Your education questions answered by Brian Mooney.

I registered as a first-year Arts student in UCD last week, and am concerned about the process. I found the experience a little confusing, and I am not sure if I have secured the standard three-subject first-year option that I want. Secondly, having registered, can I change my choices later in the year?

For readers not familiar with the recent changes in UCD, your question relates to the online registration process under their Horizons programme. All UCD students now have a number of options open to them.

Since the introduction of modularisation three years ago, all UCD degree courses are divided into 12 modules per stage (year). In many degrees, this means you take 10 modules in your core subject area and choose the remaining two modules either from within your core subjects or outside your degree area. In Arts the choice is somewhat different - largely because the range of arts subjects is so broad in the first place.

There are 34 subjects in omnibus Arts (DN012). For timetabling purposes these subjects are divided into six groups and students choose a maximum of one subject from any group. Before Horizons, students used to choose three subjects in first year, as you have done, and specialise in two or even a single subject in second year. Now you and your fellow students are free to choose three, four or even five subjects in first year, so long as you take 12 modules over the year.

Each completed module in first year earns five credits, so at the end of the year, you accumulate 60 credits. You have chosen three subjects and are free to pick four modules (20 credits) for each subject. You have other options: for example, you could combine two principal subjects (20 credits each) with two supplementary subjects (10 credits each) or two principal subjects with one supplementary subject and two electives (single modules worth five credits each). These electives can be chosen from all first-year modules throughout the university (subject to class size). It is worth keeping in mind that in order to take a subject in second year, you will need to have earned at least 10 credits in that subject in first year.

Although you have just registered for your modules, you do have time to change your mind in relation to semester two modules. Semester two begins after Christmas and you are free to make changes between November 19th and February 8th. But take note, some modules have limited space.

In first year, you are advised to take 20 credits in at least one subject in Arts. Most students take at least 20 credits in two subjects.

In second year, you have the option to change the balance of your subjects and begin to specialise in a single subject (major), two equal subjects (joint major) or one main subject with a second (major-minor).

Each year, all students have the flexibility to take single module electives. In many cases students take electives in areas that complement their degree subject. But, you don't have to go outside your current degree programme and are free to pick more modules within your chosen subject.

In first-year Arts, there are always students who switch emphasis as they discover they have greater or less interest in a particular topic. That is actually one of the advantages of a broad arts education - it offers you the opportunity to try out different subjects before specialising.

It may seem a little bewildering to you right now, but the curriculum is quite structured. At the end of the three-year Arts degree you will have earned 180 credits and your degree transcript will list the grades across the modules taken.

Hopefully, your current choice to study three subjects has been correctly registered. If you think you have registered your choices incorrectly, you should contact the registration help desk, and they should be able to put your mind at rest.

Brian Mooney is the former president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.