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Student at University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh

Outside subject(s) in 1st and 2nd year *post here with questions*

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Original post by Rovensie
I'm on a joint honours degree so I've got 40 credits for outside courses. My question is do the courses need to be from the same subject for the 40 credits, or can I choose a course from, say, economics and another from politics which worth 20 credits each? And would it be possible that both of the courses are in semester 1 (or 2)? Would the workload still be manageable in this way?

Thanks :tongue:


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Original post by Rovensie
Also, can I do year 2 courses in year 1, or vice versa?


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I assume you currently have 40 credits in semester 1, and 40 in semester 2. To balance your time table it's probably wise to split your spare 40 credits across the timetable, so that you have a balanced workload in your year.
These 40 credits can be taken in anything, as long as they fit into your timetable. And you can split them up and take. for example, 20 credits in Economic Principles and 20 credits doing a beginner language course.
Student at University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Original post by UPSDGoat
I assume you currently have 40 credits in semester 1, and 40 in semester 2. To balance your time table it's probably wise to split your spare 40 credits across the timetable, so that you have a balanced workload in your year.
These 40 credits can be taken in anything, as long as they fit into your timetable. And you can split them up and take. for example, 20 credits in Economic Principles and 20 credits doing a beginner language course.


Can I do year 2 courses in year 1, if there're no prerequisites? :biggrin:


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Original post by Rovensie
Can I do year 2 courses in year 1, if there're no prerequisites? :biggrin:


In theory yes. In practice, there are very few year 2 courses (that explicitly have a 2 in their name) that come without requirements to have passed the first year course. There are an increasing number of level 8 courses (check DRPS) that are "normally taken in year 2" - but for no reason other than tradition. You can take these if there's capacity.
Original post by nearlyheadlessian
In theory yes. In practice, there are very few year 2 courses (that explicitly have a 2 in their name) that come without requirements to have passed the first year course. There are an increasing number of level 8 courses (check DRPS) that are "normally taken in year 2" - but for no reason other than tradition. You can take these if there's capacity.


Okay, thanks a lot :wink: the one I'm interested in is kind of a separate course that does not require you to pass anything :biggrin:


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Hi, I want to study English at Edinburgh in September and i was wondering if you can take arty subjects for your outside subjects? So along the lines of animation/fine art etc. or if it is a completely separate thing. Thanks!
Original post by lemonlime123
Hi, I want to study English at Edinburgh in September and i was wondering if you can take arty subjects for your outside subjects? So along the lines of animation/fine art etc. or if it is a completely separate thing. Thanks!


I'd recommend taking a look at DRPS (see the OP) to check whether the courses are compatible. I don't know, but typically if courses have been based in ECA, they're often not available as outside courses.
Reply 686
Avatar for Davefin
Davefin
Hi guys, I just wanted to ask, coming from the EU, do AP Exams count for anything at Edinburgh? Like, I'm gonna be studying Computer Science (G400) and I'll (hopefully) have passed the AP Computer Science exam by then, does that count for any of my credits or is it not recognized at all?
Thanks
Do undergraduates studying LLB Hons have to do outside subjects?
Hi,

I was wondering whether I am able to change my course from Economics to Accountancy and Finance?
Original post by teenagegranny
Hi,

I was wondering whether I am able to change my course from Economics to Accountancy and Finance?


What year are you in?


Original post by mangoesahoy
Do undergraduates studying LLB Hons have to do outside subjects?


As far as I know, those studying LLB Hons don't have to do any outside courses. :smile:
Original post by crmn96
Can you pick a language as an outside course if you don't know anything beforehand? Specifically I'm thinking Italian, it seems to have no requirements if I'm looking at the right bit. I see French says you need Higher/A Level or whatever but Italian doesn't. Thanks!


Yes, you can:smile: I had friends who took Arabic and German and other subjects last year, without any prior knowledge of it beforehand!
Original post by Rovensie
Also, can I do year 2 courses in year 1, or vice versa?


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You could if it's the right number of credits, and it also depends on the amount of knowledge required beforehand. For example, I'm going into second year but I missed the first semester of Social Anthropology 1A (which is usually first year first semester), so I'm taking that.
Original post by Quick-use
What year are you in?


Hi! I am starting 1st year this Sept and I was thinking of specialising in Accountancy in the 3rd year if I didn't want to do Economics anymore
Original post by Rovensie
I'm on a joint honours degree so I've got 40 credits for outside courses. My question is do the courses need to be from the same subject for the 40 credits, or can I choose a course from, say, economics and another from politics which worth 20 credits each? And would it be possible that both of the courses are in semester 1 (or 2)? Would the workload still be manageable in this way?

Thanks :tongue:


Posted from TSR Mobile


You should be able to pick two different courses of 2o credits each, however, there may be some degree regulations depending on your main subject area, so it's best to check with your PT at the start of the semester.

