2023/24 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

MBiol, BSc Zoology (Integrated Masters)

Total credits: 480

Entry requirements:

A-level: AAA, including Biology and preferably another science or science-related subject (Science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics or Science-related subjects: PE, computing, environmental science, food science, geography, geology, psychology, science in society, statistics, use of mathematics). General Studies and Critical Thinking excluded.

Applicants taking a Science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement. When an applicant is taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or the Cambridge International Project Qualification (Cambridge IPQ) this can be considered alongside A-levels and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A-levels, this would be ABB at A-level and grade A in the EPQ (BSc applicants) or AAB and grade A in the EPQ (MBiol applicants).
- GCSE: Grade 6 (B) or above at GCSE Maths and Grade 4 (C) or above at GCSE English.
- IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent English language qualification.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

The three year BSc programmes upon which the Integrated Masters are built meet the QAA Benchmarks and meet the QAA expectations for integrated masters programmes. There are no specified QAA Benchmarks for Integrated Masters degrees in Bioscience, however the principle of such programmes is to ensure coverage of Honours level Benchmark requirements plus ensure that the higher Masters levels objectives are met including:

Research training:
- Project-specific experimental skills
- Accessing literature
- Planning of whole organism research, including evaluation of hazards and environmental effects, and potentially writing a research proposal.
- Making oral presentations, writing reports, including critical evaluation
- Participating in colloquia

Research project:
- Implementation of planned experiments / analysis in whole organism studies
- Recording of data and their critical and /or quantitative analysis
- Dissertation
- Outcome aimed to publication standard, thus dissertation is potentially publishable paper.

Advanced studies:
- In area of specialism to support research topic
- Complementary studies outside, but cognate to, area of specialism

Problem solving:
- Development of general strategies including the identification of additional information required and problems where there is not a unique solution
- Application of advanced studies to the solutions of problems

Professional studies:
- Ethics and societal responsibilities
- Environmental impact
- Sustainability

The proportion of each activity will vary depending upon the programmes learning objectives. However, research studies (training and project) are likely to form at least one-half of the masters level study.

It is important to note that for students who may elect not to complete the fourth year of the programme, or who are advised that their performance makes it unlikely that they would be successful in completing the programme will have met the University requirements for the BSc and so will be able to graduate after 3 years.

Programme specification:

The MBiol, BSc Zoology programme offers students an excellent breadth and depth of knowledge in zoology, global change, and nature conservation, plus the exceptional experience of advanced research. The initial two years of the programme follows the existing BSc Zoology programme. Year 3 will be similar to that for students enrolled on the 3 year BSc programme but for MBiol students a 40-credit project will provide preparation for the final year. The fourth year of the programme is research focused, comprising an 90 credit research project and 30 credits of advanced research training. There is a strong emphasis on independent learning, problem solving and data analysis, taught in the context of the subject. The 4th year research project allows students to develop their research skills in greater depth and produce a report containing material of publishable quality that could contribute to a research publication.

This programme provides a curriculum driven by the whole-animal zoology research expertise within the School and is underpinned by relevant core zoological and biological modules in years 1 and 2.

Year one provides students with the fundamental biological background a zoologist needs, and allows transfer between biological courses if desired. Zoology-specific content in year 1 is provided through a field course with a whole-organism focus. Zoology-specific core topics are covered at year 2 preparing for subsequent research-led subject specialist modules in year 3. There is a compulsory field course in year 1, one compulsory and one optional field courses in year 2 and an optional field course in year 3.

Core statistical and IT and practical skills are taught in both years 1 and 2. In year 3 all students carry out an independent research project. In year 4 students will extend their specialist knowledge and research training through completion of an extended Masters level 90 credit research project and 30 credits of additional Masters level taught modules. In years 3 and 4, students will attend supervisory meetings with their research project supervisor who will guide them through their research project. The content of both projects will be specific to zoology and may include field projects, and laboratory projects.

