Hello incoming freshers!

So you have already decided what degree you’re going to study, but as you may know you can choose up to two additional modules during your first and second year. This is a great opportunity to try completely new subjects from any faculty, as well as those you enjoyed in high school and would like to continue learning about. Remember – your first and second year grades do not count towards your final degree classification, so don’t worry too much about that when making your choices.

When you fill out the module registration form on MySaint, you will find a long list of modules. I have made a brief guide below of all the subjects you will find available.

Faculty of Science:

If your degree is science-based, you may want to complement your course with another subject of this discipline; for example, a Chemistry student could find a Maths module useful for their own main degree. If you are an Arts student, you might want to take a break from long reading lists or find out what it’s like to work in a lab. Subjects such as Psychology are a good bridge between pure and social sciences, and Sustainable Development is also a common filler module which applies to almost any topic.

Subjects include: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Sustainable Development, Earth Sciences, Psychology.

Faculty of Arts and Divinity:

Social sciences are also a good addition to any degree. If your main degree is in the Arts faculty, you’re lucky to be able to choose International Relations, although places will be limited as it’s a very popular subject. Otherwise, all other modules are open to you. Some commonly loved courses include Social Anthropology, Film Studies (especially for those who want a more relaxed module) and, of course, languages! These are also great for complete beginners, and range from Italian to Russian and Arabic.

Subjects include: Art History, Classics, Economics and Finance, Management, English, History, International Relations, Modern Languages (Arabic, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Persian, Chinese, French, Comparative Literature), Philosophy, Social Anthropology, Film Studies, Divinity.

Music Centre:

If you have a passion for music, I have good news for you. There are two music modules to choose from for each semester, covering topics such as improving practical skills for performers or understanding the origins and meaning of music.

Non-degree language courses

Additionally, there are also a range of evening language courses you can sign up to. These are not part of your degree, but your grade and certificate will show up on your transcript. There are different levels and languages such as Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic or Gaelic. You can find out more at the university website, just search for non-degree courses. I studied Russian in Semester 2 of my first year, not really knowing what these courses were like, and I don’t regret it. I think that doing extracurricular activities, academic or not, is always a good idea to get away from your main studies and have a fun and diverse university experience.

On a final note, don’t stress too much about all these options. You can always contact your advisor in the first week or so to request a change of modules if you’re not happy with your decision after trying the module. The advice I would give is to choose something that you enjoy learning about and will somehow challenge you academically, but not to the point where it makes your workload too much. That said, no one will judge you whether you pick the two “easiest” filler modules or choose the most intense combination possible – you do you!