Biological Sciences with Professional Placement BSc

Programme structure

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

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.

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.

You may take elective modules outside of the programme up to 30 credits in Stages 2 and 4 of the programme 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.

Year 1

120 credits of compulsory modules

Compulsory modules CodeModuleCredits BIO1331Animals 15 BIO1332Biochemistry 15 BIO1333Fundamental Principles for Bioscientists 15 BIO1334Genetics 15 BIO1336Ecology 15 BIO1337Microbiology 15 BIO1338Plants 15 BIO1339Cells 15 Year 2

15 credits of compulsory modules, 105 credits of optional modules

Compulsory modules CodeModuleCredits BIO2071Research Skills and Bioethics 15 Optional modules CodeModuleCredits BIO2066Forensic Science 15 BIO2074Marine Biology 15 BIO2076Ecology and Environment 15 BIO2078Medical and General Microbiology 15 BIO2081Coral Reef Field Course 15 BIO2082Animal Ecophysiology 15 BIO2086Metabolism 15 BIO2088Advanced Cell Biology 15 BIO2089Molecular Biology of the Gene 15 BIO2090Analytical Techniques in Biochemistry 15 BIO2092Genomics and Introductory Bioinformatics 15 BIO2093Modern Theories of Evolution 15 BIO2094Molecular Microbiology 15 BIO2095Plants and People 15 BIO2096Practical Skills in Field Ecology 15 BIO2097Modelling for Biosciences 15 PSY2214Observations and Experiments in Animal Behaviour 15 PSY2217Wild Behaviour 15 Year 3

120 credits of compulsory modules

Compulsory modules CodeModuleCredits BIO3087Professional Placement and Report 105 BIO3088Learning from Professional Placement Experience 15 Year 4

45 credits of compulsory modules, 75 credits of optional modules

Compulsory modules CodeModuleCredits BIO3096Biosciences Research Project 45 Optional modules CodeModuleCredits BIO3037Ecology of Environmental Change 15 BIO3038Mammalian Biology 15 BIO3041Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 15 BIO3065Environmental Microbiology 15 BIO3067Ecotoxicology 15 BIO3077Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology 15 BIO3078Cellular Basis of Immunity 15 BIO3079Molecular Basis of Infection 15 BIO3080Microbial Effectors of Disease 15 BIO3082Science Communication 15 BIO3083Current Issues in Marine Biology 15 BIO3085Horizons of Biochemical Research 15 BIO3086Cell Biology of Disease 15 BIO3090Secondary Metabolites 15 BIO3091Animal Developmental Biology 15 BIO3092Bioinformatics 15 BIO3093Energy Metabolism 15 BIO3094Food Security: Plants, Disease and Environment 15

Read details of module requirements for our named specialisms.

The...structure is amongst the best I have seen in a British university. Each degree programme is highly coherent, but still gives students plenty of options for change.

Professor Jeffrey G Duckett, Emeritus Professor of Botany, Department of Botany, Natural History Museum External Assessor for the BSc Biological Sciences programmes.