INDEX
School of Biological Sciences contacts & information
Advice on choosing course units
Changing course units
Online Health & Safety Course Unit
Workload
Reading Lists
Examinations
Use of Dictionaries in Examinations
Examination Timetables
Examination Results/Transcripts
University Examinations Policies and Information
Help with English – The University Language Centre
Key Dates
Semester Dates & Holidays
| 2019/20 academic year | |
| Semester 1 starts | 16 September 2019 |
| Christmas break starts | 13 December 2019 |
| Christmas break ends | 19 January 2020 |
| Semester 1 exams | 13–24 January 2020 |
| Semester 1 ends | 25 January 2020 |
| Semester 2 starts | 27 January 2020 |
| Easter break starts | 30 March 2020 |
| Easter break ends | 19 April 2020 |
| Semester 2 exams | 11 May – 5 June 2020 |
| Semester 2 ends | 5 June 2020 |
Deadlines for changing course units:
Level 1 course units: end of the second week of teaching in each semester
Level 2 course units: end of the second week of teaching in each semester
Final level course units: end of the second week of each ‘early’ semester unit; end of the first week of each ‘late’ semester unit
Examination results:
Semester 1 examinations: late February
Semester 2 examinations: mid July
Resit examinations: mid-September
Transcripts:
Semester 1 only students: Students will receive an Interim Transcript at the end of February and will be able to access their official transcripts online in August (via the Digitary service: http://www.graduation.manchester.ac.uk/after-youve-graduated/copies-of-degree-certificates-and-transcripts/). If hard copies are required, students will be able to order these from the central transcripts team – contact details in the above link.
Semester 2 and full year students: Students will be able to access their official transcripts online in August (via the Digitary service: http://www.graduation.manchester.ac.uk/after-youve-graduated/copies-of-degree-certificates-and-transcripts/). If hard copies are required, students will be able to order these from the central transcripts team – contact details in the above link.
School of Biological Sciences contacts & information
The Incoming Exchange Coordinator for the School of Biological Sciences is Anne Pinkerton (anne.pinkerton@manchester.ac.uk).
Biological Sciences Student Support Office – Opening hours: 08.30 – 17.00 Monday to Friday
Room G.483 Stopford Building
Email: studentsupportoffice.sbs@manchester.ac.uk
Telephone number: 0161 2751487
For general information about studying at the University and living in Manchester, please visit the University’s main website at www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/
Full versions of the undergraduate handbooks can be found here: https://handbooks.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/2019-20/sbs/undergraduate/
Information of particular interest to international students can be found at www.manchester.ac.uk/international/
Your responsibilities as a Biological Sciences student
It is important that all students should have the best possible learning experience throughout their course and that this should not be disrupted by fellow students. To ensure this happens,
we expect you to:
- Show consideration in your behaviour towards other students, and towards the University staff, including administrative, technical and academic staff and occasional lecturers.
- Participate fully in all timetabled teaching/examining sessions.
- Ensure that you do not commit yourself to other activities which interfere with your ability to devote sufficient time to your studies.
- You should check your email account on a daily basis. You should make sure that any change of address is notified promptly.
- Attend lectures: this is the best way for you to understand the unit content and the context of the material you are expected to cover. Lecture notes only show a small part of the material, and the background explanations, being presented by the lecturer. Make use of the supplementary material available via Blackboard.
- Behave in lectures, labs, clinics, and in the learning support areas of the University in an appropriate manner. e.g. arriving on time, not talking in lectures, not using mobile phones or tablets to make calls, send texts/email, and use social media sites.
- Respect the general health and safety requirements that apply to all work in laboratories and clinics, and any additional advice given to you in relation to particular procedures. You should ensure that you wear clothing appropriate to the laboratory.
Collecting your Student Card
Once you have registered fully online, you can collect your student ID card from the Student Services Centre, number 57 on the campus map. WHEN COLLECTING YOUR CARD, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR PASSPORT/ID CARD WITH YOU. If you require a bank letter to open a bank account you can request one when you collect your student ID card.
Further details about collecting student cards can be found here: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/arrival/
Choosing course units
Information on the course units offered by the School of Biological Sciences can be found on our website at https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visiting-students/
Each module guide includes descriptions of the course units, how many credits they carry, assessment details, preliminary reading etc.
Semesters – Course units ending in ‘1’ e.g. BIOL31301 take place in semester 1 only and course units ending in ‘2’ e.g. BIOL21132, take place in semester 2 only. Course units ending in ‘0’ run during both semesters. Please bear this in mind when choosing your course units, especially if you are applying to come to Manchester for one semester only – if your exchange is for a single semester rather than a full year you may only choose course units ending with the relevant semester number. Most of our units are worth 10 UK credits but you should check the individual course unit specifications for their credit ratings.
