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  • Curriculum Development
  • ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Choice
  • Variation of Study
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Validation
  • CMA Compliance
  • Course Transfers
  • Faculty Education Committee
  • Use of in-person examinations
  • ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Academic Framework
• Academic standards
• Partnerships
• Enhancement
• External reference points
• Regulations, policies, procedures and guidance
• People and contacts

ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Choice

A) Overview

1. What is ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Choice?

ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Choice is the term used by the University to communicate to prospective undergraduates how they can personalise the structure and content of their ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ degree. The broad rationale for ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Choice is to provide flexibility in the range of subjects students may study whilst ensuring that the academic integrity of the core discipline remains secure. Broadening student choice enriches the student learning experience and enhances employability, enabling ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ graduates to achieve their academic and career aims.

The ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Choice suite of options is explicitly designed to facilitate student aspirations and to support the creation of an innovative and distinctive curriculum. The design of each element is governed by the ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Academic Framework, based on UK HE quality standards.

2. What is the Academic Framework?

The ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Academic Framework sets out the University’s criteria and rules for curriculum design, credit, level, qualifications and award titles. The Academic Framework is based on UK HE quality standards and aligned to guidance from the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).

The implementation of the Academic Framework is managed by the Academic Quality and Partnerships Office under the ultimate authority of the University Education Committee on behalf of Senate. 

 B) Electives

3. What are electives?

Electives are modules which allow single honours students to study a subject outside of their main discipline within and beyond their home School. These modules may be at FHEQ level 4 or 5 and will always have a credit weighting of 15 credits per module. A distinguishing feature of electives is that they are timetabled in the elective timetable, a subsection of the main timetable which has been created to minimise teaching timetable clashes. Elective modules cannot be taken as an option or core component of a single or joint major course.

Electives are different from option modules; the latter are selected by students on both single and joint honours awards from a group of modules linked to a specific degree course. 

4. Which students can take an elective?

Electives are available to all students on single honours courses, with the following exceptions:

• Where curriculum content requirements for the core discipline mean that it is not possible to make space for an elective within the overall diet of 120 credits per year. 
• Major/minor degrees may utilise electives to form the minor component of their degree in Years 1 and 2.

Joint honours students are not able to take electives owing to insufficient capacity within the overall diet of 120 credits per year for the core curriculum requirements of the two joint disciplines to be delivered. 

5. How do students find out about what electives are available?

All electives are available for all single honours courses approved by the School for inclusion in the scheme. Electives are listed on the central course database and viewable to applicants and students in the online prospectus.

Where a new course is approved for advertising but has not yet been validated, module information – including information about electives - is not published until after validation.

Once new single honours students are registered, they are guided and prompted by the online system to choose from a list of available eective modules (see question 7).

6. Where can students get advice about the electives available to them?

School Offices can provide advice to students about eligibility for electives, particularly where professional body requirements preclude participation in elective modules.

Academic Personal Tutors will be able to guide students in making decisions about which electives are right for them from an academic perspective.

7. What are the timescales and processes for selection of electives by students?

The timescale for students to choose electives is driven by the timetabling system. New students select their modules (including electives) online as part of online registration. The system for selecting modules opens for continuing students each Spring.

The system guides and prompts students in making their selections. Schools also communicate with students in advance of the online system becoming available. Schools chase students who are slow to respond. Schools also monitor take up on a daily basis as it underpins workload management for the coming academic session.

Students may request to change their elective choice up to the end of week 2 of the semester the module is running in. Elective choices cannot normally be changed after the deadline has passed, although some adjustments may be permitted at School level where the assessment process allows.

8. How are electives reflected in degree titles for graduating students?

Electives are only reflected in the degree title if they are taken as part of a Language Pathway or as part of minor component in a major/minor degree.

  C) Language Pathways

9. What is a language pathway?

A language pathway is an approved, academically-coherent combination of modules, which students study across either two years (60 credits) of their degree or across all three years (90 credits). A 60-credit language pathway is usually taken in Years 1 and 2, but exceptions may be approved where the language pathway was started during Foundation Year or the course structure does not have elective slots in all semesters of Years 1 and 2. 

10. What types of language pathway are there?

There are two types of language pathway, as follows:

60 credit Language Pathway	Alongside their main subject, students study a language pathway consisting of 60 credits overall; usually, 30 credits are studied in each of the first and second stages of the degree. Most language pathways may be taken at a range of levels (further details of available levels can be found here).
90 credit / Minor Pathway	Students on a language pathway may wish to continue studying the language for a third year (usually taken in Year 3 via a Variation of Study, but it may exceptionally be taken in Year 2 where the language pathway was started in Foundation Year). This results in a 90-credit language pathway, which is then reflected in the award title as the minor component of a major/minor degree.

 

11. Which students can take a language pathway?

Language pathways are available to all students on single honours courses with sufficient elective slots to enable completion of a pathway.  Where the course structure does not have four elective slots, it may be possible in some cases for a language pathway to be completed but this will depend on the level of language being taken and the course structure; please contact aqpcurriculum@sussex.ac.uk for further advice regarding specific cases.

12. How do students find out what language pathways are available?

Information on available electives is accessible to applicants from the online undergraduate prospectus.  Information on language pathways can be found here.

