Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) BSc (Hons)

First Year Module in Focus: Health and Disease

This module will survey the epidemiology of the most common human diseases contracted in developed nations, give insight into the pathophysiology of these conditions and an overview of modern treatments. Finally, given estimates of the general effect of genetics versus environment on our health, we cover life-style strategies to minimise, delay and perhaps avoid the contraction of these diseases. The module also focuses on the development of skills essential for working in a multidisciplinary team in the medical or biosciences whatever your vocation.

Second Year Module in Focus: Molecular and Cellular Biology

This module concentrates on practical aspects of molecular biology. In the first semester you will work in a group to attempt an ambitious experiment that takes place over 11 weeks. Starting with DNA sequence from the Human Genome Project you will design a method of isolating a human leukaemia-associated gene, place the gene’s DNA into a bacterial plasmid, sequence the gene to ensure it is correct then engineer bacteria to make this human leukaemia-associated protein.

In the second semester you will explore in depth the mechanics of the cell and how it communicates with its environment, looking in detail of the apparatus of cell signalling. This topic is of great importance as it underpins much research into the molecular genetics of many diseases, for example cancer.

Third Year Module in Focus: Genomics and Bioinformatics

This module centres on developing a deeper understanding of how cancer develops, which includes the biochemical and molecular basis of DNA mutation, epigenetics, metastasis and much more. For the practical sessions, we use an authentic learning approach in which you will operate as a diagnostic team member. By evaluating case histories and analysing samples in the laboratory, you will diagnose and determine the treatment strategy for a mock cancer patient. This module provides our students with an opportunity to develop their team working and presentation skills.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars and laboratory practicals. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities, such as the discussion of case studies. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures, which involve guest speakers. Our laboratory practicals involve individual and group project work which develops subject specific skills that employers value such as molecular biology, enzymology & immunology techniques.

In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of a course.

You have an opportunity to undertake a subject specific extension module in your final year, as well as work experience, which could be in the form of a summer research assistant within one of our research groups.

Contact time

In a typical week, students will have at least 12 contact hours of teaching, most of which will be on campus. The precise contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected and in the final year there is normally slightly less contact time to allow students to focus on their research project.

Typically, class contact time will be structured around:

• 4 hours of lectures/seminars
• 7 hours of supervised laboratory practicals
• 1 hour of group workshops
• 1 hour of Study Skills (Year 1 only)

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 22 hours of personal self-study per week. Typically, this will involve, reading journal articles and book chapters, practicing online workshop material and questions, working on group projects, undertaking research in the library and online, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, technical staff and laboratory demonstrators.

Teaching is informed by our research. All lecturers in Biological Sciences are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy or working towards this. You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or 'formative' assignments. Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.

Assessment methods include, practical and laboratory reports, essays, presentations such as oral and poster, practical skills tests and workbooks, in class tests, end of semester examinations, as well as a final year independent studies project.

Feedback

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback on examination performance is available upon request from the module leader. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.