You should take no more than 120 UK credits (60 ECTS credits) for a full academic year, and no more than 60 UK credits (30 ECTS credits) for a single semester. Most course units are 10 UK credits each, however, some units do carry more credits (e.g. project units, some HSTM units). Please check credit values when you are selecting units to ensure you will have an appropriate workload i.e. 50-60 UK credits per semester.
Students are required to attend lectures, seminars, practicals and tutorials, according to the individual course unit requirements.
Advice on Choosing Course Units
Please ensure that you discuss your choice of course units with the academic adviser at your home University. You must make sure that the units you take at The University of Manchester are approved for credit transfer.
When choosing your units, you should also bear in mind that you may be unable to take certain combinations of units due to ‘clashes’ (units taking place at the same time, on the same day). You may therefore find it helpful to select some additional units in advance as alternatives.
Timetables for the relevant academic year and timetables will be sent to you by email prior to your School registration meeting to assist you in choosing your course units as accurately as possible before you arrive at the University.
Changing Course Units
You can change, add or drop course units after registering on them, but only within the first two weeks of the unit (see ‘Key Dates’ page), and subject to the availability of other course units.
You must seek approval from your home Coordinator if you wish to change any of the course units.
Online Health & Safety Course Unit
As part of your induction to the School of Biological Sciences you are required to complete an online Health & Safety course, BIOL12000. You will be automatically enrolled on this course unit. The course is compulsory and will be accessed via Blackboard (see section below on ‘eLearning’). The course does not carry any credits but will be assessed.
The purpose of the course is to:
- Provide you with appropriate information on the health & safety policies and procedures in place
- Encourage good practice and set a high standard of health and safety at all times
- Ensure you are aware and understand health & safety procedures and information
- Enable you to take care of your health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions
The course is split into 3 sections (below) followed by an online assessment:
- University Standards
- On-campus health and safety
- Good lab practice do’s and don’ts
All Sections of the course are compulsory and at the end of the course you will find an assessment, which must be fully completed with 100% achieved to pass the course. You can view your scores in the ‘My grades’ tool in the left hand menu.
The Health & Safety Course must be completed by the following deadlines:
Semester 1 and Full year exchange students: 30 September
Semester 2 exchange students: 31 January
Workload
Each course unit you are enrolled on is expected to require 100 hours work, which includes 22 to 25 hours of lectures. For each hour of lectures per week, you are expected to spend a further 3 hours on personal study.
Reading Lists
Lecturers often provide a reading list for specific lectures and you should make every effort to read the articles they mention and use them to answer exam questions. Reading relevant material that you are guided to by your lecturer is an essential part of your studies and will help you to gain improved understanding and knowledge of the subject, as well as providing you with vital preparation for your exams. One lecture unit is expected to represent 100 hours of work by you, of which reading is an integral part. If you are unsure about any aspect of this, you should ask the Unit Coordinator or lecturer concerned.
Elearning (Blackboard)
As a student at the University of Manchester, you will find that most of your units contain sections of work that you have to complete online (known as electronic (e)Learning). The University uses a website-like environment for this called Blackboard.
Online eLearning support for your course means that it is easy to fit your learning into your everyday life, as you can complete the work from almost any computer in the world with an internet connection.
Your eLearning work will often have strict deadlines and marks will be awarded for successful completion of assessments. Every Blackboard course is different, so read the rules regarding the course before you start, to ensure that you don’t miss any work.
Technical support from the eLearning team is available between 9am and 5pm on all working days. This is accessible by selecting ‘eLearning Support’ and then ‘eLearning enquiries’ from the menu bar on the left of your online courses; the eLearning team will reply to your University email address.
More information on eLearning will be available on the Blackboard area of individual courses.
Laboratory Projects
Laboratory projects can be self-arranged (by you) prior to your arrival in Manchester or allocated to you shortly before you start your time in Manchester. If you wish to self-arrange a project, the best way to find a member of staff who does research of interest to you is to visit our website at:
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/ You should send an email and a one-page CV to a few prospective supervisors, highlighting your technical and lab experience. Be very clear about when you would start the project, when you would finish the project, and whether you are taking teaching units or not. Once an academic has agreed to supervise your project, you must inform Anne Pinkerton (anne.pinkerton@manchester.ac.uk) about who your supervisor will be. If you would like us to allocate a project to you, you should let Anne know which areas of research you are interested in and we will do our best to find a suitable supervisor for you.
