Credits and modules

VIP modules are not the same thing as a project: students working on the same project may be registered in different modules according to their level of study and number of credits.  

Currently, VIP is offered at 10, 15, 20, and 30 credits per semester. There is also a 30-credit whole-year option. This range of credit options allows students to fit VIP modules in with their other degree requirements, as modules in different schools require different numbers of credits. 

There is also a 5 credit per semester ‘keep in touch’ option for students who have participated in VIP before, with engagement and assessments at a commensurate level for 5 credits as determined by the project lead(s). This allows students to stay on a project in semesters where they would otherwise have to over-credit significantly to continue VIP. This 5-credit option offers students continuity, making it easier to re-join a project for higher credit at a later date. It also provides a record on the student’s transcript. The 5-credit option is only open to students who have previously participated in a given project and requires prior approval from the project’s academic lead(s). 

Academic leads will keep track of the student’s level and credits and carefully allocate tasks so that their workload and the level of difficulty is appropriate for them. 

Modules 

As VIP is offered at different credit levels, students on the same project may have different module codes appear on their transcripts. For example, a second-year student taking Biodiversity Literacy for 10 credits in semester 1 would have the module code VP2012, while a third-year student in the same project taking 20 credits in second semester would have the code VP3019. 

For practical purposes, each project appears on MySaint and MMS as one overall pseudo-module, and all regular module activities such as submitting assessments and receiving feedback are done through this overall module. This means that students do not have to worry about different module codes; they simply change what appears on each student’s transcript. 

Credit load imbalance and over-crediting 

It is important to ensure that a VIP does not cause a heavy imbalance in credit loads across semesters. When applying for VIP modules, students should select credit levels which fit with their other modules to give a balanced credit distribution across semesters. The VIP programme offers several different credit options to make this easier. 

Students are permitted to over-credit (that is, to enrol in more than 120 credits) with the approval of their academic advisor and/or Director of Teaching. However, over-crediting may cause work overload and risks student performance and so this must be considered carefully and discussed with your academic advisor.