Module selection FAQs | University of Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Information on selecting your optional modules online.

Questions

How do I select my modules for my programme?

Some programmes will offer optional modules which start in Semester 1, please Login to RISIS to check your programme requirements. You will need to take action to gain a place on the module, this is called Module Selection. Where permitted, and at the designated time you must select your modules on RISIS.

Here are the selection and change deadlines by programme and year:

PART 0 IFP & IFY - Part 0 International Foundation Programmes (IFP) and International Foundation Year (IFY)

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed.
The deadline for changing Semester 2 optional modules is 21 February 2025 12:30pm (UK Time).
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

PART 0 FY - Part 0 Foundation Year (FY) students
log into RISIS to view your programme specific information to see if your programme requires students to select Semester 2 optional modules.

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed. Where your programme permits the selection of optional modules in Semester 2, the Online Optional Module Selections portal on RISIS opens on Monday 28 October 2024 at 09:00 (UK Time).
The Semester 2 online module selection period closes on Friday 15 November 2024 at 23:59 (UK time), you will be required to have a total of 120 Credits across both Semester 1 and 2 to meet the requirements of your programme.
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

Undergraduate PART 1 - All Undergraduate programmes log into RISIS to view your programme specific information to see if your programme requires students to select Semester 2 optional modules.

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed. If you selected and are enrolled on an Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) module or were placed on a higher language level or Greek or Latin module, you will need to email moduleselection@reading.ac.uk from your university email address to confirm your Semester 2 optional modules. You will need to provide the module code and module title of the optional module(s) you would like to study in Semester 2.
The deadline for making Semester 2 optional module selections is Friday 15 November 2024 at 23:59 (UK time). Where your programme permits the selection of optional modules in Semester 2, -and you are NOT taking any Language module, the Online Optional Module Selections portal on RISIS opens on Monday 28 October 2024 at 09:00 (UK time). The Semester 2 online module selection period closes on Friday 15 November 2024 at 23:59 (UK time). All students will be required to have a total of 120 Credits across both Semester 1 and 2 to meet the requirements of your programme.
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

Undergraduate PARTS 2, 3 & 4

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed.
The deadline for changing Semester 2 optional modules is 21 February 2025 12:30pm (UK time).
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

Postgraduate Taught

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed.
The deadline for changing Semester 2 optional modules is 21 February 2025 12:30pm (UK time). Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

Please note:

Some modules have a limited number of places, and you are not guaranteed a place by submitting your module choices. If you are not successful in gaining a place, the Module Selection team will email you asking you to select an alternative module (see ‘What happens if I am unsuccessful in gaining a place on my preferred module’).

When you make your selections, please ensure that you save your choices and press submit. If you fail to press the submit button, your choices will not be submitted and you will not be considered for a place on your selected modules.

Some Schools send out alternative module selection information, but this is usually communicated to students ahead of their module selection period by Support Centres or Programme Directors.

Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) and University Wide Modules (UWM)

The following Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) and University Wide Modules (UWM) modules are available for the 2024 – 2025 academic year.

If IWLP/UWM modules are available as part of your options, these modules will either show within the full modules available on your online selection or with instructions in the Help text for your part on how to request an IWLP or UWM module. Students can only select a UWM at the same Part of their year of study. Please note not all Programmes/Parts offer IWLP/UWM.

If you are unsure if your Programme of study is offering IWLP or an UWM module, please email moduleselection@reading.ac.uk for clarification.

For Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) modules you can request a change from one IWLP module to another IWLP module up 12:30pm (UK Time) on Friday of Semester 1, week 4. You can request a change from an IWLP module to a Semester 2 module up to 12:30pm (UK Time) on Friday of Semester 1, week 7.

