3: Your Modules
As mentioned in section 2, there are three primary module categories: core modules, optional core modules, and optional modules. This section of the handbook provides information on Economics' modules, other departments' modules, as well as Language, IATL, and WIISP modules.
Your course regulations stipulate how many of these different types of modules, at which level, and how many CATS you must successfully complete to be awarded an honours degree. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have selected the correct number of optional modules each year to meet the requirements and also note any restrictions or pre-requisites.
Your first task, therefore, when considering which optional core and optional modules to choose is to refer to the Course Regulations in section 2 above, for your particular course and please note that each course is structured differently, so not all the optional modules mentioned in this section are compatible with all the courses. Once you have done this, refer to the section below, in conjunction with the Module Catalogue.
It is very important that you register for your optional core and your optional modules correctly: failure to do so can have serious consequences.
- Optional modules require pre-registration with the department, followed by registration on eMR.
- Optional core modules also require pre-registration with the department, followed by registration on eMR.
- Your Core modules are automatically registered for you.
The eVision Module Registration portal (eMR) is open during the first two weeks of Term 1, and then for the first three weeks of Term 2. After week 3 of Term 2 your registration is binding (see section 3.3.2).
Optional modules
There are many modules available across the University and the Module CatalogueLink opens in a new window is compiled to help you view them. Module webpages provide you with information about the module, including whether you are permitted to take it.
Some of the modules listed in each year are core or optional core on some Economics-based degree courses and some modules we offer are only for students outside of Economics and hence may not be available to you. This information can be found under the module’s restrictions and pre-requisites.
If you are considering an external option (outside of Economics), you should contact the department concerned for more information about the module content and how to register for that module. The section below on approved optional modules and unusual options provides more detail on applying for external modules.
Applying for a module is not a guarantee of acceptance.
Approved Optional Modules
Some modules offered by other departments have been designated as “Approved Optional Modules” because in the past Economics Department Students have taken them and the process for validating them has already been undertaken. This means that if you want to take a module that is on the Approved Optional Modules list for your year of study, you do not need to complete an unusual module request form. However, it is still your responsibility in choosing your modules to ensure that you have met all relevant prerequisites and have obtained permission from the department offering the module. You must also ensure that the modules you choose meet your degree course regulations. Thus, although a module may be on the approved list, you can only take it if it fits in with your degree regulations, you have the pre-requisites and any other permissions.
Unusual options
For many degree courses and cohorts, the choice of options is wider than the department lists published.
If you wish to take an option module that is not listed as 'an approved option', please submit an unusual option formLink opens in a new window. You must make a case based on special individual circumstances, because permission will not be granted under normal circumstances. Your request will be considered on its merits by the module approval team. They will make a decision, after checking for consistency and fair treatment.
Requests to take modules that contravene your degree course regulations will not be permitted and it is your responsibility to check this.
A guide to other departments
If you are interested in taking a module in another department (approved or unusual), you should contact the Undergraduate Office of the department where the module is based. You will need to follow their procedures and should check their webpages for more information.
Language modules
Language modules are offered by the University’s Language Centre, and also by the School of Modern Languages (SMLC). You can find more details of the language modules by contacting SMLC directly. If you are going to France, Spain or Germany on Study Abroad, it is a requirement to have an appropriate level of the language.
Please note the following rules regarding Language modules:
- No more than 30 CATS of language options may be taken in each year.
- You cannot study two languages, so any language module taken must be in the same language as a previous language module and show progression.
- Final year students may only take FHEQ level 6 modules.
IATL and WIISP modules
Students can take a maximum of 15 CATS of modules delivered by the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL) across their second and final years combined. Please check the Economics webpages for the IATL modules you are permitted to take. You should speak directly to IATLLink opens in a new window about the modules to gain their permission to take the module, as places are limited.
There are also opportunities to take modules as part of the Warwick International Intensive Study Programme (WIISP)Link opens in a new window either for credit or not for credit. You will need to speak to the WIISP team about their modules and the application process.
Key things to consider
When considering which optional modules to take, please ensure you take account of the following:
Your degree regulations: This tells you how many optional modules you must choose each year, including how many CATS must be from a given department (e.g. EC-coded modules) and how many CATS must be at a given FHEQ level (e.g. 300-coded/level 6 modules).
Module availability: We run as many optional modules as possible, but this will change from year to year. Sometimes we have to withdraw modules due to staff availability.
