Biology and Politics

Biology

Applied and Human Biology is the study of life, from the simplest organism to the complexities of the human species. By focusing on the study of the Human Being, this demanding and exciting discipline offers a revealing insight into the living world.

This course will give you a sound biological foundation, and substantial training as a human biologist. The Biology degree course at Aston University will ensure that you are given support in developing practical research skills that are relevant to the climate today. You will also develop knowledge and professional skills that will open up a wide range of career opportunities when you graduate. This course will also increase understanding of the living world and how all organisms depend on each other, with particular emphasis on the human species.

Politics

Politics will deepen your understanding of the world. You will gain knowledge about the institutions, processes and concepts of politics as well as a general insight into how these affect society, both in the UK and overseas. An understanding and awareness of politics is vital for many of today's graduates and can open many doors in the job market. It will provide you with a range of desirable skills that employers often struggle to find in a graduate, such as communication skills and critical thinking and the ability to question and evaluate data from many sources.

The course will allow you to develop understanding and perspective that can be applied in many careers. Possible careers that graduates may follow are extremely varied and may include public relations, journalism, government positions at all levels, banking, finance and many more. It also provides a good academic basis for those who later choose to take a professional qualification in law.

Key benefits

Politics

Whatever the choice of programme, the Aston approach to the study of politics is distinctive. Attention is paid to concepts, theories and methods. There is a strong European and international orientation which includes the political and administrative workings of the European Union, European government, European regionalism and country-specific subjects. The programmes aim to encourage an ability to think critically about events, ideas and institutions, and to encourage students to relate the academic study of politics to questions of public concern.

Initially students will become familiar with general concepts in political and social thought, such as democracy, power, nation, nationalism, legitimacy, the state etc. Afterwards, they will acquire a concrete knowledge of the politics of various countries, notably the UK, France, Germany, and other European countries. They will also learn about the EU as a political and administrative organisation. In addition, practical methodological and research skills are taught to analyse political problems and issues. In the final year, students will be able to select the majority of the modules to study, enabling them to focus their degree appropriately to their specific interests.

Biology

At Aston University our programmes concentrate on the biological aspects of health and welfare, with emphasis on biomedical, environmental and economic problems or challenges. All of our programmes are supported by our extensive research activities, which include immunology, microbiology, cancer studies, cell biology, molecular genetics, vaccine and drug development and pharmacology.

Teaching and assessment

You will experience a wide variety of learning and teaching methods, including:

• lectures, tutorials and seminars

• biology laboratories

• group and individual project work

• use of our extensive computing facilities

• corporate investigation and analysis

Students will be assessed in individual modules by end-of-semester (January & May/June) examinations and by assignments conducted and submitted during each session. Each module has its own method of assessment. Assessment methods include written exams, essays, presentations and projects.

Personal development

Politics

The placement year at Aston has an enviable reputation and Politics students can opt to undertake this year, providing the opportunity to develop professional skills by spending a year in paid employment. The placement year is compulsory for students choosing to study Politics with a language.

When Politics is combined with French/German, a year abroad must be spent in a French/German speaking country to develop language-based skills. Students may choose to work in a well-known and established company , or as a teaching assistant in a school abroad, or follow a university programme at one of our ERASMUS partner institutions.

When Politics is taken as a major subject, with a language as a minor, the placement year is optional. Students can choose to study Politics overseas, or carry out a work placement in the UK. Certainly, for students studying language as a minor subject, we strongly recommend that they undertake a 10 week overseas placement to develop language skills.

Aston has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK. The course will ensure that you will gain academic knowledge as well as developing a wide range of skills that are valued by employers. Aston Politics graduates are articulate and intellectually sophisticated; they are able to discuss in informed, analytical and critical ways the most important issues facing today's Europe and the world beyond.

The programmes are constantly under review to ensure that the currency and scope of the courses is suitable to today's needs and requirements of our graduates. They find employment in many different organisations and businesses, including political parties, business organisations, the Civil Service, semi-public agencies, journalism and academia.

Students are carefully prepared for the Year Abroad during their first two years at Aston, with excellent support both before and throughout the placement year. LSS has a dedicated and highly experienced placements officer, who works with students individually to help them plan and organise for this exciting and rewarding year.

Biology

We offer an optional 12 month professional work placement between year 2 and the final year of our course. A final decision about whether or not to take a placement need not be made when you apply through UCAS. You will have the option to take a Biology or a related professional placement, usually in the UK, but possibly abroad. The placement year is one of the key factors in Aston's employment success. A higher proportion of our Biology degree graduates have found employment within 6 months of graduation than those of any other British university.

This year is undertaken with some of the UK's leading companies, hospitals and research establishments. Employers value the additional knowledge, maturity and confidence that are developed during this year and students returning from placements are often better motivated and better organised because of the experience they have gained.

Graduates enter the job market with a number of desirable skills, attractive to graduate employers. You will be proficient in gathering information, conducting research and laboratory experimentation. You will have to examine and assess data, to write and prepare reports. You will have an aptitude to calculate, compute and apply formulas. Graduates of biology are also able to develop ideas and problem solve effectively, with skills in organisation and conducting research. Due to the nature of the course you will also develop a capacity to interpret technical data and build knowledge of laboratory procedures. All of these skills ensure that our graduates are sought after and well-equipped to enter the job market after graduation.

Career prospects

Politics

The programmes are constantly under review to ensure that the currency and scope of the courses is suitable to today's needs and requirements of our graduates. They find employment in many different organisations and businesses, including political parties, business organisations, the Civil Service, semi-public agencies, journalism and academia.

Biology

Graduates can choose from a wide range of careers in health, welfare, bio-medical research and the biological industries. Recent graduates have found positions in research, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, nutritional and brewing industries, environmental conservation and pollution control, scientific Civil Service, and teaching.