Focused on my studies

The basic principle is always the same, for each year, students choose modules from several subjects for 120 credits in total, and in every subject they have the same modules available as students from Single Honours degrees. One module usually has 20 credits, but there are also some modules with 40 credits or conversely with only 10 credits. The choice has to follow specific rules and the modules also have to be compatible in terms of a timetable, but there is still relatively big freedom of choice. In the case of the Joint Honours degree, a given combination of subjects includes more choices available in later years.
For my first year, I have chosen modules which allow me to follow the path of Joint Honours degree in Mathematics and Physics. For this combination, all modules for the first year are given, but as they form the base for the following study of Mathematics and Physics, I am content with this selection. These modules are Analysis I, Calculus and Probability I, Linear Algebra I, Foundations of Physics 1 (which is a double module) and Discovery Skills in Physics. In majority of these modules, the teaching consists of lectures and tutorials, and in Maths modules also of problem classes, which are similar to lectures, the only difference is that there is no new material presented, only examples solved. Lectures take place in big lecture halls and all students attend them together; they are divided into smaller groups only for tutorials. Every student gets assigned an academic advisor, with whom he or she meets at least once per term to discuss possible academic issues or concerns. The Discovery Skills in Physics module is a bit different from my other modules, as it doesn’t contain many lectures and the main parts of this module are laboratory classes and programming sessions. There is also no written examination as the assessment consists of a lab report, programming assignments and other work related to labs. There are two types of assignments: formative and summative. Marks from the formatives do not count towards the final grade, which is composed of the marks from summative assessments. For all my modules except for the Discovery Skills, the only summative assignments are final examinations, which will be held in May 2018. Nevertheless, there are still many formative ones, which are also compulsory. We have homework for each module every week and collection exams took place at the beginning of this term in order to prepare us for the final examinations. In Physics, the format of this exam was very similar to the final one, however, the time per exam in Maths was much shorter, so it didn’t resemble the real exam to such extent. Although these exams are only formative, they provide an effective way of motivating students to revise and enabling them to find out which areas are necessary to focus more on. I think it was very useful for me and I also realised it is definitely not easy to spend a lot of time studying over vacations, especially when being at home during Christmas after long time. However, the upcoming vacations are going to be considerably longer, so I believe there will eventually be enough time to prepare. To conclude, I am grateful to have an opportunity to study in Durham, being able to combine Mathematics and Physics and make the most of what the University offers.