Studying at Nottingham
Studying at The University of Nottingham is likely to be different from your previous experiences, especially if you have not studied in the UK before. You will be expected to organise your own time and manage your own work. You will experience different styles of teaching and be expected to spend significant amounts of time studying independently.
Our campuses
The University of Nottingham in the UK is a multi-campus university:
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University Park Campus – many Academic Schools and Administrative Departments are based here
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Jubilee Campus – the Business School, the School of Computer Science and the School of Education are based here, along with the International Office
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Sutton Bonington campus – the Schools of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine and Science are based here
The above campuses are linked by a free Hopper Bus.
Academic year
The academic year in the UK runs from September to June and is split into two semesters:
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Autumn Semester (Semester 1) September – January
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Spring Semester (Semester 2) January – June (or September for 12 month courses)
Term dates are used to show holiday periods:
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Christmas (December/January)
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Easter (March/April)
View our semester and term dates here.
Exams
All exams for taught courses (excluding research) are at the end of each semester. Dates are available from the Exams Office.
Study Abroad and Exchange students who are attending just for the Autumn Semester should be aware that they may have an exam on the final Saturday of the exam period in January so must make their travel and visa plans accordingly.
Modules
At the beginning of each academic year you will be automatically enrolled on any compulsory modules but you may have to pick some optional modules too.
You must chose appropriate modules that you wish to study and complete a Module Enrolment Form to ensure that your choices are recorded.
What are modules?
Modules are separate units of a course that make up a degree. Students are expected to attend all the classes and complete all the assessments for each module.
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An undergraduate must take modules worth 120 credits per academic year (usually taken as modules worth 60 credits in the Autumn Semester and 60 credits in the Spring Semester).
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Taught postgraduate students usually take modules worth 60 credits per semester and write a dissertation worth a further 60 credits over the summer. Modules can be worth either 5, 10, 15 or 20 Nottingham credits.
All study abroad/exchange students are expected to take the normal credit load of 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year. Students wishing to take a different number of credits must seek confirmation from the Study Abroad Team.
How do I choose modules?
You will have core and/or compulsory modules to take based on your degree choice - these will be usually printed on your Module Entry Form. Your School or Department will have information on which optional modules you may take for your course or you can check the Supplementary Regulations for your course for the current academic year.
You can look up module details in the
online Module Catalogue You must ask a School to approve your enrolment on a module which they are running and make sure that this approval is shown on your Module Entry Form.
Where do I get my Module Entry Form?
Module Entry Forms are collected from your School/Department at the beginning of each semester. Module entry forms for Study Abroad/Exchange students will be provided at the compulsory information session run by the Study Abroad Team. Students will be contacted by email prior to arrival in Nottingham to confirm the time and venue for this session.
Do I have to enrol for my module choices?
All students taking taught modules must enrol for their modules once they have arrived in Nottingham at the beginning of the Autumn Semester (or January for Study Abroad/Exchange students registered for the Spring Semester/Split Year).
This is separate to the online University Registration which all students must do at the start of each academic year. Study Abroad/ Exchange students must enrol for modules in person. The modules you register for will appear on your Student Portal a few weeks after the beginning of the semester. It is important to check you are registered for the correct modules at the correct level.
Where do I go to enrol?
Each School holds their own enrolment sessions for students choosing optional modules - check the Module Enrolment listings online to find out where and when these sessions take place.
For Study Abroad/Exchange students an academic member of staff will be available in each School/Department to help you select the modules that are most suitable for your programme of study.
Timetables of module registration sessions and information regarding where to submit your Module Entry Form will be given to you at the compulsory information session run by the Study Abroad Team.
Can I change my modules?
If you are thinking of changing your modules then you must first contact your School or Department.
Study Abroad/Exchange students should contact the Study Abroad Team.
Changes to modules can only be made in the first two weeks of teaching and you have to make sure that your Module Entry Form is updated with the correct modules.
How do Study Abroad/ Exchange/Erasmus students select their modules?
Information regarding module choices is available in the online module catalogue, see links below. All students should ensure they have adequate academic experience in the subject area before selecting a module.
Please remember that availability of places on modules is limited and some modules may already be fully subscribed. Study Abroad/Exchange students are advised to select a number of alternative modules in advance of their arrival in Nottingham in case their first choices are not available.
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Study Abroad, Universitas 21 and International Exchange students can select modules from more than one academic School, however when doing so should be aware of any potential timetable clashes and allow for travel time between campuses (if applicable).
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Students are advised not to take modules from more than three different Schools/Departments.
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Erasmus students are expected to take the majority of their modules (minimum of 40 credits per semester) from their home School as specified on their offer letter (except for students whose home School is Modern Languages).