Choosing your programme
How our structure works
Programmes are usually divided into a number of courses. Each course is awarded a particular credit value and you work towards achieving the programme by accumulating credit. We have developed an undergraduate scheme offering a range of options that enable you to pursue your own areas of interest. You can choose to start on a broad-based programme and then specialise, or, after exploring new opportunities, bring new subjects into your programme.
With our combined honours programmes you can study more than one subject from the outset. The subjects you study are reflected in the title of your final award. It may also be possible to move from one programme to another, particularly at the end of stage one (usually after the first year if you are studying full-time), should you find something that suits you better.
The structure is straightforward and easy to navigate around. There is no complicated modular system to grapple with, just lots of interesting opportunities. Once you have decided what your main area of interest is, such as engineering, education or law, you can consider the programmes that allow you to include these subjects.
Once you have embarked upon your programme you will have the opportunity to select options that will allow you to pursue your specialist interests. The range of choices is only constrained in cases where a professional body requires it or when timetables clash. Options for each programme are listed in the Subject A to Z.
Credit
Normally, a full-time student takes 120 credits a year, and most degrees require a total of 360 credits. This is increasingly a national 'currency' which is designed to make transfer from one university to another easier, as well as facilitating moves between programmes at the university.
Course
This is the basic component of the degree. A full-time student normally takes four courses simultaneously. Each has its own teaching programme and its own assessment. Once you have successfully completed the course, you gain the credits.
Within each programme, some courses are compulsory (or core), while others are optional. Optional courses are related to your main subject, but the programme allows some choice so that you can follow specialist interests. An increasing number of options give you the opportunity to study courses from a different school to your own, subject to timetabling.
Attendance
There are three ways to attend programmes: full-time, sandwich (which includes a year's placement in industry), and part-time. The structure of the undergraduate scheme means that you may have the opportunity to switch from full- to part-time or vice versa during your studies.
Short courses and industry certifications
Many of our Schools, in addition to their Bachelor and foundation degree programmes, also run short courses. These are designed for individuals who wish to update their professional skills and to keep in touch with the latest research and knowledge in their fields. Schools offer a wide variety of courses which start throughout the year and are offered at various levels, with many courses leading to recognised qualifications.
The School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences, for example, offer courses certified by a number of well-known names in industry, including Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Sun Java, dot Net and UNIX. Students already on a programme in the School are eligible for a discount for these courses.
Languages
Languages at the university are usually studied as part of a combined honours degree. Programmes which lead to other qualifications are listed in the Subject A to Z, as are single honours programmes where language is an important part. Many programmes throughout the university include the opportunity to study a foreign language. You can start a language as an absolute beginner, or join at a higher level, depending on what you have studied before.
You can study French, German, Italian and Spanish at all levels. If English is not your first language, you may also have the opportunity to study English for Academic Purposes as an option in semesters one and two of your first year. Non-native English speakers requiring help to develop specific language skills - speaking, writing, reading or listening - may find this particularly useful. The course is integrated into your main programme as part of the university's language courses.
The university also offers two English pre-sessional courses in the summer (four and eight weeks depending on skill level). These courses allow students to develop their English language skills and prepare them for academic life.
In addition, you may prepare for the internationally recognised Cambridge awards, the First Certificate (FCE), the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).