Visiting students: choosing your modules

Semesters

The academic year is split into two 16-week semesters. All modules are taught and assessed within one semester. You will need to ensure that you select modules that are available in your proposed study period.

You can study with us for one or two semesters (a full academic year) if you're an undergraduate student. If you're a postgraduate taught student, you can study with us for a maximum of two semesters.

Most modules will only be available in a specific semester. Please check What can I study? to see which these are.

Credits

Each semester, you must take three modules of 20 credits (10 ECTS) each, totalling 60 credits (30 ECTS) in up to two Departments. Undergraduate students can study a maximum of 120 credits (60 ECTS) each year in up to three Departments. Postgraduate taught students can study up to a maximum of 120 credits (60 ECTS) at York, and for a maximum of two semesters in one Department.

Your home university will confirm how many credits you need. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the requirements of their home university in terms of module suitability and the number of credits taken during their study period at York.

Module levels

Most of our academic departments offer modules at a range of levels for visiting students. You can request to take different levels, provided you can demonstrate your ability to meet the demands of each module. To find out about the level of ability that different modules require, contact the relevant department using the explore our modules link below.

The module suffix shows the level:

• Stage One – C
• Stage Two – I
• Stage Three – H
• Masters - M

Explore our modules

Choosing your departments, level of study and study period

• Depending on the length of their study period, previous academic background and timetabling, undergraduate students may apply for modules in up to two departments in a semester and a maximum of three departments in an academic year. Taught postgraduates can only apply to one department.
• Students should have a university-level background in the subjects they wish to study at York.
• It is usual for a student from an academic system that has a four (or more) year Bachelors degree programme to choose earlier stage modules at York than at their home university. For example, if you are studying in the third year at home, this will be equivalent to second year studies at York.
• Please check that the level of the module and the semester of study is appropriate to your study level and study period at York before considering a module. Masters level modules are not available to undergraduate students.
• Due to timetable constraints, we can’t accommodate every combination of modules. When it comes to choosing modules, you're more likely to get your choice of modules if they are taught by the same department and at the same level of study.
• We do not confirm registration on your choice of modules at application stage. This will be done through direct contact from the department either in the vacation period before you start at York, or in the first supervisory meeting at the start of the semester. The departmental information will say which of these applies to your department(s).
• We can’t guarantee that all modules listed will be available in each academic year, nor can we guarantee admission to particular modules.
• Use only the links provided on the explore our modules page to access descriptions of the available modules. Do not use the Module Catalogue to search for other modules as it is not possible for exchange and visiting students to study all the modules described in the Module Catalogue.
• If you are applying to more than one department, you may find that each department has a different teaching and assessment structure. For example, some departments only offer assessment by examination. For Semester 1, this will take place in January and for Semester 2, this will take place in May/June. Make sure you understand these differences and can attend as necessary before you apply.