Degree Regulations
The degree regulations for students can be found on the University website.
If you commenced your studies before September 2012 you should consult the degree regulations for students registered on an undergraduate programme on or after 1 September 2010 (but prior to 1 September 2012) which can be found on the University website here.
| Bachelors Degree classification weighted to 120 credits |
Classification thresholds: weighted average (0 to 100 mark range) |
Boundary zone weighted average |
| First class | 70.0 | 68.0 to 69.9 |
| Upper Second class | 60.0 | 58.0 to 59.9 |
| Lower Second class | 50.0 | 48.0 to 49.9 |
| Third class | 40.0 | 37.0 to 39.9 |
Note, unlike the BSc degrees, it is not possible to attain a 3rd class for an MSci degree. Consequently, MSci students who obtain a final mark of less than 50% will fail the MSci degree. However, you will be able to graduate with BSc(Hons) degree based on your performance during your first three years.
Assessments and examinations
MSci degrees
In order to progress from year three to year four, MSci students must gain an overall average of no less than 60% and marks of at least 40% in 2/3 of total credits including all non-compensated units and at least 35% in the remaining 1/3 of credits
The award of a MSci Degree in the School of Biological Sciences involves assessment of first year units (6%) second year units (19% of total), third year units (37.5%) and fourth-year project (37.5%). For examination purposes, your third year work is divided into 12 units, each contributing 3.125% (total 37.5%) to the final degree marks. The total allocation of marks is as follows:
| First year | 6% |
| Second year: | 19% |
| Final year: | |
| Special Programme Problem/Essay papers | 6.25% (2 units = 20 credits) |
| Lecture units | 12.5/15.625/18.75% (4/5/6 units = 40/50/60 credits)* |
| BIOL33000*, BIOL33011*, BIOL33012 & BIOL33021 & BIOL33031
* Compulsory |
12.5/15.625/18.75% (4/5/6 units = 40/50/60 credits)*
*Depending on degree course and unit selection |
| Fourth Year | 37.5% |
August/September referrals
The are no resit opportunities for Level 3 lecture and practical units. Consequently, if you fail to obtain an average of 60% or better in Year 3 of the MSci Degree Prorammes, you will be considered for an award of the Degree of Bachelor of Science.
Progression rules for students on Integrated Masters (MSci) Degrees
In addition to the above progression criteria, you must also fulfil the following criteria to progress on the Integrated Masters (MSci) Degrees:
Year 1
- pass all year 1 mandatory units at the first attempt with a mark of at least 40% in both the January and May/June examination and obtain an overall mean mark of at least 60%
- obtain a mark of at least 70% obtained in a tutorial assignment for Writing and Referencing skills (BIOL10741) that is attached to the tutorial unit (BIOL10000).
Year 2
- pass all year 2 units at the first attempt with a mark of at least 40% in both the January and May/June examination and obtain an overall mean mark of at least 60% (excluding marks obtained for tutorial assignments).
Year 3
- obtain an overall mean mark of at least 60% to progress to the final year project and marks of at least 40% in 2/3 of total credits including all non-compensated units and at least 30% in the remaining 1/3 of credits.
If you fail to meet any of these requirements, you will be transferred to the appropriate three-year BSc degree by the Board of Examiners at the next appropriate Exam Board, and you will be unable to continue on the integrated masters programme. If after Year 3 your average is below 60%, then you will be considered for an award of the Degree of Bachelor of Science.
Note: you cannot continue on the integrated masters programmes if your year 3 average was initially below 60% but your final degree mark was within the borderline range (58.0 – 59.9%) and was then raised to a 2i overall at the Exam Board.
If you feel that you no longer wish to continue on an integrated masters programme and would like to transfer to a standard three-year BSc degree, please discuss this with your Programme Director and/or Academic Tutor. A completed Degree Programme Change Form should be submitted to the Student Support Office if you do decide to transfer off the programme but must be submitted by the publicised deadlines.
Turnitin
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.
External Examiners
External Examiners are individuals from another institution or organisation who monitor the assessment processes of the University to ensure fairness and academic standards. They ensure that assessment and examination procedures have been fairly and properly implemented and that decisions have been made after appropriate deliberation. They also ensure that standards of awards and levels of student performance are at least comparable with those in equivalent higher education institutions.
External Examiners’ reports relating to programmes within the School of Biological Sciences will be shared with student representatives at the Student/Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC), where details of any actions carried out by the School in response to the External Examiners’ comments will be discussed. You should contact your student representatives if you require any further information about External Examiners’ reports or the process for considering them. External Examiners’ reports and the School’s responses to them can be found here.
The External Examiners for each programme are as follows:
| Programme | External Examiner | Institution |
| Anatomical Sciences | Dr Clare Lamb | University of Dundee |
| Biochemistry | Dr Stuart Knight | King's College London |
| Biology | TBC | TBD |
| Biology with Science & Society | TBC | TBC |
| Biomedical Sciences | Dr Gordon McEwan | University of Aberdeen |
| Biomedical Sciences | Dr Steve Christmas | University of Liverpool |
| Biotechnology | Dr Karen Robinson | University of Nottingham |
| Cell Biology | Dr Kristin Braun | Barts and London School of Medicine & Dentistry |
| Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychology | Dr Allison Fulford | University of Bristol |
| Developmental Biology | Dr Sinead Drea | University of Leicester |
| Genetics | Dr Henry Roehl | University of Sheffield |
| Immunology | Dr Martin Stacey | University of Leeds |
| Medical Biochemistry | Dr Stuart Knight | King's College London |
| Microbiology | Dr Karen Robinson | University of Nottingham |
| Molecular Biology | Dr Kristin Braun | Barts and London School of Medicine & Dentistry |
| Neuroscience | Dr Allison Fulford | University of Bristol |
| Pharmacology | Dr Lesley MacVinish | University of Cambridge |
| Pharmacology & Physiology | Dr Lesley MacVinish | University of Cambridge |
| Physiology | Dr Lesley MacVinish | University of Cambridge |
| Plant Sciences | Dr Sinead Drea | University of Leicester |
| Zoology | Dr Steve Portugal | Royal Holloway University of London |