Department of Life Sciences Course Catalogue 2025/26
USSL-AFM11: MBiol(Hons) Biology
Route: MBiol(Hons) Biology
Leading to the award of MASTER OF BIOLOGY
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Normal course duration: 4 Years
[Page last updated: 15 May 2025]
Applicable assessment regulations: | Undergraduate assessment regulations - /publications/undergraduate-assessment-regulations/ |
Approved exemptions: | None |
Coexistent Masters course?: | Yes |
DACS and exit awards: | USSL-AFB11: BSc(Hons) Biology is the designated alternative course (DAC).
Transfer to DAC is possible in years 1 or 2 if co-existent master's progression threshold is not met.
Exit awards:
BSc(Hons) Biology. Overall course average: weighted stage 1 0%, stage 2 32%, final stage 68%
Diploma of Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education
|
Weighting towards final award by stage: | Stage 1: 0%
Stage 2: 16%
Stage 3: 34%
Final Stage: 50% |
Please consult your course handbook or contact your Director of Studies for further information on assessment regulations
Academic Year: Stage 1
Compulsory Units:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL12002 | Cell biology | 10 Credits |
| SL12003 | Genetics | 10 Credits |
| SL12005 | Core skills for bioscience | 10 Credits |
| SL12006 | Practical research skills in biology | 10 Credits |
| SL12007 | Biodiversity | 10 Credits |
| SL12008 | Principles of ecology and evolution | 10 Credits |
Notes: - 好色tv and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
- This course catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this programme, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
- Assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how assessment regulations were applied to this course in previous academic years, please contact the relevant Director of Studies.
- Availability of units is subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
|
Students must select options worth 30 credits in year 2 of this course, taking a balanced number of credits in each semester, either by choosing three all-year 10-credit options, or two all year options and a 5-credit option in each semester, or one all year option and two 5-credit options in each semester.
NB. You may not choose both MA12029 and MA12031 or both SL22040 and SL22043 as these units are forbidden combinations. |
Academic Year: Stage 2
Compulsory Units:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL22017 | Advanced skills for bioscience | 10 Credits |
| SL22018 | Evolution and phylogeny | 10 Credits |
| SL22019 | Genomics and genetics | 10 Credits |
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 30 credits from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| MA12029 | Mathematical methods for the life sciences 1 | 10 Credits |
| SL22014 | Dynamic cell | 10 Credits |
| SL22023 | Infection and immunity | 10 Credits |
| SL22039 | Cancer biology and molecular medicine | 10 Credits |
| SL22041 | Gene regulation and vertebrate development | 10 Credits |
Semester 1: Stage 2
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 15 credits from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| MA12031 | Mathematical methods for the life sciences | 5 Credits |
| SL22038 | Behavioural ecology | 5 Credits |
| SL22046 | Plant infection and immunity | 5 Credits |
| SL22047 | Plant physiology and biochemistry | 5 Credits |
Semester 2: Stage 2
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 10 credits from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL22040 | Field course | 5 Credits |
| SL22043 | Modern methods in biology | 5 Credits |
| SL22048 | Plant signalling and development | 5 Credits |
Notes: - 好色tv and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
- This course catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this programme, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
- Assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how assessment regulations were applied to this course in previous academic years, please contact the relevant Director of Studies.
- Availability of units is subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
|
You must select units worth 45 credits from the options available in this course year, including:
- At least 20 (and a maximum of 40) credits of lecture-based options
- One unit (5 credits) from the lists Biological ethics, Science communication, and Grand challenge units
- A maximum of 20 credits of Current topics units
- No more than 10 credits of education units (units with codes beginning ED)
|
| TOPICS - Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 20 credits from the combination of the following lists: |
Semester 1: Stage 3
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL32065 | Current topics (1 topic) | 5 Credits |
| SL32067 | Current topics (2 topics) | 10 Credits |
Semester 2: Stage 3
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL32066 | Current topics (1 topic) | 5 Credits |
| SL32068 | Current topics (2 topics) | 10 Credits |
| LECTURES - Select a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 credits from the combination of the following lists: |
Academic Year: Stage 3
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 3 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL32055 | Developmental and stem cell biology | 10 Credits |
| SL32071 | Entrepreneurial biotechnology | 10 Credits |
| SL32074 | Infectious diseases | 10 Credits |
| SL32075 | Micro- and macroevolution | 10 Credits |
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| ED32016 | Science education: theory and practice | 10 Credits |
Semester 1: Stage 3
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| MA22034 | Mathematical methods for the life sciences 2 | 5 Credits |
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| ED32015 | Science education in practice | 5 Credits |
Semester 2: Stage 3
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 2 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| MA22035 | Mathematical biology: ecology and epidemiology | 5 Credits |
| MN32184 | Business strategy | 5 Credits |
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| ED32014 | Issues in science education | 5 Credits |
| NON-LECTURE - Select 1 unit(s) from the combination of the following lists: |
Semester 1: Stage 3
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL32057 | Biological ethics | 5 Credits |
| SL32072 | Grand challenge | 5 Credits |
| SL32076 | Science communication | 5 Credits |
Semester 2: Stage 3
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1 units from the following list:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL32058 | Biological ethics | 5 Credits |
| SL32073 | Grand challenge | 5 Credits |
| SL32077 | Science communication | 5 Credits |
Academic Year: Stage 3
Must Pass Units:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL32026 | Dissertation | 10 Credits |
Semester 2: Stage 3
Must Pass Units:
Unit Code | Title | ECTS Credits |
| SL32027 | Advanced research techniques | 5 Credits |
Notes: - 好色tv and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
- This course catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this programme, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
- Assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how assessment regulations were applied to this course in previous academic years, please contact the relevant Director of Studies.
- Availability of units is subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
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