Once students are registered, they are guided and prompted by the online system to choose from a list of available elective modules (see question 14). Those modules which are part of a language pathway are indicated as such and details of other modules in the language pathway can be accessed.

13. Where can students get advice about the language pathways available to them?

School Offices can advise students whether their course structure will enable them to take a language pathway.  The Department of Language Studies can provide advice to students about the different language pathways available.

Academic Personal Tutors will be able to guide students in making decisions about whether a language pathway is right for them from an academic perspective.

14. What are the timescales and processes for selection of langauge pathways by students?

Student participation in a language pathway is not formally recognised until classification, and students may choose to take some language electives without completing a language pathway.  Participation in a language pathway is therefore determined by a student's choice of elective modules (please see Question 7 for details of the timescales and processes for selection of electives).

15. How are language pathways reflected in degree titles for graduating students?

Language pathways are reflected in the degree title as follows:

Successful completion of a 60-credit language pathway

For foreign languages, the award title will be recorded as "x with proficiency in 'language' (intermediate)", "x with proficiency in 'language' (advanced)", or "x with proficiency in 'language' for professional purposes".  The allocation to intermediate, advance or professional purposes level is determeined following assessment of the student by the Department of Language Studies (DLS).  For British Sign Language, the award title will be recorded as 2x with British Sign Lnagueg and Deaf Culture".  For TESOL, the award title will be recorded as "x with TESOL".

Successful completion of a 90-credit language pathway

For foreign languages, the award title will be recorded as "x with 'language' ['CEFR level reached upon completion'] e.g. "BA History with Spanish [CEFR C1]". For British Sign Language, the award title will be recorded as "x with British Sign Language".

  D) Study Abroad

16. What is study abroad?

The Academic Framework includes three main categories for study abroad:

Voluntary study abroad year	Students may incorporate a voluntary study abroad year into an existing 3/4 stage course (Bachelors or Integrated Masters Degree). This will be an additional year of study equivalent to 120 credits leading to a course duration of 4/5 stages respectively. The study abroad year is normally taken between the second and third stages of study and is at FHEQ level 5.
Integrated study abroad year	Courses witha major or minor in American Studies have an integrated study abroad year embedded into a 4-stage course structure. A study abroad year integrated into the course structure requires that the University guarantees all students access to a study abroad year. Students cannot normally undertake both a study abroad and a placement year (regardless of whether the study abroad year is integrated into a 4-stage course or voluntary).
Study abroad semester	Incorporated within a 3 or 4 stage (360/480 credit) degree course to broaden student learning. Permissible in Semester 1 or 2 of Year 2 as long as the curriculum has been explicitly approved to enable this. The single semester placement/study abroad requires approval and is not available to students on all courses.

17. Which students can study abroad?

All students on a 3-stage undergraduate or 4-stage integrated Masters course can apply to undertake a voluntary study abroad year, with the exception of those whose course already includes an integrated study abroad year.

Students can also apply to spend a semester abroad, provided that the course structure enables this and that the modules they would have been due to take at ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ can be mapped to modules at the host institution.

18. How do students find out about study abroad options and what are the timescales involved?

Information about study abroad is available to all students via the Student Hub. A voluntary study abroad year is not guaranteed but the University will support students via the ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Abroad Office in identifying/gaining access to a study abroad year. Students wishing to take a voluntary study abroad year can apply once registered on their course via the ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Abroad Office, normally by Semester 2 of Stage 1. A small number of courses with a voluntary study abroad year are advertised for entry; study abroad on these courses is still considered as a voluntary study abroad year.

19. How is study abroad reflected in degree titles for graduating students?

When taken and passed the voluntary/integrated study abroad year shall be recognised on the degree certificate in the format – Degree title (with a study abroad year).

Successful completion of a study abroad semester will be noted on the student’s transcript, but not included in the degree title.

   E) Placements

20. What placement options does the University offer for students?

Placement year	Students may incorporate a voluntary placement year into an existing 3- or 4-stage course (Bachelors or Integrated Masters Degree respectively). This will be an additional year of study equivalent to 120 credits leading to a course duration of 4/5 stages respectively.
Placement semester	Incorporated within a 3- or 4-stage (360/480 credit) degree course to broaden student learning. Permissible in Semester 1 or Semester 2 as long as the course structure enables this to be approved for an individual student via Variation of Study. The one semester placement requires approval and is not open to all students.

21. How can students find out about placement opportunities and how is the process managed?

A placement year or semester is not guaranteed but the University will support students via the Placement Preparation Programme in identifying/gaining access to a placement.

For further information see the placements information on the Careers and Employability Centre's website.

22. How are placements reflected in degree titles for graduating students?

When taken and passed the placement year shall be recognised on the degree certificate in the format – Degree title (with a professional placement year).

Successful completion of a placement semester will be noted on the students’ transcript, but not included in the degree title.

 F) Examination and assessment

26. What happens when students fail electives, language pathways, study abroad or placements?

All elements of ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ Choice are subject to the regulations set out in the UG Progression and Award Regulations. Where students fail, opportunities to retrieve the failure will be available. Individual students will be guided by Schools and Academic Personal Tutors in relation to their options following exam boards.

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