The start time, amount and scheduling of the work will depend on your particular project and supervisor – your start and finish dates will be agreed with your supervisor before your project begins. Please note that all work in University laboratories must be supervised, with the timing agreed by mutual consent with your supervisor.
There are three course units for exchange students who wish to undertake a project:
- BIOL40031 (40 UK credits) is taken in semester 1 and represents 2 to 3 days per week during 3 months. Up to 2 lecture units will normally be taken at the same time.
- BIOL40032 (40 UK credits) is taken in semester 2 and represents 2 to 3 days per week during 3 months. Up to 2 lecture units will normally be taken at the same time.
- BIOL40030 (60 UK credits) is for full-time projects of 6 months (or less) and can be taken by students on a single semester exchange. This course unit is for students who wish to undertake a project only, with no teaching and no course units.
Structure and timing of projects
The start time, amount and scheduling of the work will depend on your particular project and supervisor – your start and finish dates will be agreed with your supervisor before your project begins.
Doing the project
You are advised to discuss the aims and objectives of the project with your supervisor before the start of the project. Agree the days and times of the week you will work on the project. This allotted time should include some time for library work, data analysis and the commencement of writing. You should not feel pressured to work more than the allotted time but may do so if both you and your supervisor consider that the benefits will outweigh the disadvantages (e.g. less time spent on unit work).
Work & Attendance
Each student’s attendance is recorded and monitored across their programme of study.
If you have entered the UK on a Tier 4 visa, continued non-attendance will result in you being reported to the UKBA – the UKBA will then cancel your visa and permission to be in the UK will be revoked.
Assessment
The majority of first semester course units are examined in January and year-long and second semester units are examined in May/June.
You are not in a position to negotiate the way you are assessed on a course unit. So if assessment is normally an examination, you must sit the examination! Please note that alternative assessment is NOT an option and you must not try to negotiate it.
It is essential that all assessed coursework is submitted on time. If you require an extension to the submission deadline of a piece of coursework, you must seek an extension BEFORE THE DAY. Further information about this can be found in the School of Biological Sciences Student Handbooks: https://handbooks.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/2019-20/sbs/undergraduate/level-1/
Examinations
January exams: Semester 1 course units – all levels
May/June exams: Semester 2 course units – all levels
As an exchange student you are registered as a full time student of the University of Manchester and, like any other students of the University, must attend the University examinations of the course units which you have enrolled on.
Exchange students who are registered for Semester 1 only are expected to attend the University examinations in January (the Semester does not end until those examinations are finished).
Only if it is impossible for these students to return to Manchester for the exams will the alternative option of assessment through an essay be available. Adequate reasons for inability to attend examinations would normally be limited to the timetable demands of the student’s home University and must be notified in advance to the Exchange Coordinator in the School of Biological Sciences by the Exchange Coordinator in the home University. Any other reasons for inability to attend examinations must be discussed in advance with the Exchange Coordinator in the School of Biological Sciences.
Exchange students who are registered for both Semesters are expected to attend all University examinations, in January and in May/June
Use of Dictionaries in Examinations
As an exchange/Jilin Tang Class student, you are permitted to use a language translation dictionary (dictionaries which give equivalent words or phrases in two languages, without further explanatory text or description) in examinations, provided your first language is not English. For further information see the University’s policy on dictionaries in exams at:
Shortly before each exam period the School will provide a letter for you confirming that you are an exchange/Jilin Tang Class student. It is your responsibility to take this letter to all examinations to certify that you may use a translation dictionary.
Please note: This type of dictionary cannot be borrowed from the University Library – you may therefore wish to purchase your own language translation dictionary in your home country or when you arrive in Manchester.
Examination Timetables
You will be able to access a personalised exam timetable shortly before the examination period. Details of how to do this will be provided at that time.
Examination Results / Transcripts
At the end of your study period in Manchester, we will provide you with a report of the results you have obtained in each course unit you have studied. Note that official transcripts cannot be sent out until all Examination Boards have taken place and marks confirmed (in August).
University Examinations Policies and Information
For information about University policies, please see:
http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/tlso/map/teachinglearningassessment/assessment/sectiond-theprocessofassessment/policyonexaminations/
Help with English (The University Language Centre)
The University Language Centre provides a range of English language support services for registered students whose first language is not English. These include classes in Academic Writing, Speaking and Listening, which are free of charge.
