Course Structure

The academic year consists of thirty weeks divided into two semesters each of fifteen weeks.

The Autumn Semester starts in late September and consists of twelve teaching weeks before Christmas and a three-week examination period after the Christmas Vacation, when the modules taken during the semester are assessed.

The Spring Semester starts immediately after this examination period and consists of twelve teaching weeks broken into two blocks one before and one after the Easter Vacation. The second semester concludes with a three-week examination period when the modules taken in this semester are assessed.

University semester and exam dates can be found here.

Your course has a modular structure. A module is a unit in a degree course.

In SoMaS we teach a variety of 10 and 20 credit modules. In level 1, all courses are 20 credits. Some of these modules are taught over the whole academic year, whilst some are wholly contained within one of the two semesters.

To obtain a degree you must take modules to a value of 120 credits in each academic year. In each semester, modules to a value of at least 40 credits must be taken. It is thus technically possible, but not necessarily desirable, for you to take up to two thirds of your modules for any particular year in a single semester. Within SoMaS, we recommend that you aim for an even 60:60 credit split between the two semesters, but that we readily allow a 50:70 or 70:50 split. Anything more extreme than this will require written confirmation from the Director of Teaching.

Each degree course has a structure prescribed by University Regulations. In each year you will be required to take certain modules - these are called core modules. Other modules you will choose from a list specific to your degree course - these are called approved modules. In some programmes, you will also have a free choice of one 10-credit unrestricted module.

Some modules have prerequisites. This means that you must have taken another module before you will be allowed to take the module in question. Prerequisites usually consist of module(s) at a lower level, but can be at the same level.

You will find in University Regulations that "first year”, “second year”, etc. are terms no longer used. Rather the terms Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 are used, together with Level 0 for Foundation Year. For full-time students a Level is identical to an academic year.

Each module is identified by a prefix which indicates the academic department that provides the teaching, and a three digit suffix that indicates its level and identification. So MAS360 is thus a Level 3 module taught by SoMaS, whereas BMS223 is a Level 2 module taught by the Department of Biomedical Science, and so on.

Changing your module choices

The University allows you to change your choice of modules in the first three weeks of any semester. If you do change your options early in a semester it is your responsibility to ensure not only that your timetable for that semester works but also that you will have suitable options available in future semesters for you to be able to complete your degree (for example, you will have covered all prerequisites for your future choices). Change of choice of modules is done online.

The system can be accessed via MUSE. Log in as normal and go to the My Record tab for the link to the online system. Follow the simple instructions on screen. Your core modules will already be listed when you access the online add/drop screens. Once you have entered and submitted your request to add and drop optional modules, your department will check and approve, or decline, your choices. You will receive an automated email, confirming when your record has been updated. If there are any problems with your choices, you will receive an email from your department advising you what action to take.

The online system is only available to undergraduate students on a full-time programme of study. Part-time students, distance learning students, postgraduates and students taking modules in the Institute of Lifelong Learning will need to use the paper ‘Add-Drop’ form. Add-Drop forms are available from the Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) in the Union of Students, and can also be downloaded from the SSiD web site. When you have completed the form, you must have it signed, to signify the School’s approval, by the Programme Leader for your degree programme, or by the Senior Tutor: see the list of members of staff authorised to sign such forms on the ‘Current Students’ section of the SoMaS webpages. The form should then be handed in at the SSiD.

Checking your module choice

Shortly after the beginning of each semester the University compiles a computer record of modules for which each student is registered. This is used, for example, for preparing examination timetables. During the fourth week of each semester you should check that your own details on this computer record are correct. You do this by going to the Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) web page and following the links to your University Records. If you find any inaccuracy you should take immediate steps to correct it.

Unrestricted modules

The rules for some degree programmes allow the choice of a number of unrestricted units. These units may be chosen from Mathematics/Statistics modules or from those offered by any other department in the University. It is your responsibility to determine the prerequisites and timetable for such a choice and to get approval. The School will not permit its students to take any mathematical module from another University department as an unrestricted module at any Level.

Note that taking unrestricted units outside the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Level One may limit the mathematics and statistics modules available to you in later years since you must have taken the necessary pre–requisites in order to take modules at Levels Two, Three and Four. Students on some degree programmes are able to take unrestricted units at Levels Two and/or Three. You may not generally choose Level 1 modules as unrestricted modules at Levels 2, 3 or 4; as an exception, modules from the Modern Languages Teaching Centre (MLTC) may be permitted. Therefore, if you wish to take unrestricted modules at Levels 2/3 (and this is permitted by your degree programme) other than from the MLTC, you will need to ensure that you take any prerequisite modules at Level 1.

You can find information about the courses that you can take on your particular degree programme here.

If you wish to change degree programme, you will need to complete a ‘Change of Status Form’; you should contact the Senior Tutor in the first instance.

Changes of programme are not guaranteed: changes between MMath and BSc are usually straightforward, but changes involving other departments will depend on individual circumstances.

Students on a four year degree programme can apply to spend their third year abroad. Dual degree students need the approval of both departments. Any student interested in this possibility should contact the SoMaS Study Abroad Tutor (see tutor list here). Detailed information is made available at the Study Abroad Fair which takes place in November and applications to take part in the programme have to be completed by early December.

The University of Sheffield recognises that both students and employers value the benefits that structured work experience can provide as part of a university degree programme. We have two options for incorporating a year in employment into your degree:

1. If you began your degree in Autumn 2019 or later, you may be able to transfer to one of our four “with Placement Year” programmes. In principle, this can be done at any point prior to your final year, subject to agreement by SoMaS. If you are in your penultimate year, you may need to find a placement before being allowed to transfer. These programmes incorporate extra support for finding a placement and developing employability skills, beyond those available to other undergraduates.

2. If you find a placement during your penultimate year, you can add “with Employment Experience” to any of our (non-Placement Year) programmes, subject to successful completion of the placement. This requires transferring degree programmes, which needs to be approved by SoMaS (and any other appropriate departments, for dual degrees).

Under either scheme, you will spend your penultimate year (i.e. the year between Levels 2 and 3 of a three year degree, or between Levels 3 and 4 of a four year degree) in employment. Students typically return from their placement year confident and highly-motivated, often with a graduate job lined up for after their degree.

The placement should involve work connected with your degree programme or with your proposed future employment. We recognise that many mathematics graduates go into graduate jobs that do not use their degree directly. Therefore a placement with, for example, an accountancy firm would be acceptable even if it did not involve the use of university-level mathematics. Students need to find their own company placement and the SoMaS Employability Lead needs to validate the placement. Mathematics students are very much in demand for year-long placements, and many companies with interesting jobs for mathematicians are willing to invest the training effort in year-long placements.

You will typically need to start planning for the placement a year before it starts. You are responsible for getting the placement, but the Careers Service can assist. Those on the Placement Year programme will also have help on offer from the Placement Year Programme Lead.

Your placement will be assessed on a pass or fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification; however, you will need to pass a formal assessment and complete the placement year in order to gain the amended degree title. You will be required to complete and submit:

• A skills analysis (1600-2000 words), identifying specific skills that you have gained and/or developed over the course of your placement,

• A reflection summary (600 words) summarising what you have achieved over the year and lessons you have learned for the future.

For further details, see here.