.
- Jambo
- The busy junction and shopping area near the campus used for public transport connections to Kitwe CBD.
- Kitwe Town
- The central business district of Kitwe, reached by minibuses from the campus gate for shopping and banking.
- Kitwe-Nkana
- The local urban context; students often use this to describe the broader area surrounding the Riverside campus.
- Late Start
- The common student expectation that events or lectures may start later than the officially scheduled time.
- LT
- Short for Lecture Theatre, typically followed by a number (e.g., LT1, LT2) to denote specific classrooms.
- Moodle
- The university's official online learning management system for assignments and notes.
- MP
- The Multi-Purpose building, used for large lectures, exams, and events.
- MP Hall
- The Multi-Purpose Hall, used for large lectures, examinations, and indoor events.
- MPH
- The Multi-Purpose Hall, used for large-scale exams, indoor sports, and social events.
- Multi-Purpose
- The Multi-Purpose Building, a large facility housing various lecture theaters and exam halls.
- New Library
- The modern, multi-story library facility used for quiet study and research.
- Portal
- The online Student Information System used for course registration and checking results.
- Registration
- The multi-step process of clearing fees and signing up for courses, often involving long queues at the beginning of the term.
- Riverside
- The primary campus of Copperbelt University located in Kitwe.
- Riverside
- The primary campus of Copperbelt University located in the Riverside suburb of Kitwe.
- SB
- The School of Business building, a central academic hub.
- School of Mines
- A prominent academic building and faculty hub often used as a landmark for directions.
- Sessional
- The high-stakes final examinations held at the end of the academic year.
- SIS
- Student Information System, the online portal where students register for courses and view their academic results.
- Student Portal
- The online management system where students register for courses and check their results.
- Supplementary
- Often shortened to 'Supps', these are re-sit exams for students who did not pass a course during the regular session.
- The Blue Bus
- The university-provided shuttle bus that transports students between campus and Kitwe town center.
- The Clinic
- The campus health facility providing medical services to students.
- The Clinic
- The on-campus health facility where students receive medical attention and sick notes.
- The Gate
- The main entrance to the Riverside Campus, often used as a meeting point for students.
- The Gate
- The main security entrance to the Riverside campus, often a flashpoint for student gatherings or transport pickups.
- The Great Hall
- The primary assembly hall used for graduations and major university ceremonies.
- The Library
- The main academic library located at the Riverside Campus.
- The Multi
- The Multi-purpose Hall, used for large gatherings, exams, and indoor sports.
- The New Complex
- A set of modern lecture theaters and offices recently added to the campus infrastructure.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Term III 2025/2026 runs Jun 7, 2026 – Sep 18, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 72 approved campus terms and 41 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.