Programme Specification for the 2023/4 academic year
MSci (Hons) Biological Sciences
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSci (Hons) Biological Sciences | Programme code | UFX4BIOBIO01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences programme is a popular and flexible degree programme, giving you the option to design either a broad-based biology degree or a more focused degree specialising in areas of biology that interest you. You will have the opportunity to follow one of three specialisms – animal biology, microbiology and infectious disease or molecular and cellular biology – and graduate with your chosen specialism named as part of your degree title if you wish (ie BSc Biological Sciences (Animal Biology) or Biological Sciences (Microbiology and Infectious Disease) or Biological Sciences (Molecular and Cellular Biology)). After a foundation first year, which covers the range of biology from molecules to ecosystems, you have significant freedom of module choice in your second and final years. Options range from forensic science to the ecology of environmental change; from mammalian biology to the molecular basis of infection; from advanced cell biology to a coral reef field course. You can shape your degree as you wish – following one of the named specialisms outlined above, or in other areas, or keeping your biological choices broad.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The general aims of this programme are:
To provide education intended to give you competence in Biosciences, and to encourage you to develop your intellectual capabilities within an institution that is committed to advancing research, scholarship and learning, and to disseminating knowledge.
More specifically, this programme aims:
- To provide you with knowledge and understanding of biology from the fundamentals to the frontiers of the subject.
- To provide you with the basic scientific, intellectual, and practical training that will prepare you for lifelong learning, and, if you wish, for a career in biosciences research.
- To enable you to think critically, evaluate evidence, analyse, challenge, solve problems, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively.
- To enable you to experience a supportive learning environment that fosters your academic and personal development.
4. Programme Structure
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.
https://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/current/modules/
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. Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the Biosciences website
You may take up to 30 credits of elective modules outside of the programme in the second and third years and up to 15 credits outside of the programme in the final year as long as you have obtained the explicit permission of the Programme Director, 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. Alternative elective modules at stage 4 may be selected from existing MSc-level modules (level 7).
You are also permitted to take the five, ten or 15 credit Professional Development Experience modules BIO3910, BIO3911 or BIO3912 in the second or final years. Registration on these modules is subject to a competitive application process. If taken, these modules will not count towards progression or award calculation.
Stage 1
120 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO1331 | Animals | 15 | No |
| BIO1332 | Biochemistry | 15 | No |
| BIO1333 | Fundamental Principles for Bioscientists | 15 | Yes |
| BIO1334 | Genetics | 15 | No |
| BIO1336 | Ecology | 15 | No |
| BIO1337 | Microbiology | 15 | No |
| BIO1338 | Plants | 15 | No |
| BIO1339 | Cells | 15 | No |
Stage 2
15 credits of compulsory modules, 105 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO2071 | Research Skills and Bioethics | 15 | Yes |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioS S2 BSc-MSci Bio opt 2023-4 | |||
| BIO2066 | Forensic Science | 15 | No |
| BIO2074 | Marine Biology | 15 | No |
| BIO2076 | Ecology and Environment | 15 | No |
| BIO2081 | Coral Reef Field Course | 15 | No |
| BIO2082 | Animal Ecophysiology | 15 | No |
| BIO2086 | Metabolism | 15 | No |
| BIO2088 | Advanced Cell Biology | 15 | No |
| BIO2089 | Molecular Biology of the Gene | 15 | No |
| BIO2090 | Analytical Techniques in Biochemistry | 15 | No |
| BIO2092 | Genomics and Introductory Bioinformatics | 15 | No |
| BIO2093 | Modern Theories of Evolution | 15 | No |
| BIO2096 | Practical Skills in Field Ecology | 15 | No |
| BIO2099 | Molecular Plant Science | 15 | No |
| BIO2101 | Advanced Microbiology | 15 | No |
| BIO2106 | Employability and Workplace Learning | 15 | No |
| CSC2004 | Medical Genetics | 15 | No |
| PSY2214 | Observations and Experiments in Animal Behaviour | 15 | No |
| PSY2217 | Wild Behaviour | 15 | No |
| CSC2026 | The Biology of Cancer | 15 | No |
Stage 3
45 credits of compulsory modules, 75 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO3096 | Biosciences Research Project | 45 | Yes |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioS SF BSc-S3 MSci Bio opt 2023-4 | |||
| BIO3037 | Ecology of Environmental Change | 15 | No |
| BIO3041 | Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry | 15 | No |
| BIO3046 | Frontiers in Plant Biology | 15 | No |
| BIO3047 | Advanced Applications of Physiology | 15 | No |
| BIO3067 | Ecotoxicology | 15 | No |
