How to choose your units

Find everything you need to know about selecting units (classes) for your Study Abroad programme at Bristol.

When you are applying to one of our Study Abroad programmes, you will be asked to choose your preferred units. We strongly recommend reviewing the guidance below before submitting your application to help you make informed choices.

You can explore available units in our Study Guides, either by browsing subject areas or using keywords to find relevant disciplines. Please note that only units listed in the Study Guides are open to Study Abroad students.

While we make every effort to place students in their top choices, unit enrolment cannot be guaranteed. We encourage you to remain flexible and prepare a list of suitable alternatives.

 

If you are applying to the Study Abroad (Subject pathway) programme, you must take at least 40 out of 60 credits in your host department each semester.  

It is not possible to audit or observe units (classes) without taking the unit for credit and taking all the associated assessments

Here are some things you can check to make sure that your chosen units work for you.

You can click on the link to the unit description in the Study Guides to work out if a unit has the right content for you and if it is equivalent to a unit at your home university. 

Each unit description provides:

  • a general description of the unit, including required pre-requisite knowledge and co-requisites with other units
  • learning objectives
  • teaching and assessment methods
  • course texts
  • the credit point value (Bristol credits).

Teaching timetables are published shortly before the start of term, and we're unable to provide detailed syllabi or teaching plans in advance. However, we'll work closely with you to help build a suitable academic programme. If any of your chosen units clash, we'll support you in finding alternatives that fit your schedule and academic goals.

Open unit status

As a Study Abroad student, you can choose from the units listed in our Study Abroad Study Guides, regardless of whether they are marked as "open" or "not open" in the catalogue. 

Single Semester

You are required to take 60 Bristol credits per semester. This is a fixed requirement and students cannot take more or less than this amount.

Full academic year

Students take 120 Bristol credits for the year, with 60 credits in each semester. In some cases, students may take 50 credits in the Autumn and 70 credits in the Spring, if combining units from different teaching blocks as follows:

  • 2 x Teaching Block 1 units
  • 3 x Teaching Block 2 units
  • 1 x Teaching Block 4 unit

Please note that taking the above combination may result in an imbalanced workload across the academic year. We encourage students to take 60 credits a semester to avoid this.

European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS)

ECTS is a scheme operated throughout Europe that enables you to transfer credits between the different universities you attend. 

60 ECTS credits represent a full year of study (equivalent to 120 University of Bristol credits).

Teaching blocks are like semesters: 

  • TB1 = autumn semester
  • TB2 = spring semester
  • TB4 = units which start in autumn but take a full year to complete.

You will need to choose units that run in teaching blocks that happen during your planned stay in Bristol.

Assessment Periods

The University of Bristol has two main assessment periods:

  • December (where assessments are completed for Teaching Block 1 classes)
  • April-May (where assessments are completed for Teaching Block 2 classes, or full year units).

All students must remain in Bristol for any in-person exams or assessments. Please do not book return travel until you receive your exam timetable, which is usually released mid-semester. If you need to book return travel earlier than this, please ensure you do not plan to leave Bristol earlier than the end of the semester as you may have in-person assessments.

Coursework and timed online assessments can be submitted remotely, so you do not need to be in Bristol for these.

Bachelor's degrees (also called undergraduate degrees) take three years to complete.

In the unit description they will be referred to as:

  • C/4 = first year
  • I/5 = second year
  • H/6 = third year
  • M/7 = master's.

As a Study Abroad student you can choose units (classes) from all three years, and occasionally master's units.

First year

First-year units are the most suitable for subjects that are new to you or that you have not studied in-depth at home.

Second year

Most Study Abroad students take second-year units (I/5). Year 2 units normally require students to have a background in the subject at university.

Third year

Since our third year is the final year of undergraduate study, we recommend that you only take third-year units (H/6) if you are majoring in that subject area. We advise that you do not take all of your credits from the third year, as this would give you a very heavy workload.

Master's

Occasionally, some departments open up master's level units for Study Abroad students but this is not common. You would need an extensive background in the subject-area to take a master's unit.

Some units have specific pre-requisites, which means you'll need to have studied similar classes at your home university before coming to Bristol. You can check the unit catalogue for pre-requisite details and learning outcomes, and compare them with classes you've already taken to ensure you have the right background knowledge.

Shortly before the semester begins, our Study Abroad Academic Directors will review your academic history to confirm you meet any necessary pre-requisites.

Some units also have co-requisites. These are designed to be taken together, as they complement each other and build on shared learning. If you choose a unit with a co-requisite, you'll need to take both units together.