Students have told us that when they make choices regarding their degree modules, they want more certainty that the modules on offer will run - and at a time that doesn’t clash with others in their timetable. The changes we are making are designed to improve the choice of modules – and ensure that we cover the topics we know students are interested in – and reduce the likelihood of timetable clashes.

The exact details of which modules will be offered on each course are still awaiting University confirmation, but your School will be able to let you know what developments and plans they are making for programmes in 2024/25.   

There are a number of key differences once the review is complete and we start the first term of 2024/25:

The switch to the new style academic year: two teaching and assessment semesters rather than three 10-week terms, as at present. This change means that we will assess you closer to the point at which you were taught, modules taught in Semester 1 will be assessed after the Christmas break and modules taught in Semester 2 or across the whole year will be assessed in the summer.

The changes to modules will mean that: you can choose to study more of what is important to you; your timetable is available sooner and reduces the likelihood of clashes; and you are provided with clarity around what is expected of you in each module.

Your learning experience may be enhanced through digital learning, as students have told us they appreciate the benefits this brings in many situations.

We have had in-depth discussions with students about assessment and understand the strength and breadth of feeling on the topic. The changes we are making will address the issue of timing – i.e. you will be assessed closer to the time you were taught about a subject – and assessment will be designed to allow you to demonstrate knowledge in a way that is valuable for real-life and professional contexts.

  - Establish more consistent and simplified course expectations and structures.  

  - Embed our work on curriculum improvements in relation to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, such as decolonising the curriculum and developing skills for employability. 

  - Facilitate more effective, engaging and proportionate assessment methods, in addition to improving the alignment of teaching and corresponding assessment during the academic year. 

  - Simplify module selection to provide realistic choice and timetables with fewer clashes. 

  - Provide new approaches to strengthening staff and student learning communities. 

  - Enhance the quality of the existing learning experience through digital learning experiences, in line with student feedback.

Our work to review our portfolio has been completed and there are no plans to withdraw any of the courses that you might apply for this year, 2023/24.

We are making some changes to enhance both the modules themselves and the ways in which they are taught and assessed.  

  -  Students stated that it can be more difficult to choose options early in their first year, and so we will be removing this requirement. This means that all modules in Semester 1 of Part 1 will be compulsory, except where you have the option to take a language module in your first Semester. Not only will this facilitate informed, optional module choices, it will also enable us to provide you with your timetable earlier, helping you to better plan your studies around other commitments.  

  -  Modules will be taught and assessed in the same semester, wherever possible. This will improve consolidation of your learning and spread assessments across semesters, removing the need for a more intensive exam period at the end of the academic year. 

  -  A list of modules you can study will be listed on our website https://www.reading.ac.uk/ at the ‘view courses’ tab and we will update this list in July and August 2023, following the University approval for our new modules.   

Semester-based systems are generally acknowledged to improve the learning experience. 

From 2024/25, our academic year will be structured around two teaching and assessment semesters rather than the current three 10-week terms. Each semester is comprised of a 12-week teaching period, followed by a three-week assessment period. This will not only improve how our courses are organised and assessed, but also improve the timing of opportunities to study abroad or go on international placements. 

The primary reasons for re-organising our teaching activity across the academic year are to: 

  -  improve the student experience 

  -  enable a better spread of assessment  

  -  provide opportunities for future growth and innovation. 

We want to ensure that you have the right amount of assessment, that assessments are spread out appropriately, and that they allow you to demonstrate knowledge in a way that is valuable for real-life and professional contexts. The changes we are making will enable this to happen both more effectively and consistently. 

We know that module information is an important factor in choosing which course is right for you. One of the aims of the course redesign work is to ensure we provide you with realistic choice, facilitating more predictable timetabling and assessment scheduling. This will improve the student experience by providing more certainty and clarity. It also allows those with additional commitments beyond their studies, such as caring and work responsibilities, to organise their time more easily.  

Students have told us that it can be more difficult to choose options early in their first year and so we will be removing this requirement. This means that all modules in Semester 1 of Part 1 will be compulsory. This will enable us to provide your timetable further in advance than we are currently able to. This will better support the transition to university and reduce the pressure on students to make module choices before they have a clear idea as to how they would like to tailor their degree. 

It offers a more inclusive approach for students with paid employment and/or caring responsibilities who are unable to adequately plan their commitments without knowing when their learning will take place.  

During our review, we have been careful to design course changes that will be appropriate for both joint degrees and single honours degrees.  We have applied a key principle that students need to have studied enough in both subjects in order to have the flexibility to progress onto a single honours degree at the end of Part 1, should they wish.

As a campus university, we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive community based around face-to-face, campus-based learning. The benefits to both your learning outcomes and overall experience mean that teaching will mainly be in-person, but also that we make the most of digital opportunities to enhance your studies. How much of your learning may be online will depend on your course and what works best for the subject you are studying. For example, if it is appropriate for your course, this might include online activities to engage with in-between in-person study, as well as interactive online classes. 

We are seeking to embed the use of technology into teaching and learning in a consistent, University-wide way, building on good practice and in a way that is appropriate for your subject. While the majority of our courses’ contact time will remain face-to-face, this work allows us to continue to innovate and support the student learning experience. 

Wherever digital technology is used to enhance the student experience, we will ensure that all students are supported to access and use the technology in order to succeed on their course. 

The module selection process has been redesigned to ensure that you are able to: choose a breadth of topics, where appropriate; specialise in certain areas, where appropriate; and take a ‘programme pathway’ (groups of modules overall). Our aim is to ensure that you have the opportunity to learn and engage with all of the Programme Learning Outcomes. 

A key part of the feedback received from our students was a desire for module choices to present less timetable clashes and for the start of the year to be more straight forward, which the programme changes will support.

No. However, we will keep you updated with all the exciting stuff you can expect to see, so make sure you check your University email regularly.