| BIO3077 | Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology | 15 | No |
| BIO3078 | Cellular Basis of Immunity | 15 | No |
| BIO3082 | Science Communication | 15 | No |
| BIO3083 | Current Issues in Marine Biology | 15 | No |
| BIO3085 | Horizons of Biochemical Research | 15 | No |
| BIO3086 | Cell Biology of Disease | 15 | No |
| BIO3092 | Bioinformatics | 15 | No |
| BIO3093 | Energy Metabolism | 15 | No |
| BIO3097 | Living in a Microbial World | 15 | No |
| NEU3003 | Psychology Applied to Health | 15 | No |
| BIO3058 | Beyond the Frontiers of Medical Mycology | 15 | No |
| BIO3059 | Molecular Biology of Bacterial Infection | 15 | No |
| ESS3506 | Sustainable Nutrition | 15 | No |
Stage 4
105 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOM569 | Research Project | 90 | No |
| BIOM527 | Research Grant Proposal | 15 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioS SF MSci Bio opt 2023-4 | |||
| BIOM514 | Secondary Metabolites | 15 | No |
| BIOM515 | Cellular Basis of Immunity | 15 | No |
| BIOM516 | Bioinformatics | 15 | No |
| BIOM517 | Energy Metabolism | 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 |
| BIOM553 | Current Issues in Marine Biology | 15 | No |
| BIOM554 | Advanced Applications of Physiology | 15 | No |
| BIOM568 | Blue Planet | 15 | No |
| BIOM555 | Bioimaging | 15 | No |
| BIOM570 | Beyond the Frontiers of Medical Mycology | 15 | No |
| BIOM571 | Molecular Biology of Bacterial Infection | 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 broadly all levels of biological organisation (molecular, cellular, organismal and ecological). | Within the programme, teaching and learning activities are designed to encourage a progressive acquisition of subject knowledge and skills by moving from study methods that have a greater degree of support and assistance towards more independent learning. The programme uses a diversity of teaching and learning methods: lectures, laboratory classes, research projects, group work and may optionally include a residential field course. Typically a 15-credit module would consist of 15-20 x 1-hour lectures in which the core subject material will be provided. The lecture notes will be available via the University of Exeter Virtual Learning Environment and references to outside reading will be made available. Laboratory classes will normally run for either 3 or 5 hours and you will be provided with a written schedule describing in detail the experimental procedures. You will normally work in groups (2-5 individuals depending on stage) with an expectation that the workload is divided equally. Some laboratory classes form the basis of assessment and require the submission of a final laboratory report. This will normally require data analysis in the form of tables and graphs. There is also an expectation that the data generated will be used in some subsequent calculations and analysis. Discussion of the findings or answers to short questions will be used to provide evidence of knowledge gained. The stage 3 research project will normally take place in the 1st term where you will undertake a project in a research group followed by production of a written report in the 2nd term. If the project is literature-based, you will normally receive feedback on a draft report before production of the written report in the 2nd term. The stage 4 research project is taken by all MSci students, and normally takes place in the 1st and 2nd term. Research will be followed by the production of a written report and oral presentation. This project is conducted alongside a research group but with a greater degree of independence than the stage 3 project. The stage 3 and stage 4 projects may be conducted alongside either the same or different research groups. However, if continuing to work alongside the same research group, the stage 4 project must be sufficiently distinct, and as a minimum be an extension of rather than a continuation of the stage 3 project. | The programme uses a diversity of formative and summative assessment methods such as: essay examinations, short answer and multiple choice tests (MCQ), practical work and reports, quantitative (numerical) problems, project reports, oral presentations. |
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: | |
6. With limited guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis, practical investigation, and enquiry within the biological sciences. | See above. | See 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: | |
8. Communicate ideas effectively and professionally by written, oral and visual means. | See above. | See above. |
7. Programme Regulations
Programme-specific Progression Rules
To progress to stage 3 you must achieve a credit-weighted stage average of at least 65% in stage 2, otherwise you will be required to transfer to the relevant 3-year BSc programme if progression criteria for this programme have been achieved.
Programme-specific Award Rules
At the end of stage 3, you may be permitted to exit with a BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences provided that you have achieved 360 credits in total, you have taken no more than 150 credits at level 4 and at least 90 credits at level 6 or 7. If you do exit with a BSc (Hons) the award will normally be based on the degree mark formed from the credit weighted average marks for stages 2 and 3 combined in the ratio 1:2 respectively.
