UK, but through time, more institutions moved to a semester basis and today almost all universities operate in this way.
Teaching at Stirling is delivered on a two-semester basis with the academic year beginning in mid-September and the first semester ending in mid-December. The second semester runs from the beginning of January to the end of May each year. At undergraduate level, three modules are taken in the first semester and three in the second. The basic module of study at Stirling is assigned 20 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) credit points. Ordinary degrees have a minimum credit total of 360 points.
The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering the liberal arts, natural science, management school and health science. Stirling achieved a 5 Star Excellence Award for Teaching by QS Stars in 2016.
=== Research ===
Stirling is an interdisciplinary research-intensive University with a range of research activity focused on Health and Wellbeing; Culture and Society; Environment; Enterprise and the Economy; and Sport. The Research Excellence Framework also rated almost three-quarters of research activity either world-leading or internationally excellent.
The university is home to some specialist research centres:
Centre for Environment, Heritage and Policy
Stirling Media Research Institute (SMRI)
Stirling Centre for Scottish Studies.
Dementia Services Development Centre
Centre for Gender and Feminist Studies
Centre for Transnational Legal Methods
Stirling Environment and Energy Network
Centre of Postcolonial Studies
Stirling Centre for International Publishing and Communication
Contemporary Portuguese Political History Research Centre
Stirling Centre for Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies
Centre for Policy, Conflict and Co-Operation
Scottish Law and Innovation Network (SCOTLIN)
Stirling has a research publications database, STORRE, which is a source of free, full-text access research outputs.
=== Business links ===
The university has …
