What are modules and why do they matter?

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Core modules, optional modules, credits and coursework, it can be confusing to imagine, and this makes planning difficult. Fortunately, we’ve written this handy guide to outline the university degree module system, so that you’ll know what to expect from the way your course is organised.

What is a module?

In the case of a university education, the degree which you are choosing to study will be divided into years of study (usually three), and in each year you’ll study several modules. You’ll probably study a couple at a time, and most modules last for one term. Modules are the building blocks of your degree, and are used to provide structure to your learning, organising course content by a weekly timetable which includes teaching, learning outcomes, syllabus, and assessment schedule. It’s a blueprint of how to complete your degree and allows different degree courses which have an overlap in course content can share resources and work more effectively.

What are core modules?

Core modules must be completed to meet the requirements of your course and progress to the next stage of your degree. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘compulsory modules’, and for the most part, you can consider them to be equivalent. Core modules usually represent the foundations of your subject. They are the fundamentals which you will need to know in order to understand the more complex stuff that comes later on.

It's not uncommon for all modules in your first year to be core/compulsory, with elective modules (modules that you can choose from a list of options) being introduced in your second year and expanded on in third year.

Why are modules important when picking a course?

Each university has its own approach to teaching a subject, and your experience of studying the same degree course at different universities will be subtly different, due to the specific modules chosen for the curriculum. This allows universities to engage with subject matter in their own style, and since modules can readily be swapped around and updated, it allows course content to adapt to new developments in thought, technology and industry practices.

Importantly for you, it means that you can create your own personalised pathway through the curriculum, engaging with as much of what excites you about your subject as possible, or choosing modules which will be particularly useful in your future career or postgraduate studies.

You’ll want to look ahead at all the modules available in your degree course, and check that the course content you’re hoping to study is included, and that the method of assessment suits your learning style.

How many modules will I take?

For a UK undergraduate degree, one year typically equals 120 credits. Most modules are either 15 or 30 credits, so you can expect around four to six modules per year, at a rate of two to three per term.

Check out your future modules by browsing courses on Whatuni.

Read our handy guide on how to choose the right course for you.