One Year Study Abroad
| Module title | One Year Study Abroad |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIO3062 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 120 |
| Module staff | Dr Sam Stevens (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | All year |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
The module offers you the opportunity to spend one year studying abroad in one of the University’s international exchange partners. These include universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia. You will become a student at the exchange university for one year choosing modules that have been agreed by the Study Abroad Tutor in a learning plan including:
- Minimum 25% of stage 3 biosciences topics
- Maximum 25% of modules unrelated to bioscience topics.
You are encouraged to study courses with local expertise such as shark biology or Rocky Mountain ecology, but also to consider other minor subjects such as scuba diving or American literature. The study experience in other countries is unique and will provide you with new and exciting cultural experiences and friends.
You will have been admitted to the University specifically to study this module for the following programmes:
- Biological Sciences with Study Abroad
- Biochemistry with Study Abroad
- Biological and Medicinal Chemistry with Study Abroad
or made special arrangements with your Tutor to switch to it from:
- Biological Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
Please note that those undertaking biological programmes at our Penryn Campus (Zoology, Conservation Biology and Ecology, and Marine Biology) should choose BIO3171 as their study abroad module. Flexible Combined Honours students should choose FCH3002 as their study abroad module.
You must attain an average threshold mark as detailed in your programme specifications (normally 60%) across both Stages 1 and 2 to progress to this year.
You will be assessed by your host university during your academic year abroad with their grades converted back to University of Exeter grades to contribute towards your degree classification. The Study Abroad Office provides a table of mark conversion ratios which we use to bring the foreign marks into line with ours. These are then aggregated into a weighted average depending on the various credits each module is worth. This then becomes the study abroad mark. The rules governing failure and referral of modules will be determined by the host institution.
The Study Abroad year will count towards one seventh of your final degree score (the combined average ratio for years 2, 3 and 4 being weighted at 2:1:4).
The Year Abroad counts as a single 120 credit module and as such is not condonable; you must pass this module to continue on the four-year programme. None of the composite modules making up the overall year score is considered as non-condonable for our students; you can fail individual modules without 'failing' the year as long as you achieve a weighted average of greater than 40%.
If you fail the Year Abroad module you will be transferred to the standard three-year programme.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module provides an alternative method of study. You can choose to study abroad at an institution with links to Biosciences, for your third year of a four-year degree programme. The module aims to provide a different learning experience, ensuring the quality of education as offered at Exeter University, but providing the chance to experience learning in a different institution and interact with a different culture.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Identify and implement, with limited guidance, appropriate methodologies and theories for study in different learning environments and cultures
- 2. Assess and critically evaluate biosciences information and analysis in a variety of contextual settings
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Analyse in detail essential facts and theories in biosciences and non-biosciences subjects
- 4. With minimal guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis, practical investigation, and enquiry within the biosciences and other subjects
- 5. Evaluate in detail approaches to our understanding of biosciences with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles
- 6. Analyse and evaluate independently a range of research-informed literature and synthesise research-informed examples from the literature into written work
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Discuss international study
- 8. Evaluate new cultural experiences
- 9. Reflect effectively and independently on learning experiences and evaluate personal achievements
- 10. Communicate effectively arguments, evidence and conclusions using a variety of formats in a manner appropriate to the intended audience
- 11. Devise and sustain, with little guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with sound, convincing conclusions
- 12. Analyse and evaluate appropriate data with very limited guidance
- 13. Evaluate own strengths and weaknesses in relation to graduate-level professional and practical skills, and act autonomously to develop new areas of skills as necessary
Syllabus plan
This is specific to the Host University concerned. The programme of modules studied overseas will be chosen to ensure that an equivalent workload of 120 Exeter credits can be gained.
How does it work? Study abroad is in the third year of four and is full-time. You make your choice of host institution in the spring term of your second year (February) from approved universities with whom Exeter Biosciences has established links. Host institution places are allocated based on the number available and your grades during first year and the first term of second year and personal statements/academic references. Modules at the host institutions are agreed beforehand with the Study Abroad Tutor in a learning agreement; you will take a majority of modules in biosciences subjects, but a minority of modules can be taken in other subjects. You apply for visas, book flights and organise accommodation once you have received a letter of acceptance from your host institution (April/May).
Student preparation and support. You are given help and advice on the customs and culture of the country in question, costs involved, how and where to apply for accommodation and visas. Named link persons at the host institution who provide pastoral/tutorial support are also identified before you start your year abroad.
Teaching methods will vary according to the programme of study at the host university but generally they will comprise a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical and laboratory work. In addition, independent study will be a major component of all the modules taken and you will be expected to direct your own preparation, reading and research.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1200 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The learning experiences will be unique to the host institutions and should be experienced as widely as possible. The learning activities should be agreed with Host University under established University of Exeter Study Abroad protocols. | 1200 |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| As required by the host university | All | Written and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The assessment of the placement may use a variety of methods appropriate to the programme of study in the host institution, which will have agreed learning outcomes. Assignments will vary according to the programme of study and the host university. However, you will be expected to complete and write up a variety of course work, as well as completing readings to enable you to contribute during seminars. This will form part of the independent study time. | 100 | All | Written and oral | |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Resit |
Re-assessment notes
No reassessments – failure will be judged by the host institution and will be assessed by the University of Exeter Board of Examiners.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
As required by the host university.
| Credit value | 120 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 60 |
| Module pre-requisites | BIO2071 Research Skills and Bioethics |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/11/2011 |
| Last revision date | 01/03/2022 |
