SMI Module Choice Guide 2025/26

All SMI undergraduate and postgraduate students make optional module choices as part of their degrees. You'll be asked to make your choices during phase 2 of the registration process. 

The online module choice system does not always make it clear which modules SMI students should or shouldn’t choose, so here is a guide to make things clearer. We'll also go though this with you at your induction event and SMI staff will be on hand to answer any questions.   

To help you decide whether an optional module is right for you, clink on the link below for your programme. You can also enter your course code into the Programme Regulations Finder which will list all of your available modules, including descriptions. Please note that optional modules can be subject to change and may not appear on the online module choice system.  You can also contact us at smi@sheffield.ac.uk if you need any help making decisions.

Your core modules should already be loaded onto your student record, please check this and add them if not. You must make sure you have the correct number of credits for this year. For undergraduates this is 120 and for postgraduates it is 180. If you're studying part-time, please contact smi@sheffield.ac.uk and we will advise you on which modules to take in which year.

Number of subjects

It's not always easy to tell from codes which subject areas modules belong to. This list should help:  

EDC: School of Education (including SMI)

SPR: School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations

GPL: School of Geography and Planning

ECN: School of Economics

HPH: School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities

SLW: School of Law

Some module codes cover more than one subject area, eg SPR is both Politics and Sociology.  

Credit Splits

In order to keep your workload even across the year, credits should be split evenly across the 2 semesters, so ideally 60 credits in semester 1 (Autumn) and 60 in semester 2 (Spring). If you choose an academic year module (which means it runs for the whole year), the credit value should be divided equally between semesters e.g. a 20 credit Academic year module would count as 10 credits for the Autumn semester and 10 credits for the Spring semester.

Timetable Clashes

Timetabling for your optional module choices cannot clash with your core module teaching. The best way to check is to follow the instructions for 'other timetables' here. We try our best to avoid clashes with the most popular modules, but it’s important that you look through your timetable (via the iSheffield app) from mid August (and definitely before teaching starts on Monday 29th September), and if you spot any clashes contact smi@sheffield.ac.uk as soon as possible. It's a good idea to look through the whole semester, as some modules start seminars in later weeks. We’ll help you resolve any problems. 

Changing your Mind

Please make your choices as soon as you can - modules do fill up and getting requests in early gives you the best chance of getting on to the modules you want to study. If you change your mind, either before you arrive in Sheffield or once you have attended the first week of a class, you'll be able to make changes using the Module Add/Drop system which is open from 9am on 22nd September and closes at 5pm on 10th October.  

If you need any help at all, you can email us at smi@sheffield.ac.uk, call us on 0114 222 8345, or come and visit our reception on Level D in The Wave.