The Bachelor of Science (Social Sciences)

A webpage for current third year students of the programme | 2023 - 2027

Registration Frequently Asked Questions

When does registration open for returning BASS students?
Online registration for third and final-year BASS students opens on Monday the 20th of August 2025 at 10 am. Online registration for second-year BASS students begins on Monday the 20th of August 2025 at 2 pm. Details are available from the Registration Webpage.

Who is responsible for BASS student registration?
The individual student is solely responsible for their registration. GDPR effectively means that all adult students are wholly in charge of their entire registration process and academic staff, your fellow students, or family members are not permitted access to the individual student registration portal. The Student Registry Helpdesk can assist with this process, and students can also email reghelp@universityofgalway.ie directly for assistance.

Can I choose any modules I like?
Students will be automatically registered for all 'core' modules but can choose 'optional' modules from the list provided. Students cannot choose modules outside those provided on their registration portal.

Will I be guaranteed all the modules I wish to undertake?
No, there is no guarantee that all the modules you wish to do will be available when you register. Many are small-class modules with limited places on offer. Register as quickly as possible to give yourself the best chance of securing a place on the modules you wish to undertake.

Who decides on the list of available modules?
All modules for all programmes are agreed upon at the University level by the University Curriculum Committee. Modules are carefully selected for each programme based on the focus of the degree under study.

How many modules or ECTs must a BASS student register for each year?
All students must complete 60ECTs to pass the academic year. This normally means 30ECTs in both semesters. Most modules are 5ECTs (although some can be 10ECTs) so it is important to check this information carefully. The total ECTs for the year will be displayed on your registration portal.

What will happen if I do not complete the full 60ECTs for the academic year?
If a student fails to complete 60ECTs for the academic year they will not be permitted to progress to the following year or, in the case of the fourth/final year, will not be eligible to graduate.

Where will students get information on the available modules for each year of BASS?
Students can view all the available modules directly from their programme web page. To access this you go to the main programme landing page for all years of the programme.

Where will students get information on module content?
All module information will be available from the various School websites, and the two main Schools are Sociology & Political Science and Geography. If you need additional module information you must email the module lecturer directly. Please note that the Programme Director does not have all this information.

What can students do if there is a time clash with certain modules?
Unfortunately, from time to time module time clashes are inevitable. Because of staff commitments and workload and, indeed, room availability, modules cannot be changed to a different day or time. In the case of a module time clash, students must pick one of either of these particular modules. Where possible, such time clashes have been flagged on the programme web page.

What if the module I'm looking to do is fully subscribed?
It is very important to register for all your modules as quickly as possible as some will, inevitably, fill up quickly and are restricted by room size. If the module you wish to do is fully subscribed you should contact the Lecturer directly and ask to be placed on a waiting list for the module if a place becomes available.

The University of Galway Guide for Citing Harvard Style and Essay Help and Information

Harvard Style Citing & References

Harvard Style Referencing Handout

Essay Submission Form

Essay Appraisal Form

Some Important Information and Links

Students' Queries Recommended Steps

Extenuating Circumstances Policy     Extenuating Circumstances Online Form

Exam Deferral Policy     Exam Deferral Online Form

Extended Leave of Absent

Student Support Services

Academic Integrity Policy

The University of Galway Academic Integrity Policy was revised in September 2023.

As the Policy states, ‘Academic misconduct is any attempt to gain or help others gain an unfair academic advantage’. This can be ‘intentional or inadvertent’, and can be committed in a variety of ways (University of Galway 2022).

The following examples of academic misconduct are quoted from the University Policy (please note that this is not an exhaustive list):

  1. ‘Submitting work as your own for assessment, which has, in fact, been done in whole or in part by someone else’
  2. ‘Cheating in exams (e.g., crib notes, copying, using disallowed tools, impersonation)’
  3. ‘Cheating in projects (e.g., collusion; using ‘essay mills’ to carry out the allocated part of the project)’
  4. ‘Self-plagiarism where you submit work which has previously been submitted for a different assignment without permission/acknowledgement’
  5. ‘Posting advertisements for services which encourage contract cheating either physically or virtually’
  6. ‘Submitting all or part of an assessment item which has been produced using artificial intelligence (e.g. Google Translate or other machine translation services/software, AI essay writing service etc.) and claiming it as your own work’.

Source:
University of Galway (2022) ‘QA220 Academic Integrity Policy’ AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE

How to Write a Formal Email as a University Student

  1. You must use your student email address
  2. Stick to a professional black font
  3. Always include a short and accurate subject line
  4. Use a proper salutation (e.g. ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Dr Reilly’)
  5. Make sure you are making contact with the correct lecturer/tutor/teacher
  6. Introduce yourself in the first paragraph (name and student number), and the module you refer to in the email
  7. Prioritise the most important information and get to the point quickly
  8. Keep your message/question brief
  9. Use formal language and do not use slang or text speak
  10. Use a proper form of closing (e.g. 'kind regards')
  11. Include any necessary documents or attachments
  12. Proofread your message for meaning, spelling, and grammar
  13. Make sure that the email does not contain any sensitive information
  14. Always be realistic about a timeframe for a response (you should never expect a response in the evening or over the weekend).