By Yasmin Frischemeier

If you take a look at the programme regulations for the upcoming academic year, you will notice that BSc International Relations students have a bit of flexibility in their module selection. While IR100, IR101, and IR102 are compulsory, students can select between two history options for their third paper and have a relatively large amount of choice in selecting their fourth paper.

Here are some module selection tips from current IR students to help you decide:

Try them out!

Freshers don’t have to finalise their module selections until the end of week 2, so you have plenty of time to attend different lectures and see which modules fit your interests and learning style. It’s completely okay to make edits to your course selection in LSE For You and to change your mind, just be sure to run your final selections by your academic mentor. Take a look at the lecture timetable to find out when and where different modules hold their lectures.

Check past papers and moodle pages

Given the essay-style format of assessment in most first year courses at LSE, it’s worth taking a look at recent exam papers for the modules you’re interested in. Although the content can change a bit, ask yourself if you’re interested in spending the whole academic year discovering the answers to those questions. You can also take a look at the moodle pages and reading lists for different modules to get a better sense of what is taught.

Follow your interests

This one might be a bit obvious, but take into account your interests when selecting your courses! Don’t let your choices be dictated by how many students got a first last year – you’re much more likely to succeed in a course where you’re invested in the content and excited to participate in class. Developing your interests in first year can propel you to success in more difficult second and third year courses.

Look at prerequisites

While nobody expects you to plan out your entire academic path from day one, it can be helpful to take a look at the programme regulations again and consider which courses you might want to take in second or third year and whether they have certain 100-level prerequisites. Checking out prerequisites now can save you from frustration later.

Talk to current students and faculty

If all else fails, it never hurts to ask for help! Make sure to have a chat with your academic mentor about module selection before the end of week 2. You can also reach out to current students (perhaps your student buddy) for their opinions on module selection.

Good luck!