Course structure and teaching methods - an overview

All of our degrees combine lecture modules by research active staff in state of the art facilities, with small group tutorials, practicals, independent project work and the opportunity for field courses.  This page provides an overview of how the different elements combine to produce a degree course that is both varied, and structured to encourage your academic development and independence.

Overview of years 1-3 (BSc and MBiolSci)

Our courses are modular and are taught in a two-semester year, each semester comprising two six week blocks (12 weeks of teaching) and a three-week assessment period. The first semester starts in late September, with teaching ending before Christmas and with examinations and assessments in January-February. The second semester starts immediately after this assessment period and consists of two blocks of teaching, one before and one after the Easter vacation and these are assessed in May-June each year.

In all three years, you will do 3-5 modules each semester, spending up to 15 hours a week in lectures and laboratory classes. In your first and second years these will be complemented by fortnightly small-group tutorials (6 students with one academic member of staff).

In Year 1 a broad range of courses are available, with some choice of modules within biology, and also in other subjects from elsewhere in the University (which could include things as diverse as psychology, geography, languages, archaeology).  A strong common core of biology modules means that it is generally possible to change between most APS degree courses at the end of the first year if you wish to do so.  In Years 2 and 3 there is an increased range of modules to choose from, and increased flexibility over your choices, particularly with the Biology degree, which allows the widest range of options. 

In Year 3, your practical classes and tutorials are replaced by a lab/field-based research project (in the first semester) and a library-based dissertation (in the second semester). In each case, you join 3-6 other students working under the supervision of one member of academic staff to carry out a research investigation, either as a group or individually.

Over the past 5 years the drop-out rate of students on our courses has been less than 3%, which is one of the lowest in the country. It is a testimony to the success of our teaching, our regular contact with students in tutorials, and support given to those who need extra help.

Overview of year 4 (MBiolSci)

Our 4-year MBiolSci degrees add and extra year to the 3-year BSc courses and provide specialist, advanced training in research. The fourth year is spent undertaking a major independent research project, following a detailed critical review of the recent literature relevant to the subject (dissertation). The research project and dissertation are undertaken in one of the Department's research groups (see below) and each student works one on one under the supervision of a research-active member of staff in their chosen area of specialisation. In addition, there are advanced modules in critiquing cutting edge science, science communication, grant preparation, the design and analysis of experiments, and bio-ethics.

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Lectures

Lectures form a core component of subject-based learning.  All our academic staff teach, and you will hear about a wide range of topics, from experts in the field drawing on the understanding and interest, resulting from their own research activities.  Lectures are taught in a well equipped range of lecture rooms in, or within a few minutes walk of, the Department.  Lecture sessions themselves are complemented by your own reading and study around the topic.  You will get plenty of direction in this, and be well supported in the practical resources (study space, books, printed and online journals) provided in facilities such as the Information Commons.

• Go to the Information Commons web pages

Practicals

Practicals are mainly laboratory based, though some have a field component.  The practical modules run independently of individual lecture modules, and the particular combination of practical modules you do will be tailored to the requirements of the degree you are taking.  The emphasis in practicals is in becoming familiar with key techniques, equipment, and investigative approaches.  You will work, typically in pairs, in well equipped labs, and get direct, hands-on, experience of a wide range of the practical methods used in modern biology.

Field courses

We offer a dynamic and exciting range of optional field courses in the UK and abroad. These include courses in the Peak District, Anglesey, Ireland, Sweden, Portugal and Malaysian Borneo. The focus of the field courses is on carrying out biological research in the field. Lasting 1-2 weeks, the courses train you in observation and pattern identification, hypothesis generation and experimental design, data analysis, presentation and writing.

• Find out more about field courses

Tutorials

In Years 1 and 2 you will have fortnightly tutorials, as part of a small group (5-7 students) with a member of academic staff.  The tutorials help you to develop independent learning and science communication skills, as well as providing contact with a member of staff and pastoral care. These small-group tutorials provide opportunities to discuss ethical issues and the wider importance of biology in science and society. Your tutor will also provide detailed feedback on essays, presentations and other assignments to further your academic development.  In Year 3 your project/dissertation supervisor will also act as your personal tutor.

Research projects

Research within the Department is organised into three themes. These are: Ecology and Environment, Evolution and Behaviour, and Plant and Microbial Biology. At Levels 3 and 4 you will carry out research projects under the supervision of individual members of staff from these research groups. To get an idea of the range of research topics studied in each group - and hence what research options may be open to you - you can visit the Research Groups web pages, see which staff are in which group, and what their key research interests are.

• Go to the Research Groups web pages

Work skills and experience

The generic and subject-specific skills you will learn during the course of your degree are key for many different sorts of graduate jobs.  There are a number of different ways in which you can gain experience in applying and further developing these skills in the workplace, before you finish your degree.  There are often opportunities for gaining lab and field experience  through summer work opportunities on research projects in the Dept, but there are also a range of other opportunities for gaining work experience through the University, including the option of adding a year's employment placement to your degree.

• Find out about work skills and experience opportunities

Online resources

We make extensive use of the University's web-based learning environment (MOLE), to provide support for teaching and skills development at many different levels.  These include providing the supporting materials for lectures (e.g., slides, references, podcasts), resources for practicals (e.g., data, information sheets),  self-test assessments for revision, and online courses, or assessments, for particular practical skills.  These resources can be accessed  from anywhere at any time.

Assessment

Final degree results are determined by work in levels 2 and 3, with a minimum of 56% from course work and the remainder from examinations. Forms of course work assessment include essays, laboratory, field and project reports, presentations, problem-solving and IT exercises.