Flexible Combined Honours :: Questions & answers

Flexible Combined Honours (FCH) is a programme that allows students to choose generally two main disciplines for which an existing degree combination does not exist, and create a programme of study based around them.

For example, if a student wishes to study History and English, there is no existing degree programme, so they can study this under the FCH programme.

However, if the student wishes to study History and French, they do this under the existing 'established' History and French degree programme.

The degree programme has run since 1991, as the Modular Degree, available to second and final year students. The name was replaced in October 2007 by Flexible Combined Honours, to coincide with the introduction of a first year entry to the degree.

Q. What is the difference between the Modular Degree and the Flexible Combined Honours programme?

Very little. The Flexible Combined Honours programme is the new name for the Modular Degree (established 1991) and came into effect in October 2007, totally replacing the earlier name. At the same time as changing the name, a few other small changes were made:

It became possible to join the programme as a first year. However students can still transfer across at the start of their second year.
It is possible for students to graduate with a BSc or a BA. This will be decided at the same time as their degree title is decided.

On SITS all existing students (i.e. third and fourth years) will still be showing as being on the Modular Degree. All new students will be put on the FCH degree. In practice it will make no difference.

Q. Can students study more than two subjects?

At first year level students generally choose two subjects and combine them. Currently, exceptions to taking two subjects in year one are students who also want to take a language so that they can spend a year abroad in their third year.

After the first year it is expected to offer more flexibility, as has been the practice for many years with students transferring into the former Modular Degree from their second year (see below).

Q. Can students just choose any random modules they like?

Students sometimes want to create a degree covering several different departments. For example, a student might want to study something like Mediterranean Studies, and could put together a programme using modules from Modern Languages, the Institute of Arab & Islamic Studies, History and Theology.

However, this sort of thing is rare. Usually students just choose two subject areas and combine them. Occasionally students will study three areas, for example History and Modern Languages might mean they were studying History, French and Spanish.

Q. Can students study just one subject?

The golden rule is that FCH students cannot study something for which there is an existing Single Honours, Combined Honours or Inter-Disciplinary Single Honours (IDSH) degree programme.

Some subjects at the university are only currently offered in modules, but don't have a degree programme. This is often the case when a new department is developing.

At the moment this is the case with Creative Media & IT (CMIT). This academic unit offers modules, but does not offer a programme. Therefore the FCH programme is the only way a student can get a degree in this subject.

Another recent example is Philosophy. Although SH Philosophy now exists as a programme in its own right, this year it is only available for first years. As a result we have FCH students in their second or third year taking Philosophy under the FCH programme.

When this type of combination happens it is referred to as a Themed Pathway in ..... Currently these exist in:

Creative Media and IT
Medieval Studies
Renaissance Studies

Q. What is Enhanced Modularity?

Enhanced Modularity is a University provision which allows students to take up to 30 credits in each stage outside their main subject of study. Whether students are able to take advantage of this provision will depend on the demands of their degree programme.

These Enhanced Modularity credits (unless taken in the first year) will count towards a student's degree award and classification. However, their degree title will not change because of these credits - it continues to be that of their main degree programme.

Enhanced Modularity is not related to the FCH degree programme.

If a student wants their degree title to reflect the modules they are taking through Enhanced Modularity, they have to join the FCH programme. A number of students make this transfer each year for exactly this reason.

If a student wishes to take 30 credits outside of their department, then it is suggested that they investigate Enhanced Modularity first, and consider the FCH programme only if Enhanced Modularity proves unsuitable.

Q. Do students have to take an equal number of credits in each department?

At the first year level, when students apply, it is assumed that they will take 60 credits in each subject. In fact, for most departments we insist that this is the case, although some (such as Geography) are happy for students to vary the balance slightly, once they arrive here.

From the second year onwards we allow students more flexibility to vary the balance of credits between the departments. They can also ask to replace one subject area with another or add a third area. Their degree title will reflect such variation.

Q. How are the degree titles decided?

Essentially the student influences what their degree title will be by the module choices they make. In December of their final year, the Director of the FCH programme, will look at the modules they have taken in their second and final years, and discuss a suitable degree title with each student, taking into account the established rules on how titles are formed. The titles are then sent for comment and approval to relevant departments, to the FCH Board of Studies and then to the Undergraduate Faculty Board for final approval.

An example of the rules for degree titles:

A student takes modules in English and History

If the student has taken an equal amount of each, then they will get a degree title of BA in English and History (two equally studied subjects go in alphabetical order separated by 'and').
If they have taken less English than History, then their degree title would be BA in History with English (the larger subject goes first, separated by 'with' from the smaller one).

