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Department of Biology & Biochemistry Programme Catalogue 2022/3


USBB-AFM07: MBiol(Hons) Biology


Leading to the award of MASTER OF BIOLOGY


Mode of Attendance: Full-time


Normal course duration: 4 Years

[Page last updated: 18 May 2022]


Assessment Regulations
Applicable NFAAR appendices:
Part 1 Stage 1: Main Assessment Appendix 15; Supplementary Assessment Appendix 16
Part 2 Stage 2: Main Assessment Appendix 23; Supplementary Assessment Appendix 24
Part 2 Stage 3: Main Assessment Appendix 23; Supplementary Assessment Appendix 24
Part 3 Stage 4: Main Assessment Appendix 27; Supplementary Assessment Appendix 28
Approved exemptions:
None
Coexistent Masters course?:
Yes
DAPS and exit awards:
USBB-AFB03: BSc (hons) Biology
USBB-AFL03: Diploma of Higher Education [exit award]
USBB-AFC03: Certificate of Higher Education [exit award]
Transfer to DAP possible from study years as follows: Year 1: Yes; Year 2: Yes; Year 3: No; Year 4: No;
NFAAR version applicable:
NFAAR-UG
Weighting towards final award by stage:
Part 1 Stage 1: 0%
Part 2 Stage 2: 16%
Part 2 Stage 3: 34%
Part 3 Stage 4: 50%

Please consult your programme handbook or contact your Director of Studies for further information on assessment regulations


Jump to:

Year 1

Academic Year: Part 1 Stage 1

Compulsory Units:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB10216 Practical research and academic skills for biologists 12 Credits
BB10264 Cell biology 12 Credits
BB10265 Ecology & evolution 12 Credits
BB10266 The life of Earth 12 Credits

Semester 1: Part 1 Stage 1

Compulsory Units:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB10007 Genetics 6 Credits

Semester 2: Part 1 Stage 1

Compulsory Units:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB10215 Biochemistry for biologists 6 Credits

Notes:

  • Programmes and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • This programme catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this programme, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
  • NFAAR assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of NFAAR documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how the NFAAR was applied to this programme 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.


Year 2

Students must select 54 credits from the options available in Year 2 of this programme.

Semester 1: Part 2 Stage 2

Optional Units: Select a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 units from the following list:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB20023 Cancer biology 6 Credits
BB20024 The dynamic cell 1 6 Credits
BB20030 Plant physiology & biochemistry 6 Credits
BB20032 Plant symbiosis & pathology 6 Credits
BB20040 Concepts in evolution 6 Credits
BB20149 Molecular genetics of vertebrate development 6 Credits
BB20202 Infection and immunity I: microbiology 6 Credits
BB20219 Genomics 1 6 Credits
MA10201 Modelling the dynamics of life 1 6 Credits

Semester 2: Part 2 Stage 2

Compulsory Units:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB20153 Data interpretation 6 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 units from the following list:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB20025 Practical molecular biology 6 Credits
BB20027 Infection and immunity II: immunology 6 Credits
BB20028 Molecular and cellular neuroscience 6 Credits
BB20031 Plant biotechnology 6 Credits
BB20160 The dynamic cell 2 6 Credits
BB20173 Behaviour & ecology 6 Credits
BB20220 Genomics 2 6 Credits
BB20226 Field course 6 Credits
MA10202 Modelling the dynamics of life 2 6 Credits

Notes:

  • Programmes and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • This programme catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this programme, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
  • NFAAR assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of NFAAR documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how the NFAAR was applied to this programme 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.


Year 3

Students must select 48 credits from the options available in Year 3 of this programme. A maximum of 36 credits (including those from compulsory units) may be taken in any semester.

Academic Year: Part 2 Stage 3

Designated Essential Units:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB30259 Research design and project preparation 12 Credits

Semester 1: Part 2 Stage 3

Optional Units: Select a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 units from the following list:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB30129 Sensory and signalling networks in plants 6 Credits
BB30208 Evolutionary quantitative genetics 6 Credits
BB40128 The evolution of genetic systems 6 Credits
BB40134 Molecular phylogenetics 6 Credits
BB40139 Pathogenesis and immune evasion by microbes 6 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 2 units from the following list:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB30123 Biological ethics 6 Credits
BB30229 Genetic basis of inherited diseases 6 Credits
BB40124 Human developmental disorders 6 Credits

Semester 2: Part 2 Stage 3

Optional Units: Select a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 units from the following list:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB30063 Vaccines and other health interventions 6 Credits
BB30067 Advanced developmental genetics 6 Credits
BB30156 Conservation biology 6 Credits
BB30161 Developmental neurobiology 6 Credits
BB30169 Concepts in systems biology 6 Credits
BB40117 Microbial evolution - from the laboratory to nature 6 Credits
BB40140 Plant biotechnology & the environment 6 Credits
MN30076 Business strategy 6 Credits
Optional Units: Select a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 2 units from the following list:
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
BB30131 Evolution in deep time 6 Credits
BB30132 Sexual conflict 6 Credits
BB40118 Current topics in gene regulation and cell differentiation 6 Credits
BB40133 Plant responses to abiotic stress 6 Credits

Notes:

  • Programmes and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • This programme catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this programme, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
  • NFAAR assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of NFAAR documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how the NFAAR was applied to this programme 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.


Year 4

This is a new course for which only Years 1, 2 and 3 are being delivered in 2022/3. Year 4 of the course will be added to these catalogues in 2023/4.

Notes:

  • Programmes and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • This programme catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this programme, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
  • NFAAR assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of NFAAR documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how the NFAAR was applied to this programme 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.