Add modules to curriculum
Add module versions as curriculum items and map them to study periods, focuses, and elective groups with credit points.
Curriculum items are module versions placed in your program structure. Each row ties a module version to study periods, optional focuses, and elective groups that define whether the module is required or optional. Together, those rows form the academic path a cohort will follow once the curriculum version is assigned.
In European and many international programs, module workload is expressed in ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credit points — typically about 60 ECTS for a full-time academic year. Curriculum credit columns should reflect the credit value each slot contributes toward the degree.
Why it matters
A curriculum without modules is only a skeleton. Adding and mapping modules is where requirements become concrete: which unit of study belongs in which semester, which track or focus it supports, whether it is mandatory or electable, and how many credit points it carries. Accurate slots drive student study plans, elective sheets, and downstream planning.
How it fits
| Related area | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Modules | Create and version modules before (or as) you add them here |
| Curriculum structure explained | How periods, focuses, groups, and credits stack |
| Elective groups | Optional modules need groups and rules defined on Curriculum Structure |
| Chronology | Institution terms interact with elections and planning; curriculum study periods organize module placement in the program |
| Assign curriculum to cohort | Mapped items become the source of student study plans |
Before you start — prepare structure first
Before adding modules, define the curriculum skeleton on Curriculum Structure:
- Study Periods — add study periods (terms) that organize when modules belong in the program.
- Focuses — optional tracks or specializations.
- Elective Groups — clusters for optional modules and election rules.
See Elective groups for elective configuration and Curriculum structure explained for the full layering model.
How to add a module to the curriculum
Open a curriculum version from OrgHub → Database → Curricula.
On the version overview page, select Module in the toolbar to open the add-module sheet.
Choose one or more modules from your institution’s Database and select the module version for each.
Confirm to add the rows to the curriculum table.
Save your changes when the unsaved-changes bar appears.
Map terms and organization
Use the curriculum item table columns to assign structure:
| Column | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Module | The module and version included in the curriculum |
| Version | Which module version this slot references |
| Term | The curriculum study period (study period / semester mapping) |
| Focus | Optional focus or track assignment |
| Elective Group | Optional group for elective modules |
| Credit Points | ECTS or credit value for this slot |
| Introductory Module | Mark modules that serve as introductory modules in the program |
Bulk actions in the toolbar let you set Term, Focus, or Elective Group for multiple selected rows at once.
Study period placement tips
- Place foundation modules in early study periods; advanced and thesis-related modules later.
- Keep each study period’s required load realistic (many full-time programs aim near 30 ECTS per semester — follow your regulations).
- Leave elective-heavy periods with enough “room” under the credit target so students can elect without overload.
- Remember: Term here is the curriculum study period. Mapping those periods to dated organization terms happens when the curriculum is used with a cohort.
Required vs elective modules
| Kind | How you set it | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Required | Leave Elective Group empty | Fixed obligation on the student study plan |
| Elective | Assign an Elective Group | Student elects according to group rules |
- Modules without an elective group assignment are treated as required slots in the program structure.
- Modules assigned to an Elective Group are optional — students elect from the group according to its rules during enrollment windows.
Focuses on module rows
Use Focus when the same curriculum version contains tracks (for example Marketing vs Finance). Modules that every student takes can omit a focus; modules that belong only to one specialization should be tagged to that focus. See Curriculum structure explained for fixed vs selectable focus patterns.
Credit points: slot, semester, and program
| Scope | How to think about it |
|---|---|
| Slot | Credit Points on the row should match the module version’s ECTS |
| Study period | Sum required credits in that period; add expected elective load for balance checks |
| Elective group | Rule amount (for example “select until 15 CP”) is what counts toward the degree — not the sum of every module listed in the pool |
| Program / version | Required totals + elective rule amounts ≈ program target; review version Settings for version-level credit metadata |
Mini example
Semester 1 required modules: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 25 ECTS. An elective group allows 5 ECTS in that semester → target 30 ECTS. Listing eight electable modules in the pool does not mean students take 40 ECTS of electives.
Best practices
- Always pick the correct module version — curricula pin a version, so later module edits on another version do not automatically update this slot.
- Keep Credit Points aligned with the module version’s intended ECTS value so totals on the version settings remain trustworthy.
- Use bulk Term / Focus / Elective Group actions for semester-wide assignments instead of editing one row at a time.
- After large CSV imports, review a sample of rows for missing terms or accidental elective-group assignments.
- When teaching content or credits change for a new intake, prefer new module versions and a new curriculum version rather than silently retargeting live slots.
Common pitfalls
- Adding modules before study periods exist — you will have to remap every row later.
- Leaving elective modules without an Elective Group — they are treated as required.
- Referencing an outdated module version after teaching content or credits changed for a new intake.
- Forgetting to save when the unsaved-changes bar appears.
- Counting the entire elective pool toward the program total instead of the group’s rule amount.
FAQ
Can I add the same module more than once?
You can place module versions as needed for your structure (for example, across different periods or roles in the program). Each row is its own curriculum item with its own term, focus, and elective mapping — configure each intentionally.
What does Introductory Module do?
The Introductory Module column marks modules that serve as introductory modules in the program. Use it when your institution distinguishes foundation or orientation modules in the curriculum layout.
When should I use CSV import?
Use CSV from the curriculum toolbar when bulk-loading many items at once — for example, migrating a full program from a spreadsheet. For a few modules, the Module toolbar action is usually clearer.
Why do credit totals look too high?
Often the elective pool was summed instead of the elective rule amount, or optional modules were left without an elective group and counted as required. Recheck Elective Group assignments and group behavior rules.