As for taking two outside subjects in the same semester, that would imply doing 80 credits as opposed to the normal workload (60 credits). If there is no timetable clash and both courses run in the same semester, this should also be possible, but only and only with the permission of the PT. Hope this helps :smile:
Reply 694
Avatar for kajka
kajka
2
Original post by teenagegranny
Hi,

I was wondering whether I am able to change my course from Economics to Accountancy and Finance?


You can change your course to anything you want (as long as you meet the entry requirements) in the first two weeks of term. After that it's more difficult but possible if you've been taking the right courses.

Also not sure if anyone's mentioned this before, but Path is a good tool for building your courses and it gives you your timetable as well to see if there are any clashes:
https://path.is.ed.ac.uk
Sorry not sure if this is available for all university courses, definitely works for Maths and Physics.
hi everyone, I just received my offer for Physics with a year abroad with second year entry, I intend to go to Spain during my year abroad. Looking at the available options, I feel a bit stuck. As it stands I have a few more compulsory options than the standard student because I have to catch up on what I miss from first year, and only have 20 credits left for year one for optional modules (technically second year, but first year ill be studying there). As I want to study in Spain, but am not fluent yet, I want to fill this with Spanish, and so am thinking about foundation Spanish 3, as Spanish 1B is 40 credits so wont fit in.

However, I do not feel this will be enough to allow me to get by alone in Spain for a year, as there are no optional modules in other subjects the year after that or afterwards. So my questions are; would I be able to sit in on other lectures or seminars in Spanish if I'm not on the course? Would I be able to take more credits than everyone else if I was persuasive enough, and take Spanish 1B? Would getting much better grades than my offer help in persuading them (offer-A*AA, predicted-A*A*A*A*)? Or is 200 hours enough to get fluent from a quality a level in the subject? Does anyone have any general year abroad advice?

To be clear, Physics is definitely my fav subject, but I'm pretty good at Spanish and the year abroad would be so cool and beneficial, and id dread it if I didn't feel ready enough. I know this is early but ill be so busy after Christmas.

Thanks for reading
Are all subjects available as an 'outside subject?' What about English or the arty ones like costume design? Thanks :smile:
Original post by Han-han-han
Are all subjects available as an 'outside subject?' What about English or the arty ones like costume design? Thanks :smile:


No not all subjects are available- Many courses at the Edinburgh Collage of Art like costume - for example are only for those taking some kind of design degree. In other areas- like Music- some courses are available- so you could take composition if you had a Higher/ A level in Music but Performance is only for those taking a Bmus.

Each course will indicate if there are any perquisites- particular exams you need to have taken etc . You can look here- at the course catalogue at individual courses and what you might need

http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/15-16/dpt/cx_subindex.htm

You do also have to remember that even if a course is available in theory it might not be possible in practice. First there might be a timetable clash and second some courses that are very competitive, like English Lit and Politics for example, and will have very few spare places so you are very unlikely to be able to get on them. SO don't bank on being able to do them. One of the reasons for this is to stop people applying for less competitive degrees and then trying to transfer to a more competitive one by taking it as an outside subject.

If in the unlikely case that they do have spare places they will give preference to particular students You can see the order of preferences for English Lit for example here:
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/15-16/dpt/cxenli08001.htm

Although you will see that this year none got to take it as an outside subject!

Hope that helps
Original post by watchingyouwatch
some courses that are very competitive, like English Lit and Politics for example, and will have very few spare places so you are very unlikely to be able to get on them.


Exactly. English Literature had zero places for outside students this year.
Original post by tas1998
hi everyone, I just received my offer for Physics with a year abroad with second year entry, I intend to go to Spain during my year abroad. Looking at the available options, I feel a bit stuck. As it stands I have a few more compulsory options than the standard student because I have to catch up on what I miss from first year, and only have 20 credits left for year one for optional modules (technically second year, but first year ill be studying there). As I want to study in Spain, but am not fluent yet, I want to fill this with Spanish, and so am thinking about foundation Spanish 3, as Spanish 1B is 40 credits so wont fit in.

However, I do not feel this will be enough to allow me to get by alone in Spain for a year, as there are no optional modules in other subjects the year after that or afterwards. So my questions are; would I be able to sit in on other lectures or seminars in Spanish if I'm not on the course? Would I be able to take more credits than everyone else if I was persuasive enough, and take Spanish 1B? Would getting much better grades than my offer help in persuading them (offer-A*AA, predicted-A*A*A*A*)? Or is 200 hours enough to get fluent from a quality a level in the subject? Does anyone have any general year abroad advice?

To be clear, Physics is definitely my fav subject, but I'm pretty good at Spanish and the year abroad would be so cool and beneficial, and id dread it if I didn't feel ready enough. I know this is early but ill be so busy after Christmas.

Thanks for reading


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