Pre-Advising Guide for Entrants (Arts and Divinity)
Pre-Advising is when you choose your modules for the next academic year and enter those choices online. You must complete Pre-Advising before you see your Adviser at Advising in Orientation Week to have your module choices officially approved ("validated").
When you meet your Adviser during Advising (Undergraduate) you can discuss your module choices and options. Once you and your Adviser are satisfied with the selection, your Adviser will validate your choices. This validation is an essential part of the matriculation process. Only once matriculated are you officially a student of the University of St Andrews.
How many credits do I have to take in my first year?
Full-time students should take exactly 120 credits of modules per year, 60 credits per semester. First Year students may take only 1000 level modules (e.g. LT1001). Most 1000 level modules are 20 credits, though there are some of 10 credits. This means that you will probably be studying three 20-credit modules each semester.
Which modules should I take in my first year?
The particular degree programme to which you have been admitted will determine some of your module choices. You must take the appropriate 1000 level modules in the subject(s) you have been admitted to study. Programme requirements for each degree can be found in the Course Catalogue.
For most subjects there is little or no choice at 1000 level. There will be a 20-credit module (or pair of 10-credit modules) in Semester 1, followed by another in Semester 2. These two modules will make up the requirement for first year in that subject.
For some subjects there may be a choice based on prior experience and qualifications. For example, many Language courses have First Level modules for complete beginners and for students with qualifications at Higher, A-level or equivalent. If this is the case the Course Catalogue will say in the details for those modules.
Provided there is no timetable clash and you meet any pre-requisites, you are free to choose any other 1000 level modules alongside the required modules for your course, in order to make up a total of 120 credits for the year. Students often choose a subject or subjects which they might like to continue towards a Joint Honours degree (a second pathway to Honours level). Some students switch in their second year from their original choices into other subjects and complete a degree in those. You should think about this and fill in some choices that interest you. Use the University website to get more information about subjects, academic schools and departments.
Note: Please do not select any modules at 1900 level (e.g. EN1901 or PS1901) as these are for part-time Evening Degree students only.
Here are some examples of module choices
Example 1 (Single Honours)
You have been admitted to the MA Hons English degree programme. You must take module EN1003 (20 credits) in semester 1 and EN1004 (20 credits) in semester 2. This leaves 80 credits (40 per semester) to be selected from other subjects.
Note: If you have been admitted to a degree programme in a single subject, then it is recommended that you choose modules in at least one other subject which could lead to a degree i.e. a second pathway to Honours level. There are some 1000 level modules which do not lead to degrees (e.g. music modules), so read the Course Catalogue carefully when making your choices.
Example 2 (Joint Honours)
You have been admitted to the MA Joint Hons English and French degree programme. You must take module EN1003 (20 credits) in semester 1 and EN1004 (20 credits) in semester 2. You must also take module FR1001 (20 credits) in semester 1 and FR1002 (20 credits) in semester 2. This leaves 40 credits to be selected from other modules in other subjects.
How to complete online Pre-Advising
- View the Course Catalogue to find detailed information about all the modules that are available and about the requirements for your degree programme. Identify which modules you must take as part of your degree programme and choose other modules to make up the right credit total
- Log in to iSaint. In iSaint, hover over the 'Academic' tab and select 'Advising' from the drop-down menu that will appear. Click on the link to 'Advising facility'. If you do not have the 'Academic' tab yet, you can get to the Advising facility by clicking on the 'Online Advising' link on the right of this page
- In the Advising facility click on the relevant link in the bulleted list to view instructions on entering your module choices
- In the Advising facility click on 'Modules choices' on the left-hand side to get to the page where you will enter your module choices
- Choose your modules from the drop-down lists ('Semester 1', 'Semester 2', 'Whole Year') in the Advising facility and press the green "+" button after selecting each module. Please note that first year students do not take Whole Year modules, so you do not need to select any choices from this list
- If you wish to remove one of the modules you have selected press the red "x" button next to that module
- When you are happy with your choices press the "Submit" button
- If you wish to make further changes to your modules before Advising in September, you should be able to do so by logging in to iSaint and accessing your Modules Choices page again. A status of 'submitted' will allow you to do this. You can see your status on the Advising facility page and your Modules choices page. If your status is 'provisonally valid' it means an Adviser has provisionally approved your choices and you will not be able to make further changes until Advising in September
Making changes to your module choices
You will be given a further opportunity to discuss and change your module choices when you see your Adviser in September. You must complete the online Pre-Advising process and attend Advising (Undergraduate) in Orientation Week before you can matriculate.
You may also contact your Adviser to request changes to your module choices during the Re-Advising periods, which is the first week of each semester. Note that you can also request changes to your second semester modules from the start of January.