Sitting in on lectures?

Hey, i'm starting uni in september hopefully...and i'm wondering if there are strict rules or anything against sitting in on lectures of classes that you are not taking? I don't know if it varies between different universities...if so then i am going to be going to University Of Glasgow. Anyone?

Reply 1

Knogle

16

Loads of people I know do it in universities all over the UK. Doubt you're gonna have a problem with this at all. :wink:

Reply 2

Mush

OP

17

Thanks, i just really want to sit in on some Philosophy lectures, really interested, but it's not a subject offered by the Faculty to which i have been admitted.

Reply 3

Knogle

16

You might also want to post this in the Glasgow University forum BTW.

OP

Where is that?

Mush

Where is that?

Right here. :smile:

Reply 6

sexysax

14

Students do that here, I think it is quite a common thing.

Reply 7

the_mars_volta

11

Yeah you can do it everywhere!!! I sat in on my friend's Maths lecture at Manchester and I haven't done any Maths since 2003, don't even go to the university (yet!).

Reply 8

Spunky

14

You probably can get away with it in most places, but its certainly not allowed in all universities. Some places charge external students coming to sit in, though its hard for them to check, most places don't mind students attending lectures of a different subject, but you have to remember that the students have paid fees to sit in those lectures, if you haven't why should you :smile:

? Though saying that, I've had friends down to visit who've sat in with me.

Reply 9

Gaz031

15

We typically have 200-300 people in our first year Maths lectures and so I doubt anyone would notice, much less mind about someone else being there.
However, if you have time for additional lectures you're evidently not getting enough for your degree subject!

Reply 10

Cirsium

19

The only way it'd be a problem is if e.g. you want to sit in on something like Biology: people can't sit in on my lectures because we have a LOT of Animal Rights protestors so we have to use a swipe card to get into and out of our department. But on paper there's no problem with it - it's just the logistics

Reply 11

ancientone

8

Generally there's no problem - I regularly sit in on lectures from other departments that look interesting.

Reply 12

heminder

13

you're officially allowed to sit-in on non-your lectures at most places...

or so i have been told...

Reply 13

djk_99

13

Yeah its definitely possible, unless you are attending a class that has an attendance list (in which case it could still be possible... just pass the sheet on!) or is designed for only a certain amount of people (such as labs).
You will also need to make friends with someone who does that subject in order to find out which lectures are when and where, as timetables generally aren't published publically, just given out to the students who attend said subject.
But if you have enough free time to spend on random pointless lectures, then I agree with gaz031, you really are not getting enough of your degree subject!

Reply 14

Knogle

16

Bekaboo

The only way it'd be a problem is if e.g. you want to sit in on something like Biology: people can't sit in on my lectures because we have a LOT of Animal Rights protestors so we have to use a swipe card to get into and out of our department. But on paper there's no problem with it - it's just the logistics

You have animal rights protestors storming in to create a ruckus frequently, 'eh? :biggrin:

Reply 15

Spunky

14

Knogle

You have animal rights protestors storming in to create a ruckus frequently, 'eh? :biggrin:

Actually yes, one of the problems of being at Oxford and doing something like biology at the meantime, due to the construction of a new lab that they "object" to.

Reply 16

Acaila

17

Since you specifically mentioned Glasgow, when my mum was there there were apparently 500 people in her lectures so I doubt anyone would notice!

My friend's bf sat in on our last class of last semester, which unfortunately for him featured student presentations, including a guy in the class wandering around naked and handing my friend a raw sheep's liver.
Nobody said anything, but I doubt he'll be back.

Reply 17

Knogle

16

What subject was this? Which required a guy wandering around naked as part of the presentation? :p:

Reply 18

Kingspharm

10

If there's a big turnout to a lecture then you can probably mingle in and not be noticed. Our course is quite small - I've only ever seen a 'stranger' once in a lecture - and the lecturer spotted him and told him to leave. :laugh:

Reply 19

gianthead

12

my brother's gf told me I could sit in on her philosophy lectures any time I was in Sheffield :p:

Sitting in on lectures?

Related discussions

Articles for you