Programme Specification for the 2023/4 academic year
MSc Advanced Biological Sciences
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Advanced Biological Sciences | Programme code | PTS1BIOBIO12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Part Time |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The MSc Advanced Biological Sciences allows you to study a broad base of advanced biology and gives you the option to specialise in areas of biology that interest you. We offer seven specialisms: Animal Biology; Bioinformatics; Ecotoxicology; Frontiers in Plant Science; Microbiology and Infectious Disease; Molecular and Cellular Biology; and, Sustainable Aquaculture. You will carry out a substantial research project (90 credits) in one of our world-leading research laboratories as well as taking six taught modules including Advanced Laboratory Skills (providing specialised training and advanced data processing), and Advanced Topics in Biological Sciences. You will be able to choose three optional advanced modules that align with your research interests.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The educational aims of the programme are to:
- Provide you with the knowledge and understanding of biology at the frontiers of the subject.
- Provide you with a scientific, intellectual, and practical training that will enhance your employability for a career in research, and prepare you for autonomous lifelong learning.
- Enable you to experience a supportive learning environment that fosters your academic and personal development.
- Enable you to think critically, evaluate evidence, analyse, challenge, solve problems, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively.
4. Programme Structure
The MSc Advanced Biological Sciences is a one calendar-year full-time programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). The programme is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
Interim Awards
- A Postgraduate Diploma is awarded when a student gains at least 120 credits, including at least 90 at Level M on a designated programme.
- A Postgraduate Certificate is awarded when a student gains at least 60 credits including at least 45 at Level M on a designated programme.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
MSc optional modules can be selected from appropriate level modules within the Department of Biosciences, examples of modules are listed below. You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows, and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
The MSc will provide students with the necessary advanced research skills (through the Advanced Laboratory Skills and Professional Skills modules) to equip them for their research project. In addition, students will take four optional advanced level modules to give them the necessary theoretical background for their research projects. Students can elect to have a specialism in their degree title; consult section 7 below.
Stage 1
120 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOM560 | Research Project | 90 | Yes |
| BIOM509 | Professional Skills | 15 | No |
| BIOM549 | Advanced Laboratory Skills | 15 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRes-MSc Advanced Biological Sciences optional modules 2023-4 | |||
| BIOM515 | Cellular Basis of Immunity | 15 | No |
| BIOM516 | Bioinformatics | 15 | No |
| BIOM525 | Molecular Basis of Infection | 15 | No |
| BIOM534 | Medical Mycology | 15 | No |
| BIOM543 | Ecology of Environmental Change | 15 | No |
| BIOM544 | Ecotoxicology | 15 | No |
| BIOM545 | Frontiers in Plant Biology | 15 | No |
| BIOM546 | Living in a Microbial World | 15 | No |
| BIOM547 | Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology | 15 | No |
| BIOM548 | Cell Biology of Disease | 15 | No |
| BIOM551 | Biology of Marine Vertebrates | 15 | No |
| BIOM553 | Current Issues in Marine Biology | 15 | No |
| BIOM554 | Advanced Applications of Physiology | 15 | No |
| BIOM562 | Sustainable Land Use in Grassland Agriculture | 15 | No |
| BIOM563 | Crop Security | 15 | No |
| BIOM567 | Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease | 15 | No |
| BIOM568 | Blue Planet | 15 | No |
| CSC4005 | Pharmacogenomics | 15 | No |
| CSC4007 | Medical Genomics | 15 | No |
| NSCM005 | Mathematical Modelling in Biology and Medicine | 15 | No |
| PSYM205 | Advances and Methods in Animal Behaviour | 30 | No |
| PSYM213 | Current Research Issues in Animal Behaviour | 15 | No |
| BIOM555 | Bioimaging | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Explain systematically current problems and/or new insights in biosciences. |
| The programme uses a diversity of assessment methods such as:
|
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
5. Collate and synthesise information from multiple sources | As above | As above |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
9. Solve problems by the application of appropriate scientific principles and methods | As above | As above |
7. Programme Regulations
Programme-specific Award Rules
Our flexible programme enables you to choose either a specific pathway or a selection of modules, which might be at a much later date than date of entry to the MSc Advanced Biological Sciences. All students graduate with an MSc Advanced Biological Sciences, but if you elect to specialise, you will have one of the following pathways named in your degree title:
*You cannot choose this module if you have already taken the undergraduate version
Animal Biology
The programme comprises modules of at least 45 credits from the specialist modules listed below, and the BIOM560 Research Project must be relevant to the field of Animal Biology.