Your Timetable: Lecture times are fixed and so cannot be moved. You can see the timing of all Economics lectures here. You must ensure that your optional module lectures do not clash with your core/optional core lectures in both terms. Your Support and Feedback classes must fit around your lecture timetable. There will often be multiple Support and Feedback class times and so finding a clash free time should be feasible. Given the flexibility in options that we allow, it is impossible to guarantee that every permitted combination of optional modules is feasible due to lecture clashes; this is particularly true in the Final Year, where there is a lot of choice. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not have any clashes.
Autumn and Spring term modules: For students in all years, we strongly advise you to take an approximately balanced CATS load across both terms. Should you wish to take an imbalanced number of CATS across terms, we advise that it is better to take the greater number of CATS in Term 1.
Restrictions: some modules will not be available to you. This may be because they are designed for students in other departments or because the content overlaps with your core modules. Information on which students can take a module is available on module webpages.
Pre-requisites: some modules have pre-requisites, which are modules you must previously have taken in order to give you the relevant background knowledge. Your choice of optional modules may affect the modules available to you in subsequent years. If you do not have relevant pre-requisites, you will not be permitted to take a module, so it is important to check the pre-requisites of your optional modules.
You can find the restrictions and pre-requisites for all Economics modules on each module’s webpage. You can also find details of which modules cannot be taken together. All of this information is also contained in the Restrictions and Pre-requisites Table.
WBS Module Pre-requisites: IB coded modules pre-requisites information can be found in my.wbs, either under each individual module or via the A-Z index.
Registering for your optional modules
The following section outlines the steps you must take to register your optional modules each year. Please read the following information carefully, as incorrect module registrations can have serious consequences.
Pre-registration of optional modules
Current economics students and joint degree students who will be entering their Second or Final years of study, and external students wishing to take an economics module as an option, are required to pre-register their module choices. Pre-registration opens in the Summer Term (Term 3) and is compulsory. You will be contacted by email when this system is open.
Other departments may have similar policies for pre-registration of modules and you should check with them for this information, in terms of when and how you can pre-register. You must gain the other department’s permission to take the module. If the module is not on the Economics list of approved options for your year, you must complete an unusual module request.
Please consider your choices carefully; it helps us to plan the timetable and other resources needed for each module, including appropriately sized lecture theatres. There is no commitment on either side from pre-registration, so you will be able to change your modules at the start of the academic year, and we cannot guarantee that a module will run in the next academic year.
Please note that if the Department of Economics does need to cap any of its modules, priority will be given to those students who followed departmental policy and did complete module pre-registration.
eMR (eVision Module Registration)
At the beginning of the Autumn term, you must register your final module choices on the University-wide eMR system. This applies for all optional modules, whether they are Economics or from another department and irrespective of whether your module choices have changed since pre-registration. You must select the appropriate CATS and assessment group for your module, noting that Economics students are not allowed to select modules for audit only.
Please Note: students do not need to register their core modules on eMR, as they will be automatically registered. Economics and Management students do not have optional modules in their first year.
Important note: Optional Core modules must be registered on eMR, as well as optional modules.
Changing your optional modules
The module registration system (eMR) closes at the start of week 3 for Term 1 and the end of week 16 (week 2 of term 2) for Term 2, so once you have chosen your optional modules, you will only have a short window to change them. You are not permitted to change between two modules taking place in the same term after eMR has closed in the relevant term. For example, you cannot drop a Term 1 module and replace it with another Term 1 module once eMR has closed in Term 1, but you could replace it with a Term 2 module, if done before eMR closes in Term 2. Please note that if you want to change a module at the start of term 2, you will need to do this via the Economics UG office. However, you will NOT be permitted to switch modules if you have already submitted assessed work for that module that is worth 10% or more of the total mark for that module.
You are advised to make any changes as early as possible, as you may find it very difficult to catch up. If you do change your modules, it is your responsibility to catch up on any missed work and this cannot be used as a mitigating circumstance, should your performance in any module be adversely affected.
Before the end of week 2 of Term 2, it is your responsibility to make sure you are registered for the correct modules on eMR for both Terms 1 and 2. If you fail to do this, there can be serious consequences in terms of which exams you are required to sit. Please check the list of modules you are taking on Tabula and if you notice any missing modules or modules listed which should not be there, you need to contact the UG office urgently.