Further information about the Language Centre and the support offered can be found at https://www.languagecentre.manchester.ac.uk/study-english/our-courses/english-for-visiting-and-exchange-students/
Student Services Centre
The University’s Student Services Centre (SSC) is an excellent source of help and information for all students. It is located on Burlington Street (number 57 on the Campus Map) and can be contacted on Tel. +44 (0)161
The SSC also has an International Team, who can provide help and information on a range of issues that may affect you during your stay in Manchester. Details of their services can be found at http://www.manchester.ac.uk/international/supportservices/advice
Academic malpractice
These topics form an important part of the first stage of the Writing and Referencing skills modules in Y1 & 2 but general guidelines and advice are given hereunder.
Plagiarism is a serious offence – it is treated as seriously as cheating in exams.
- As a student, you are expected to cooperate in the learning process throughout your programme of study by completing assignments of various kinds that are the product of your own study or research. Coursework, dissertations and essays submitted for assessment must be your own work, unless in the case of group projects a joint effort is expected and this has been indicated by the Unit Coordinator. For most students this does not present a problem, but occasionally, whether unwittingly or otherwise, a student may commit what is known as plagiarism, or some other form of academic malpractice, when carrying out an assignment. This may come about because students have been used to different conventions in their prior educational experience or through general ignorance of what is expected of them or of what constitutes plagiarism.
- This guidance is designed to help you understand what we regard as academic malpractice and hence to help you to avoid committing it. You should read it carefully, because academic malpractice is regarded as a serious offence and students found to have committed it will be penalized. At the very least a mark of only 30% would be awarded for the piece of work in question, but it could be worse; you could be awarded zero (with or without loss of credits), fail the whole unit, be demoted to a lower class of degree, or be excluded from the programme, depending on the severity of the case.
Academic malpractice includes plagiarism, collusion, fabrication or falsification of results and anything else intended by those committing it to achieve credit that they do not properly deserve. You will be given exercises and guidance on plagiarism/academic malpractice in tutorials and if you are unsure about any aspect of this you should ask your Academic Tutor for advice. There is also information in My Learning Essentials. It is well worth visiting these sites in your spare time to ensure that you fully understand.
All students are required to confirm that they have read and agree to the University’s declaration on Academic Malpractice as part of the online registration process.
Further information on Academic Malpractice and how to avoid it can be found at www.regulations.manchester.ac.uk/guidance-to-students-on-plagiarism-and-other-forms-of-academic-malpractice/.
The University uses electronic systems for the purposes of detecting plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice and for marking. Such systems include TurnitinUK, the plagiarism detection service used by the University.
As part of the formative and/or summative assessment process, you may be asked to submit electronic versions of your work to TurnitinUK and/or other electronic systems used by the University (this requirement may be in addition to a requirement to submit a paper copy of your work). If you are asked to do this, you must do so within the required timescales.
The School also reserves the right to submit work handed in by you for formative or summative assessment to TurnitinUK and/or other electronic systems used by the University.
Please note that when work is submitted to the relevant electronic systems, it may be copied and then stored in a database to allow appropriate checks to be made.
You will be given an opportunity within the tutorials to submit a draft essay through this system, and it is very much in your best interests to do this so that you understand how it works.
Please see the document Guidance to students on plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice.
Back to topLearning Resources
My Learning Essentials
My Learning Essentials is the Library’s comprehensive programme of online resources, workshops and drop-ins designed to support you in your personal and professional development.
Workshops and drop-ins are held throughout the year and include special sessions during exams and the summer. Our online resources are available at all times, providing flexible support for your development from undergraduate to postgraduate level and beyond.
Full details of workshops and online resources can be viewed on the My Learning Essentials website.
The My Learning Essentials programme is run by The University of Manchester Library in collaboration with other services across campus.
Immigration Information
International Student Check-In (does NOT apply to EU nationals)
When you collect your Student ID card from the Student Services Centre, you will also complete a process called ‘International Student Check In’. Please make sure you take your passport/home country ID card with you when you go to collect your card, otherwise the check-in process cannot be completed. The purpose of International Student Check-In is that The University of Manchester is required by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) to scan and record passports/home country ID cards of all non-EU nationals.
Tier 4 Visa Holders
Tier 4 Visa Attendance Monitoring Census
The University operates attendance monitoring census points within the academic year in order to confirm the attendance of students holding a Tier 4 Student Visa. This is to ensure the University meets the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) statutory requirements as a sponsor of Tier 4 students and its responsibilities in accordance with its Highly Trusted Sponsor status.
If you are a Tier 4 visa holder, you must attend these attendance monitoring census points.
You will receive an e-mail to confirm when and where you should attend to confirm your attendance. You must check your University e-mail account regularly. Failure to check your e-mail account is not a valid reason to be absent from a census point.