Overview of the programmes

The programmes are built on a unit (modular) structure. Most students will take:

• 8 Lecture-based units over the year
• An Experimental Design Module (EDM, practical unit) in the first semester
• A Research Skills Module (RSM) in the second semester
• A dissertation
• A tutorial unit over the year

In the first semester most students will undertake an Experimental Design Module (EDM). This module has been designed to place an emphasis on the design and interpretation of experiments and will allow students to advance from first year practicals by making experimental choices appropriate to the practical. All students taking an EDM unit will complete Phase I, which consists of four 6-hour sessions, carried out on a weekly basis. In Phase II, practical sessions have been divided into four strands (Molecular & Cell Biology, Organismal Biology, Human Sciences, and Physiology & Biomedical Sciences). Your Degree Programme will dictate which strand of practicals you attend. In the second semester you will do a Research Skills Module (RSM), the nature of which will depend on your Degree Programme. For most Degree Programmes there is a specific RSM. If you are a Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Medical Biochemistry, Pharmacology/Physiology student you may choose a RSM according to your interest. Note that some RSMs may have EDM or lecture unit pre-/co-requisites and may be limited in the number of students that can be accommodated. Entry for RSMs for which numbers are restricted will be based on your overall first year mark. Most RSMs will consist of a block of practicals over 4 weeks at the rate of three sessions per week and will usually occur in weeks 1-4 or 5-8. Where appropriate, field courses, including Urban Biodiversity constitute the RSM and will occur in part of all of the Easter or Summer vacation.