i don’t understand the modules

Hello!!

So, I'm due to start the Media course at University of Kent in the coming weeks, but I'm so so confused by how the modules work. How many credits is too many? Why do so many of the modules for my subject area seem to be in the Spring term?

I'm trying to make sense of it all but it just keeps confusing me and nobody seems to be able to give me a straight answer.. I need to get this submitted ASAP too, so any help would be appreciated please!!

I'm getting really stressed out and emotional over the whole thing :’>

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

You will normally be constrained in your choice of modules (if you have one) such that you have to select an amount adding up to an exact amount of credits appropriate for your study intensity (i.e. full time or part time).

Most UK universities use the CATS format (implicitly or explicitly) for credit values, which means you will normally take 120 credits of modules a year, adding up to 360 credits for a 3 year undergraduate degree. This dovetails the European Bologna process and ECTS credits system I believe, which is basically half as much (60 ECTS = 120 CATS).

Your personal tutor will advise you more on module choices if you have optional modules but in general you will need to take an amount equivalent to full time study (assuming a full time degree) which is like 120 credits total. As for the split between fall/spring term modules, this is up to the unis and how they teach and timetable them - some unis/courses organise it so most optional modules fall in the second term as you do most compulsory modules in the first term, although many have them evenly split across the year.

Basically don't worry about it too much - if your programme has optional modules in first year, make a note of any that sound appealing to you, and when you start you can discuss with your personal tutor which options you may be able to take. Also don't set your heart on any one option, as you may not know until later when the timetable is released if you can take it in case of clashes for example!

Reply 2

WrexhamUniReps

Official Rep

Original post by mofumafu

Hello!!
So, I'm due to start the Media course at University of Kent in the coming weeks, but I'm so so confused by how the modules work. How many credits is too many? Why do so many of the modules for my subject area seem to be in the Spring term?
I'm trying to make sense of it all but it just keeps confusing me and nobody seems to be able to give me a straight answer.. I need to get this submitted ASAP too, so any help would be appreciated please!!
I'm getting really stressed out and emotional over the whole thing :’>

Hi 👋,

I hope you are looking forward to starting your course this year.

I would see if you could reach out to the course leader at your university for your course, who would be able to best answer your questions.

I hope this helps,

Matt
Wrexham Uni Reps

Reply 3

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by mofumafu

Hello!!
So, I'm due to start the Media course at University of Kent in the coming weeks, but I'm so so confused by how the modules work. How many credits is too many? Why do so many of the modules for my subject area seem to be in the Spring term?
I'm trying to make sense of it all but it just keeps confusing me and nobody seems to be able to give me a straight answer.. I need to get this submitted ASAP too, so any help would be appreciated please!!
I'm getting really stressed out and emotional over the whole thing :’>

Hey @mofumafu,

I hope you're keeping well. 🙂

I'll try to help you out as best I can, since I also felt quite overwhelmed when I began!

There are 120 credits that you can take in a year.
There are 2 main terms: Autumn and Spring.

You'll have 2 types of modules: Ones which only last for 1 term (15 credits), and ones which last for both terms or are just more important (30 credits).

I think "Media and Meaning" is the only mandatory 30 credit class you'll have, which means it'll be split, and you'll study it both in Autumn and Spring.
You also have the option to study 4 media-related courses this first year, those being "Intro to Marketing" - 15 / Autumn, "Making Media" - 30 /Spring, "Promotional Media" - 15/Autumn, and "Media, Identity, and Diversity" - 30 / Spring.
Choosing these 4 extra will give you the 120 credits necessary for the year.

Alongside these though, you'll also (due to being first year), have the opportunity to study essentially all the other university modules out there to try out, if the ones above don't interest you as much. Don't worry, you can only select 120 credits - no more, no less. However, by 2nd year, you then stick to Media-related modules, meaning a lot of this choice goes away.

Hope this helps.

Warm regards,

David 🙂
University of Kent Student Rep