Teaching Timetables & Study Patterns

Timetables: Take a look at the current teaching timetables for 2009-10. Typically these are updated in September, just before the new academic year begins (although they are also subject to change at any time).

If you are a prospective student, you will be able to get an idea of what your timetable will be, but don't be surprised if it changes by the time you start.

Study Patterns: Typically all students take a maximum of four courses at a time, together with professional development activities.

For full-time undergraduates, each year involves studying 120 credits. In the first and second years this will usually mean four 30-credit courses, running from October to April (so the Term 1 and Term 2 timetables are likely to be identical).

In the final year, one of the courses is normally replaced by a 30-credit project.

For some programmes, the final year courses are 15-credits only and run for a single term, meaning that you might take a project and six 15-credit courses, three in each term.

Full-time postgraduate students on taught MSc programmes normally take four 15-credit courses in Semester 1, four different 15-credit courses in Semester 2 and a 60-credit project once the taught courses have finished. [Note that normally, therefore, students starting MScs in January take 15 months elapsed-time but, since they do not need to be here over the summer, the MSc can be done in 12 calendar months study-time. An exception is MSc Applied Mathematical Modelling & Scientific Computing where, for students starting in January, the project is undertaken during the summer.]

Learning Framework: Typically each course involves a two-hour lecture every week, plus a one-hour laboratory session and/or a one-hour tutorial. However, some of the more practical courses may involve more lab/tutorial work and less lecture time.

The lectures are designed to give a broad overview of key concepts and ideas, and a framework for more in-depth individual study. The lab work helps you develop and understand the technical skills required for your programme - you do individual work, but a tutor is on hand to help with any problems you may have. Tutorials may involve group-based or individual work and again aim to help you develop your own skills.