You can graduate with specialist named variants of the standard MSci (Hons) Biological Sciences degree. The specialist named variants are Biological Sciences (Animal Biology), Biological Sciences (Microbiology and Infectious Disease), and Biological Sciences (Molecular and Cellular Biology). The conditions for graduating with a named specialism are as follows:
Single Honours in Biological Sciences (Animal Biology)
The programme comprises modules as for Single Honours Biological Sciences, including at least 90 level 5/level 6 (i.e. stage 2 and stage 3) credits from these specialist modules (which must include at least 60 credits from non-project modules) plus at least 90 level 7 (i.e. stage 4) credits:
|
Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
BIO2074 |
Marine Biology |
15 |
|
BIO2081 |
Coral Reef Field Course |
15 |
|
BIO2082 |
Animal Ecophysiology |
15 |
|
BIO2096 |
Practical Skills in Field Ecology |
15 |
|
PSY2214 |
Observations and Experiments in Animal Behaviour |
15 |
|
PSY2217 |
Wild Behaviour |
15 |
|
BIO3067 or BIOM544 |
Ecotoxicology |
15 |
|
BIO3047 or BIOM554 |
Advanced Applications of Physiology |
15 |
|
BIO3083 or BIOM553 |
Current Issues in Marine Biology |
15 |
|
BIO3096* |
Biosciences Research Project* |
45 |
|
BIOM569* |
Research Project* |
90 |
Single Honours in Biological Sciences (Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
The programme comprises modules as for Single Honours Biological Sciences, including at least 90 level 5/level 6 (i.e. stage 2 and stage 3) credits from these specialist modules (which must include at least 60 credits from non-project modules) plus at least 90 level 7 (i.e. stage 4) credits:
|
Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
BIO2089 |
Molecular Biology of the Gene |
15 |
|
BIO2092 |
Genomics and Introductory Bioinformatics |
15 |
|
BIO2101 |
Advanced Microbiology |
15 |
|
BIO3078 or BIOM515 |
Cellular Basis of Immunity |
15 |
|
BIO3079 or BIOM525 |
Molecular Basis of Infection |
15 |
|
BIO3097 or BIOM546 |
Living in a Microbial World |
15 |
|
BIO3096* |
Biosciences Research Project* |
45 |
|
BIOM569* |
Research Project* |
90 |
|
BIOM534 |
Medical Mycology |
15 |
Single Honours in Biological Sciences (Molecular and Cellular Biology)
The programme comprises modules as for Single Honours Biological Sciences, including at least 90 level 5/level 6 (i.e. stage 2 and stage 3) credits from these specialist modules (which must include at least 60 credits from non-project modules) plus at least 90 level 7 (i.e. stage 4) credits:
|
Code |
Title |
Credits |
|
BIO2088 |
Advanced Cell Biology |
15 |
|
BIO2089 |
Molecular Biology of the Gene |
15 |
|
BIO2092 |
Genomics and Introductory Bioinformatics |
15 |
|
CSC2004 |
Medical Genetics |
15 |
|
BIO3077 or BIOM547 |
Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology |
15 |
|
BIO3078 or BIOM515 |
Cellular Basis of Immunity |
15 |
|
BIO3086 or BIOM548 |
Cell Biology of Disease |
15 |
|
BIO3092 or BIOM516 |
Bioinformatics |
15 |
|
BIO3096* |
Biosciences Research Project* |
45 |
|
BIOM569* |
Research Project* |
90 |
*Projects do not automatically relate to the named specialisms. If you wish your third and final year project to count towards a named specialism you must take one that has been designated as such. Specialist designation of all modules and projects will be confirmed by Biosciences and may be granted, withdrawn or amended by the Biosciences (Streatham) Undergraduate Education Committee. In matters of specialist designation for MSci Biological Sciences, the decision of the Board of Examiners is final.
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
You will be allocated a personal tutor for the duration of your studies. Their role is to both instil in you a sense of academic rigour and thinking, and to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme. This includes working with you to decide the appropriate optional module choices, and research project areas, and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. Project supervisors provide further academic and tutorial support once you move on to the research component of the programme in stages 3 and 4. There is also a Programme Director for the MSci (Hons) in Biological Sciences who follows the cohort through to graduation and who will monitor student absences and progress, and meet any students needing additional support. You can also expect reasonable access to individual teaching staff through appointments. The Biosciences website and online Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) includes the student handbook and learning materials, and you have access to computers and printers within the University. You will also have access to the Biosciences external seminar speaker series where leading researchers are invited to give research seminars. The Biosciences Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students and staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.
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
MSci (Hons) Biological Sciences
19. UCAS Code
C103
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
[Honours] Biosciences
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 10/12/2018 |
Date of last revision | 04/04/2023 |
|---|