Occasionally a student will be more complicated than this, and a special degree title will have to be devised to match what they have studied, e.g. BA English and Historical Studies with French.

A subject can only be mentioned in the title if at least 60 credits are taken during the second and final years. Occasionally first year modules are also considered for influencing the title.

The main rule is that a student should not receive the degree title of a programme that already exists. However, this has occurred in the past, for example when the Modular Degree received students transferring from the department of Life-long Learning. We currently have two students who will graduate with a BA in History. However, this is the exception.

see also degree titles

Q. Is there just one programme? What is the programme code?

The FCH degree exists in a three year and a four year version. The four year version is for anyone who will be spending a year abroad. This could either be the case because a student is studying a modern language (for which a year abroad is expected) or because they simply wish to take part in the Erasmus scheme.

The old Modular Degree has a different programme code from the FCH degree, so there are actually four programme codes to look out for:

Programme	Length	Programme Code	UCAS code
Modular degree	3 years	UFY301	N/A
Modular degree with year abroad	4 years	UFY401	N/A
FCH degree	3 years	UFF301	Y004
FCH degree with year abroad	4 years	UFF401	Y005

Q. How can I find out which FCH students are studying in my department?

This has always been a problem for FCH/Modular students. Because most admin staff search for students on SITS by using the SPR page and searching by programme codes, FCH students are easily overlooked. As a result they end up missing out on messages that go to everyone else in the department, and sometimes end up being totally left out of things, both academic and social, within the teaching department.

However, we have now developed a way that should make it easy to locate your FCH students on SITS. In the 'Group' field on the SPR screen, are the department/module codes of the two subjects the student is studying. For example, a student of Geography and Law would have 'GEOLAW' entered under the group field. A student of History and Maths would have 'HIHMAS'.

To locate your FCH students, search under SPR using the following criteria: Under the 'Programme' field enter the four FCH/Modular programme codes, separated by a "Gold bar" (i.e. an OR wild card). Feel free to copy this: UFF301.|UFF401.|UFY301.|UFY401 . Under the 'Group' field enter your department code, with a "Gold star" (i.e. an Any Characters wild card), followed by your department code, followed by another "Gold star". E.g. .*LAW.*.

If you want to search using several department codes, use the "Gold bar" and enter this several times. For example SoBE might find the following useful:

.*BEE.*.|.*BEM.*.|.*CLS.*.|.*BEA.*

Only the two (or very occasionally three) main subjects a student is taking have been put in. If they once took a module in a department, but don't appear to be continuing to study in that department then this will not appear.

If you need any more advice on these, please contact Tim Seelig (FCH Admin). We would much rather have each of you call up than have any of our students losing out.

Q. Should FCH students be given equal priority when registering on modules?

Absolutely!

Obviously it is down to each department to choose who they allow on to their modules. However, please remember that FCH students are your students. They could be taking up to half of their degree in your department, and should be given the same treatment as any of your other students.

Remember - FCH students bring money into your School from their credit-related fee income! (FCH does not get any money at all from these students, the fee income is all passed onto the teaching departments in proportion to the number of credits taught).

Q. How can I see at a glance what two subjects a student is studying?

Look in the 'Notes' field on SPR for a description, or look at the 'Group' field for subject codes.

When you bring up an FCH student on SPR, the first three words of the 'Note' field will say which subjects the student is studying. You may notice that some subjects appear with each word separated by a '_' instead of a space (e.g. Modern_languages). This is so that only the first three words (as the computer recognises them) show this information. Two SITS standard letters have been created (FCHPINKFORM and FCH-STUDCRD) which use these first three words to produce printouts showing what the student is doing.

As a result please do not put anything in front of this on the 'Notes' field of SPR.

Q. How can current students transfer to the FCH programme?

New students apply through UCAS in the usual way. They can apply for first year entry or direct second year entry if they have appropriate prior learning (APEL).

Current first year students can apply to join the FCH programme from the start of their second year. To do this, they will need to get the approval of the FCH co-ordinators for each of the subjects they wish to study, and then be accepted by the Director of the FCH programme. There is a form we will require them to fill in, and there is usually a deadline for applications towards the end of the summer term. Each case is judged on its merits.

Q. How can prospective students apply for the FCH programme?

When new students complete their on-line UCAS application, applicants can apply for the FCH programme, using the UCAS code Y004 or Y005. However, so that we know what two subjects they wish to combine, they need to put this information in section 3 (f) "Further details..."

Module code	Credit value	Length of work in terms of words
xxx3888	-	Do not use
xxx3888A	10	4,000
xxx3888B	15	6,000
xxx3888C	20	8,000
xxx3888D	25	10,000
xxx3888E	30	12,000

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