MAKE THE MOST OF STUDYING AT QUEEN’S CHOOSING YOUR SUBJECTS For a typical three-year degree you will take the equivalent of six Level 1 modules at Stage 1, followed by the equivalent of 12 modules at Stages 2 and 3, with your choice of module governed by the requirements of the degree; and provided that: 1. You meet the necessary criteria (if there are any) to take the modules 2. It is possible to timetable both classes and examinations for the chosen combination of modules 3. There is a place available in the class However, you need to be aware that admission to some high-demand subjects at Stage 1 or Stage 2 may be restricted to those who have applied for and been accepted into those courses through UCAS (ucas.com). Many students will wish to follow degree programmes where the choice of modules is more limited – eg Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Social Work, Law, Engineering, and Accounting – because of the needs of the professions concerned. In some academic areas you may be able to study for a Joint Honours Degree (equal numbers of modules in two different subjects). STUDYING FOR A DEGREE/ THE MODULAR SYSTEM The academic year is divided into two semesters and also includes an assessment period and a development period. Assessment and development activities also take place during the semesters. Most degree courses consist of the equivalent of 18 modules, normally taken over a period of three years (three Stages). Full-time students take the equivalent of six modules each year, with choice governed by content
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of the degree course. Modules may be either semester-long or year-long. Some subject areas offer opportunity to study abroad as part of the Erasmus or other exchange programmes. A number of degree courses are more than three years in duration, because they include a work placement or a year abroad. Some subject areas offer extended undergraduate degree courses (eg the MSci/MEng four-year/five-year degrees). ADVICE AND SUPPORT You will receive a Welcome Pack which will contain registration information. A Personal Tutor will be assigned to you when you enrol. He or she will meet with you and will be available to support you in your general academic development during both Stages 1 and 2. Personal Tutors are also able to signpost centralised support services that are available and relevant to you in the Student Guidance Centre. Should you encounter an academic or other difficulty that could affect your academic performance, you are encouraged to talk to your Personal Tutor and the relevant subject lecturer about this. If they cannot assist you, the Personal Tutor will be able to refer you to someone who can. As you progress through your course, your Personal Tutor will also encourage you to participate in extracurricular activities, such as Degree Plus, designed to enhance your employability and add value to your Queen’s experience. For your career and employability development you will find guidance information on the careers website (qub.ac.uk/careers) and a range of opportunities and activities to get you involved, advertised on the student portal MyFuture (qub.ac.uk/myfuture). These services are provided by the Careers, Employability and Skills staff
which includes careers consultants, who work with your schools and who you will meet through employability workshops and programmes as well as one-to-one career guidance consultations, most of which takes place in the Student Guidance Centre. You will also be allocated an Adviser of Studies who will support and guide you in making module choices and in discussing other formal issues relating to your academic progress. For further details about modules, consult the Course Catalogue at qsiscat.qub.ac.uk Each module will involve assessment and this may be spread throughout each semester – assignments, essays, practical reports, projects, etc. Examinations, if required, are normally held during the assessment period towards the end of the second semester, although a small number of programmes will have examinations at different points in the year depending on accrediting or professional body requirements. STUDENT CHARTER University life is built on a real partnership between students and staff working together to ensure an outstanding educational and transformative experience. The Student Charter sets out what you as a student can expect of the University and in return, what would be expected of you. It enables an environment where those expectations can be met and your ambitions realised. go.qub.ac.uk/StudentCharter
Queen’s University Belfast – Undergraduate Prospectus 2023