School	Module Title	Module Code	Credits	Level	Semester(s) in which taught
	IWLP LANGUAGES
	IWLP Arabic (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXA	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP British Sign Language (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXB	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP Chinese (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXC	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP French (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXF	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP German (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXG	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP Italian (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXI	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP Japanese (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXJ	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP Modern Greek (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXK	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP Russian (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXR	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	IWLP Spanish (pre-group allocation)	LA1XXS	20	4	Across Semester 1&2
	PART 1 UWM
SAPD	Towards Sustainability: Positive action for a better world	AD1SPA	20	4	Semester 2
SACD	Drawing Practice	FA1DR2	20	4	Semester 2
SACD	Wildlife Documentary	FT1WD	20	4	Semester 2
ISLI	Intercultural Competence and Communication	IL1GICC	20	4	Semester 2
ISLI	Modern Britain: Society History and Politics	IL1GMB	20	4	Semester 2
SPCLS	Introduction to Psychology	PY1IPY	20	4	Semester 2
SACD	What the font? Making and using typefaces	TG1WTF	20	4	Semester 2
	PART 2 UWM
SAPD	Towards Sustainability: Positive action for a better world	AD2SPA	20	5	Semester 2
SAGES	Forensic Archaeology & Crime Scene Analysis	AR2CSA	20	5	Semester 2
SACD	Wildlife Documentary	FT2WD	20	5	Semester 2
HBS	Personal Finance	IC213	20	5	Semester 2
ISLI	Intercultural Competence and Communication	IL2GICC	20	5	Taught in Semester 1 and again in Semester 2
ISLI	Modern Britain: Society History and Politics	IL2GMB	20	5	Taught in Semester 1 and again in Semester 2
SMPCS	Climate Change: Causes And Consequences	MT2CCC	20	5	Semester 1
	PART 3 UWM
SHUM	Leadership Skills and Values from Antiquity	CL3LEAD	20	6	Semester 2
ISLI	Intercultural Competence and Communication	IL3GICC	20	6	Taught in Semester 1 and again in Semester 2
SMPCS	Climate Change: Causes And Consequences	MT3CCC	20	6	Semester 1
SPEIR	Terrorism and Counterterrorism	PO3TEU	20	6	Semester 1
SPEIR	US Foreign Policy	PO3USU	20	6	Semester 2

How many credits are my modules worth?

The majority of modules are worth 20 credits, although projects or dissertations may have a higher credit value. Each credit equates approximately to 10 hours of work (including all contact hours such as lectures or classes, as well as further reading and any assessments and test/exam revision).

How many credits do I need for my programme of study?

You must ensure that you register for the right modules each academic year, including the correct compulsory modules for your programme and any pre/co-requisites for the modules you are taking, as well as the correct number of credits:

Full-time undergraduate students must ensure that they have a total of 120 credits
Full-time postgraduate students must ensure that they have a total of 180 credits
Part-time students should be aiming to take half the full-time number of credits in each year of study, although some programmes do not follow this rule.

Do I need to select my modules by a certain date?

Module selection timing and deadlines for selection and changes:

PART 0 IFP & IFY - Part 0 International Foundation Programmes (IFP) and International Foundation Year (IFY)

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed.
The deadline for changing Semester 2 optional modules is 21 February 2025 12:30pm (UK Time).
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

PART 0 FY - Part 0 Foundation Year (FY) students
log into RISIS to view your programme specific information to see if your programme requires students to select Semester 2 optional modules.

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed. Where your programme permits the selection of optional modules in Semester 2, the Online Optional Module Selections portal on RISIS opens on Monday 28 October 2024 at 09:00 (UK Time).
The Semester 2 online module selection period closes on Friday 15 November 2024 at 23:59 (UK time), you will be required to have a total of 120 Credits across both Semester 1 and 2 to meet the requirements of your programme.
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed. If you selected and are enrolled on an Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) module or were placed on a higher language level or Greek or Latin module, you will need to email moduleselection@reading.ac.uk from your university email address to confirm your Semester 2 optional modules. You will need to provide the module code and module title of the optional module(s) you would like to study in Semester 2.
The deadline for making Semester 2 optional module selections is Friday 15 November 2024 at 23:59 (UK time). Where your programme permits the selection of optional modules in Semester 2, -and you are NOT taking any Language module, the Online Optional Module Selections portal on RISIS opens on Monday 28 October 2024 at 09:00 (UK time). The Semester 2 online module selection period closes on Friday 15 November 2024 at 23:59 (UK time). All students will be required to have a total of 120 Credits across both Semester 1 and 2 to meet the requirements of your programme.
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

Undergraduate PARTS 2, 3 & 4

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed.
The deadline for changing Semester 2 optional modules is 21 February 2025 12:30pm (UK time).
Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

Postgraduate Taught

The deadline for changing Semester 1 optional modules has now closed.
The deadline for changing Semester 2 optional modules is 21 February 2025 12:30pm (UK time). Please contact moduleselection@reading.ac.uk using your university email account, if you require changes to your optional modules.

What happens if I am unsuccessful in gaining a place on my preferred module?

