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Global Opportunities

Breadcrumb

  1. Global Opportunities
  2. Incoming students
  3. Study Abroad Programme
  4. Modules, Transcripts & other Academic information

Academic information

Queen Mary has been welcoming study abroad students for over 80 years, so you can be sure that we will help you to integrate fully into our university and ensure that you have a first-rate student experience with us, gaining international experience, memories and skills that will stay with you for life.

Teaching and research

Queen Mary is one of the world’s top research universities and part of the Russell Group, which represents 24 of the UK’s leading universities. This means that as a student at Queen Mary, you will study in an environment famous for the quality of its teaching and research.

You will discuss your subject with some of the world’s leading experts: at Queen Mary, you will be taught by staff who are leaders in their field and research-active (which means that their teaching is directly influenced by the latest research in their areas of expertise). We pride ourselves on offering you excellent teaching – and doing our utmost to ensure you have an intellectually rich and personally rewarding stay at Queen Mary. 

Our academic programme

We have fourteen academic schools for you to choose from and 950+ modules available to our study abroad students. Here is an overview of what you can expect academically during your time with us:

The academic year

Our academic year is divided into two 12-week teaching semesters:

  • Autumn semester: mid-September to mid-December
  • Spring semester: January to May/June

For full details of our academic year, please see our academic calendar.

Academic credits

At Queen Mary University of London, our classes (or ‘modules’) are normally worth 15 credits per semester, though there are some worth 30 credits.

You will normally take 60 credits a semester, or a total of 120 credits for a full year.

You can choose to underload (take less than four classes) or overload (take more than four classes), but you need written approval from your home school, or be on a part-time programme with us.

Queen Mary credits will be translated by your home institution into their own credit system (e.g. four credits per module for a 16-credit semester system).

How you will be assessed

Assessment methods will vary depending on your programme of study, and can include essays, problem sets, tests, presentations, projects and exams:

  • If you are studying with us for the full year or the spring semester only, you will be assessed in the same way and at the same time as our full-degree Queen Mary students. This may include an examination in January and May/June.
  • The examination timetable for May/June is not usually published until the last week of the spring semester, so if your module is assessed by examination you should not make any arrangements for returning home before you know the dates of your examinations.
  • If you are only with us for the autumn semester, depending on the modules you take, you may be assessed on or before the last day of the teaching semester. Some modules' assessments will take place in the form of a virtual examination and/or assignment in January.

Grades

Queen Mary uses a number of mark schemes for different awards and different levels and although many of the grades are the same, there are differences between the qualifying pass marks for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The UK grading system may be different from that used by your home institution – they are responsible for converting the grades you receive from Queen Mary. The Queen Mary grading system uses five letter grades (A–E) and you will receive a final mark on your final transcript. 

For more information about our grades, please see our detailed information on mark schemes.

View short videos about our academic schools online for an introduction to the school/department. 

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