Academic Quality and Standards Team
Information to help incoming Study Abroad/ Exchange students choose suitable modules to study at Leeds
See also the Study Abroad website.
Home University Restrictions
You should first ask your home university if they have any restrictions on the modules you can study at Leeds .
University of Leeds Restrictions
Certain subject areas and modules are not available to Study Abroad/ Exchange students so you are advised to search for modules available by using the parameter field - ‘Search by incoming Study Abroad' in the module catalogue. By checking this field and searching, the modules available in each school will be listed.
If you would like to search for a complete list of modules taught in a specific school or subject area this can be done by entering the school and/or subject area into the parameter fields. Modules available to Study Abroad/ Exchange students are identified within the Module Catalogue by ‘isa' .
Selecting appropriate modules
Please note that for full year students module enrolment happens once a year only, and you should therefore select modules for the entire year (if appropriate).
Pre-Requisites
Make sure that you are qualified for all of the modules you intend to apply for. Certain modules have pre-requisite conditions that must be met before the module may be studied.
Where the pre-requisite qualification is shown as another Leeds module, Study Abroad/ Exchange students are not expected to have studied this exact module. However they are expected to a have studied and passed a similar module covering the same subject area at their home university.
For example, for module MECH2410 the pre-requisite is listed as module MECH1430. You would need to refer to the entry for module MECH 1430 in the module catalogue and carefully read the Objectives and Syllabus sections. You will then be able to decide whether you have studied a similar module at your home university.
If you are worried that it will not be clear from your transcripts that you have studied an equivalent to a pre-requisite module don't hesitate to include some extra information about this when you send your supporting documents.
Module Codes (e.g."MECH 2410")
The four letter code at the beginning identifies the teaching school. The first digit of the numerical code shows the intellectual/cognitive level of the module. Level 1 modules will start with a number one, and so forth.
Please make sure that the module is at an appropriate academic level. Guidance should be sought from your Home University tutor if you are not sure.
- Level 1 modules are generally suitable for students who have not previously studied the subject at their home university.
- Level 2 modules are generally suitable for students who have previously studied the subject at their home university to an intermediate level.
- Level 3 modules are suitable for students who have previously studied the subject at their home university to the same level as a graduate.
Total number of credits expected
Students must study 60 credits of modules per semester (120 in total if they are staying for the whole academic year). The number of credits each module is worth is stated within each module description.
A 10 credit module is expected to require 100 hours of student effort to complete satisfactorily. It should be noted, however, that the module credits do not equate to the number of lecture hours per week, as is the case at some universities. This will vary between each module and your 100 hours of effort may also include attendance at tutorials, laboratory or other practical work, group work and your own private study.
For guidance, students from Europe should note that 2 Leeds credits equates to 1 ECTS credit.
When are modules taught?
• Semester 1 = module taught in Semester 1 only (September – January)
• Semester 2 = module taught in Semester 2 only (January – June)
• Semesters 1 & 2 (or "semester 3" = module taught over the whole academic year. Students who are staying for just one semester should not select any of these modules.
Timetable Clashes
It is common for Study Abroad/ Exchange students to select modules from up to four schools. However, you should be aware that the more schools you take modules in, the more chance there will be of timetable clashes. To view a particular module timetable, please consult the following web page:
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/timetable/
Frequently asked questions
Am I guaranteed to be enrolled on all of the modules that I chose on my application?
No. The school(s) you have applied to will comment on your suitability for the module, which can be dependent on pre-requisites, language level or the remaining space in the class. It is important, therefore, to check for any pre-requisites or language requirements before applying.
Will I be enrolled onto modules before arrival?
Yes. The teaching schools will be responsible for enrolling you onto your approved modules and therefore reserving your place ready for registration.
Can I apply for modules in more than one school?
Yes. You may choose modules taught by more than one school if you wish, although you may not choose modules from more than four different schools. Erasmus students are required to take the majority of their modules within their parent school (this is the school your home university has its Erasmus link with).
Please bear in mind that the more schools you take modules in, the more chance there will be of timetable clashes.
I need to take specific modules in order to satisfy home university requirements. What should I do?
The best way of satisfying your home university requirements is to carefully study the online module catalogue and syllabus for each module you are interested in. If you have any queries you should contact your allocated school coordinator who can work with the advisers at your home university to ensure comparability of modules. Details of the school co-ordinators are on the Study Abroad website:
http://studyabroad.leeds.ac.uk/incoming/what_you_need_to_know/academic_support/
I want to take less than 60 credits - how do I do this?
You may take a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 70 credits in any one semester and 100 to 130 credits in any academic year. If you wish to take less than 60 or 120 credits you can only do this with written permission from your home university.
Make sure that you have a full and balanced credit load in each semester (if appropriate).
Can I change my mind and decide to take other modules before or after arrival?
Students are able to change modules although this can be time consuming and complicated for you, the administration at Leeds and the teaching schools, so please select carefully at the application stage. Due to the volume of applications received from Study Abroad/ Exchange students the Study Abroad Office is unable to process a second round of module selection on your behalf.
Details of all modules are available on the Web Module Catalogue .
The Programme Catalogue Glossary provides informal guidance and definitions for students to help them understand the terms used by the University in describing its programmes of study and their requirements. It can be consulted on the University's website – see http://www.leeds.ac.uk/programmes/glossary.htm
Further information for incoming Study Abroad/ Exchange students can be found on the Study Abroad website: http://studyabroad.leeds.ac.uk/incoming