|
Code |
Module Title |
Credits |
Compulsory |
Non-Condonable |
|
BIOM551 |
Biology of Marine Vertebrates* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM553 |
Current Issues in Marine Biology* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM554 |
Advanced Applications of Physiology* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
PSYM205 |
Advances and Methods in Animal Behaviour |
30 |
N |
N |
|
PSYM213 |
Current Research Issues in Animal Behaviour |
15 |
N |
N |
Bioinformatics
The programme comprises modules of at least 45 credits from the specialist modules listed below, and the BIOM560 Research Project must be relevant to the field of Bioinformatics.
|
Code |
Module Title |
Credits |
Compulsory |
Non-Condonable |
|
BIOM516 |
Bioinformatics* |
15 |
Y |
N |
|
BIOM567 |
Applications of Genomics in Infectious Disease |
15 |
Y |
N |
|
CSC4007 |
Medical Genomics |
15 |
N |
N |
|
CSC4005 |
Pharmacogenomics |
15 |
N |
N |
|
HPDM041 |
Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis |
15 |
N |
N |
|
NSCM005 |
Mathematical Modelling in Biology and Medicine |
15 |
N |
N |
Ecotoxicology
The programme comprises modules of at least 45 credits from the specialist modules listed below, and the BIOM560 Research Project must be relevant to the field of Ecotoxicology.
|
Code |
Module Title |
Credits |
Compulsory |
Non-Condonable |
|
BIOM568 |
Blue Planet |
15 |
Y |
N |
|
BIOM544 |
Ecotoxicology* |
15 |
Y |
N |
|
BIOM543 |
Ecology of Environmental Change* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM554 |
Advanced Applications of Physiology* |
15 |
N |
N |
Frontiers in Plant Science
The programme comprises the specialist modules listed below, and the BIOM560 Research Project must be relevant to the field of Frontiers in Plant Science.
|
Code |
Module Title |
Credits |
Compulsory |
Non-Condonable |
|
BIOM545 |
Frontiers in Plant Biology* |
15 |
Y |
N |
|
BIOM546 |
Living in a Microbial World* |
15 |
Y |
N |
|
GEOM149 |
Green Planet | 15 | Y | N |
Microbiology and Infectious Disease
The programme comprises modules of at least 45 credits from the specialist modules listed below, and the BIOM560 Research Project must be relevant to the field of Microbiology and Infectious Disease.
|
Code |
Module Title |
Credits |
Compulsory |
Non-Condonable |
|
BIOM525 |
Molecular Basis of Infection* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM515 |
Cellular Basis of Immunity* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM534 |
Medical Mycology |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM567 |
Applications of Genomics in Infectious Disease |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM546 |
Living in a Microbial World |
15 |
N |
N |
Molecular and Cellular Biology
The programme comprises modules of at least 45 credits from the specialist modules listed below, and the BIOM560 Research Project must be relevant to the field of Molecular and Cellular Biology.
|
Code |
Module Title |
Credits |
Compulsory |
Non-Condonable |
|
BIOM525 |
Molecular Basis of Infection* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM515 |
Cellular Basis of Immunity* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM547 |
Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM548 |
Cell Biology of Disease* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
NSCM009 |
Bioimaging |
15 |
N |
N |
Sustainable Aquaculture
The programme comprises modules of at least 45 credits from the specialist modules listed below, and the BIOM560 Research Project must be relevant to the field of Sustainable Aquaculture.
|
Code |
Module Title |
Credits |
Compulsory |
Non-Condonable |
|
BIOM568 |
Blue Planet |
15 |
Y |
N |
|
BIOM551 |
Biology of Marine Vertebrates* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM553 |
Current Issues in Marine Biology* |
15 |
N |
N |
|
BIOM554 |
Advanced Applications of Physiology* |
15 |
N |
N |
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Biosciences offers you regular meetings with your personal tutor and your project supervisor. Your personal tutor will provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme, supporting your academic and personal development and providing you with pastoral support as required (e.g. relating to accommodation, financial difficulties, wellbeing and sickness). Your project supervisor will provide you with tailored support throughout the duration of your research project. In addition, you can expect reasonable access to all other teaching staff through appointments, whilst the Programme Director in Biosciences will act as your first point of contact for programme-related queries.
Learning resources: The Biosciences website includes the student handbook, and in addition each module will be supported electronically through the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) where lecture notes, reading lists and assessment details will be provided. You will also be able to follow your record of achievement through the student record tab on the MyExeter student portal.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MSc Advanced Biological Sciences
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 01/03/2021 |
Date of last revision | 23/11/2023 |
|---|
