APPLIED BIOLOGY BTEC HNC DIPLOMA (RQF)

The HNC in Applied Biology provides:

• the education and training of students and relevant personnel employed in a range of workplaces, such as veterinary and biomedical diagnostics, nutrition, laboratory analysis, research and development, education, etc.
• a standard, national, vocationally specific qualification at Level 4, which provides links to the National Occupational Standards and the professional body.
• a nationally-recognised, vocationally-specific qualification that will provide confidence to employers recruiting applied biology technologists that holders of the qualification possess the requisite knowledge, understanding and skills.
• a qualification that will be assessed to national, transparent standards and thus provide confidence to those recruiting to more advanced higher education vocational qualifications such as a full-time degree in Applied Biology or related area.
• an appropriate programme of study that ensures full understanding of the role of the applied biology technologist. This includes an understanding of the role at departmental/section level as well as an appreciation of how the role and that of the department/section fits within the overall structure of their organisation and within the scientific and local community.

You must achieve all 120 credits to be awarded a HNC in Applied Biology.

As part of your preparation for progression on to levels 5 and 6, you will be taught theory in traditional, formal lectures with a tutorial element of questions and answers to check and reinforce learning at the end of the lecture. Practical laboratory sessions will form a major element of the HNC allowing you to get “hands on” practical experience and to further develop skills such as team- working, delegating, time management and problem-solving. Assessments will include essay and report writing, practical reports, posters and short tests. Tasks will be scenario based as far as possible.

You will also develop presentation skills as part of the portfolio of assessment strategies. This is an area in which many students lack confidence but is an important skill to develop for future careers.
You will be expected to devote a significant amount of time to self-directed learning. Assessment will be both formative and summative to fully support you and help you engage with the tasks to enable the learning outcomes to be achieved. All units will be graded individually as “pass”, “merit” or “distinction”.