Learning and teaching
Learning and teaching is through lectures, seminars, tutorials, field work, laboratory sessions and independent study with internationally recognised, research-active staff. You’ll undertake challenging, independent research projects dealing with questions and issues at the cutting-edge of life science research. Regular research seminars, by our staff and visiting lecturers, bring you the latest issues on a wide range of research topics.
Our staff have close links with a wide range of industrial, medical and conservation organisations, who you may be able to collaborate with for your final year research project. Many of our students also work with these organisations during their vacations.
You’ll have more than 15 hours of direct contact time per week with your tutors in your first year and will be expected to supplement your lectures with independent study. You should expect your total workload to average about 40 hours per week during term time.
We frequently introduce new methods of learning and teaching, including increasing use of interactive computer-based approaches to learning through our virtual learning environment, where the details of all modules are stored in an easily navigable website. You can access detailed information about modules and learning outcomes and interact through activities such as the discussion forums.
Research-inspired teaching
We believe that every student benefits from being part of a culture that is inspired by research and being taught by experts. You’ll discuss the very latest ideas in seminars and tutorials and, in appropriate degree programmes, become an active member of a research team.
The complementary expertise of our staff ensures a vibrant, collaborative research culture within our research groups: Environment and Evolution; Plant and Microbial Systems; Molecules and Cells; Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation; and Evolution.
Assessment
You must pass your first year assessment in order to progress to the second year, but the results do not count towards your degree classification. For three-year programmes, the assessments in the second and third years contribute to your final degree classification. For four-year programmes the assessments in the fourth year also contribute to your final degree classification.