Academic tutorials in years 1 and 2 of zoology focus on providing research skills and experience and rotate between research leaders, while the personal tutor remains the same for the full four years to provide continuity and progressive guidance. The research project-based learning in years 1 and 2 is complemented by a number of workshops to teach skills such as library use, presentation skills etc. Students will build on these over subsequent years of specialisation and training. In years 3 and 4 students will continue with their personal tutorial meetings and attend supervision meetings with their project supervisor.

The MBiol, BSc Zoology programme is one of 4 Integrated Masters programmes in the School of Biology. Differentiation of the Zoology programme at year 4 (level 5) from the others will be through the extended research project which comprises two-thirds of the final year. Research topics will be specific to Zoology and hence substantial subject-specific specialisation will be achieved through the project. In addition, specialisation will be achieved through taught module topics offered, again aligned to Zoology. There is overlap in content between the taught modules in year 4 with those offered in year 4 of the MBiol, BSc Ecology & Environment programme, which are relevant to both programme areas. The research project and the Zoology specialist modules covered during the the Zoology specialist modules covered during the different levels of study, will collectively develop both depth and breadth of knowledge in Zoology together with an exceptional experience of advanced research delivered through an integrated research project.

The mos t important values that inform the MBiol, BSc Zoology programme are to provide excellent students with the opportunity to gain substantial research training and experience through engagement with an individual research project conducted as part of a research team in an internationally recognised research laboratory.

The academic content of the MBiol, BSc Zoology programme concentrates on developing an understanding of research through the delivery and active engagement in taught components, practical skills development, data analysis and problem solving elements culminating in a major research project supported by further research and transferable skills training and career planning opportunities.

The most important intellectual skills developed in the MBiol, BSc Zoology programme are appreciation of the fundamental underpinning principles of Zoology leading through to the current state of the field informed by the research-based ethos of teaching and investigation.

The most useful practical skills, techniques and capabilities developed will be those underpinning the Zoology area, together with advanced level research skills expected of early stage PhD students.

Competency will be developed in a broad range of topics associated with Zoology combined with competence in research methodology, the development of hypothesis-driven research, the approach to the analysis of data and ability to solve problems, appropriate practical skills in the design and execution of suitable experiments, the production of publication quality outputs and the ability to communicate effectively.

The most important ways in which a student will learn are dependent upon the level of the students as they progress through the course. Initially delivery will be more research-informed teaching in lecture and seminar/tutorial and practical class settings leading to more independent research-based learning through lectures and independent study, small class teaching and project team or individual mentoring. Students will progress from the development of research-based practical skills in teaching labs to the design and execution of independent research work.

On completing the MBiol, BSc Zoology programme we want students to know and understand their programme specialist subject from basic principles through to cutting edge research, and to appreciate the process of research and to be able to demonstrate implementation of these principles.

This programme will provide graduates with the ability to compete worldwide with other graduates for high-quality research opportunities within appropriate industries or for PhD positions to pursue research careers.

Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Students will be required to study 120 credits.

Compulsory modules:

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Candidates must take at least 20 credits and up to 30 credits from the following optional modules:

Discovery modules:

Students may select up to 10 credits of discovery modules.

Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits.

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Candidates will be required to study a minimum of 40 credits and a maximum of 50 credits from the following optional modules.

Candidates will be required to study 20 or 30 credits from the following optional modules:

Discovery modules:

Candidates may study up to 10 credits of discovery modules.

Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits.

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module:

Optional modules:

Candidates will be required to study a minimum of 50 credits and a maximum of 60 credits from the following optional modules:

Discovery modules:

Students may select up to 10 credits of discovery modules.

Year4 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study a minimum of 120 credits.

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module:

Optional modules:

Candidates will be required to study between 30 credits of advanced research training from the following optional modules:

In order to take BIOL5126M Practical Bioinformatics, a student must have taken one of the following: BLGY3152, BLGY3246 or BLGY3251

Last updated: 15/09/2023 09:23:58

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