Elective groups

Configure elective module clusters, election rules, election mode, and how students choose optional modules from a curriculum.

Elective groups (module clusters) define optional modules in a curriculum. Students elect modules from these groups according to rules you configure — credit limits, course counts, unlock conditions, and election timing. They are how programs encode “choose X credits from this set” or “pick N courses from this specialization” instead of listing every optional module as required.

In curriculum design, electives balance structure with student choice: the degree still meets credit and learning outcomes, while students select pathways within institutional constraints. Fuxam models that with groups, behavior rules, and election mode on the curriculum version.

Why it matters

Without elective groups, every curriculum item is treated as a required slot. That works for rigidly prescribed programs, but most degrees include Wahlpflicht (compulsory elective) or free elective space. Elective groups:

• Keep optional modules out of the “must complete every listed row” path.
• Enforce credit or course-count rules so students cannot under- or over-select.
• Clone into each student’s study plan when a cohort is assigned the curriculum version, so elections stay consistent with the blueprint.

How it fits

Key concepts

Where elective groups are defined

Elective groups are created on the curriculum version Curriculum Structure page:

Assign modules to elective groups

On the curriculum version overview table, set the Elective Group column for each optional module row. Modules without an elective group are required slots; modules in a group become electable by students.

Use bulk Set Elective Group actions in the toolbar to assign multiple modules at once.

Election behavior rules

Each elective group supports behavior rules that constrain student selections:

Additional settings include:

• Unlock rule — minimum credit points earned outside the group before it becomes available.
• Elect at once — whether students must satisfy the full minimum before saving elections.
• Overflow elective group — where excess credit points count when students exceed a minimum.
• Re-electable — whether modules can be elected into different terms later.

Rule amount vs pool size

If a group lists ten modules of 5 ECTS each (50 ECTS of options) but the behavior is Select until Credit Points with amount 15, students only need 15 ECTS from that pool. The degree total should include those 15 ECTS — not 50.

Election mode and timing

On Curriculum Structure, configure Election Mode for the curriculum version:

• Elect whenever — students can elect at any time; modules with predetermined terms are assigned automatically, otherwise students pick a term in the election sheet.
• Elect before term — elections are restricted to configured windows per organization term (ahead of the term).
• Additional timed modes (such as electing relative to the term after it starts) may be available depending on your institution’s setup — choose the mode that matches your examination regulations and calendar practice.

These settings clone to each student’s study plan when they join a cohort using this curriculum version.

Institution term windows (including election start/end on Chronology) matter especially when you use Elect before term or another timed mode.

Student election overview

After a cohort is assigned and students are enrolled:

• Students open their study plan and use the Elect Modules flow for the relevant term.
• The election sheet lists available modules grouped by elective group, filtered by unlock rules and election windows.
• Saved elections update the student’s study plan with elected modules and term assignments.

Administrators can review cohort curriculum items on the cohort Curriculum tab to see which modules are required versus awaiting student election.

Worked example

Group: Wahlpflicht — Methods
Behavior: Select until Credit Points → 10
Unlock: after 40 ECTS earned outside the group
Modules in pool: Research Methods A (5), Research Methods B (5), Qualitative Lab (5), Survey Design (5)

Students must earn 10 ECTS from the pool (two of the 5-ECTS modules, or an equivalent combination). They cannot open the group until they have 40 ECTS elsewhere. Listing four modules does not require 20 ECTS of methods electives.

Best practices

• Create groups and set rules on Curriculum Structure before assigning many modules — bulk Set Elective Group is then fast and consistent.
• Name groups the way students and advisors speak about them (for example, “Major electives — Marketing”), not only internal codes.
• Review unlock rules so early-semester students are not blocked from groups they should already access — or are not opened too early.
• For a rule change that should apply only to new intakes, put it in a new curriculum version.
• Document overflow targets so advisors know where surplus credits land.

Common pitfalls

• Leaving optional modules without an elective group — they become required.
• Combining incompatible expectations (exact course count vs flexible credit total) in one group without clear student guidance.
• Enabling Elect before term (or another timed mode) without configured term election windows in Chronology.
• Editing elective rules on a live version without considering propagation to enrolled study plans.
• Treating pool size as the degree’s elective credit requirement.

FAQ

Related pages