Outside courses for Edinburgh English L&L major?

Hello! I accepted University of Edinburgh's offer as an insurance for an MA in English Language & Literature, and they sent me an email a few days ago on course choices.

Can anyone help explain what this means:
It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that you choose outside courses in first year that follow on into second year, so that there is the possibility of an alternative degree programme at the end of second year. An overall maximum of 40 credits at level 7 is permitted across years one and two.

I kinda get the outside courses part, but what does the "outside courses in first year that follow on into second year" and "maximum of 40 credits at level 7 is permitted across years one and two" mean? Does it mean that I need to take the same outside course (e.g. history or education) for Year 1 & 2?