Some modules have limited spaces. If these modules are oversubscribed (i.e. too many students have enrolled on them) we will need to remove students from these lists.

This is done randomly and we will contact you by email if you have been unsuccessful in gaining a place, asking you to select an alternative module. You will also be given the option to be added to a waiting list for the oversubscribed module.

Please respond to this email quickly to make sure you have a full quota of credits on your record. It it your responsibility to check your University email account regularly and reply to module change requests any as soon as possible.

Module selections are not made on a first come first served basis, therefore as long as you select your modules before the given deadline, you will have done everything you can to secure your place on your preferred modules.

How do I change my module selection online, and how can I do this?

Once you have made your module selections and submitted these, these will be assigned to your RISIS record. If you were not successful in gaining a place on a module with limited spaces, you will receive an email from the Module Selection team asking you to select another module.

If you would like to make changes to your selected modules you may request this, however, please note that you do not have an automatic right to change your optional modules. Consideration will be given as to whether you have the necessary pre- and co-requisites, whether there are places available on the module and whether the deadline for changing optional modules has passed. Requests to change modules can be done during the following periods:

• for modules taught in the Semester 1 and Semester 2: until the Friday of week 2 at 12:30 hrs (UK time) in Semester 1,
• for modules taught in Semester 2: until the Friday of Semester 2 week 2 at 12:30 hrs (UK time).
• Any exceptional cases may be considered after the deadline by Programme Directors and SDTLs, on a case-by-case basis.
• You should continue to attend classes for the initial module selection that you made until:
• You have received confirmation that the requested change has been approved and processed
• You have checked that your requested change has been recorded on your RISIS profile
• You have checked that there are no timetable clashes for this requested change in all Semesters.

How can I tell if I have a module would clash with my timetable?

Your Semester 1 timetable will be available from September. Check your timetable on Outlook or the UoR student app which will show all the modules you are enrolled on.

If you want to check whether a module you might want to take will clash with your existing timetable, please log into the University timetabling system

In your timetable, select the 'Toggle timetable list’ icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen (as above) and then click add, then click on the ‘Module’ tab and in the ‘Select Module’ field 3rd option in the list you can then add the module of your choice and click ‘OK’ button. This will display your timetabled lectures, seminars and other sessions. If you have a clash you will be able to see the two events displayed as running at the same time.
Please note:

•   If your timetable clashes with a seminar/tutorial group, you may be able to switch to another group to remove the clash (please contact the Module Selection team to make these changes).
•   If the clash is with a compulsory module, you will be asked to change the optional module it clashes with.
•   If you have a clash over 2 weeks or less, this may be acceptable, and we would advise you to contact the Module Convener to discuss this.
•   Please do not request a new module change if it results in a clash with a compulsory module on your programme.
•   Adding a module to this timetabling platform to check for any clashes does not mean that you have been enrolled on the module, or that this has been added to your timetable. You need to contact the module selection team to request your module enrolment, after checking for any clashes. Once module selection is complete, the new module will appear on your timetable within 24 hours

If I have a clash for a seminar or tutorial groups can this be changed?

Yes, there are instances where you can change seminar groups to avoid a timetable clash. Please email moduleselection@reading.ac.uk about this.

What happens if I have a clash?

The timetable team makes every effort to set up a timetable free of clashes, however, there are times when these are unavoidable. If this happens, the Module Selection team will contact you and will ask you to select another module which does not clash with your timetable:

If the clash is with a compulsory module, you will be asked to change the optional module it clashes with;
If the clash is with a group (either seminar or lecture), you may be able to move to another group to resolve the clash;
If you have a clash over 2 or so weeks, this may be acceptable and we would advise you to contact the Module Convener to discuss how this can be resolved.

What happens if I have missed teaching because of a change of modules?

If you have missed teaching due to a change in modules, you should contact the Module Convener to ask how you can catch up the lost work. Please note that this responsibility lies with you rather than the lecturer.

Please note that if any assessment has been held during the first 3 weeks of the Semester, you will need to ask the Module Convener to arrange for an alternative assessment for all summative assessments, if this is possible.

What's included in my module? Where can I see this?

The module descriptions can be found on the Module website and include the aims, assessable learning outcomes, contact hours, and a brief description of teaching and learning and assessment methods.

Modules are categorised into Schools, so you may need to know which school is delivering the module, and check which year/part this is for.

Step guide to selecting your optional modules