📖Program Curriculum
You will study the following set compulsory modules and select from a choice of optional modules over the course of your degree. In your final year you will take a ten-week 30-credit biosciences research project module which can be field-based in the UK or overseas, laboratory-based or purely analytical.
Year 0 (Level 3)
Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year
Students choose 120 credits from the following:
Compulsory Modules
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code
Foundation Biology September-January 20 BIO012
Research Skills for Biologists September-January 20 BIO014
Techniques in Ecology: An Introduction January-June 20 BIO013
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry January-June 20 BIO016
Optional Modules
Year 0 Optional Geography Modules
Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Foundation Physical and Environmental Geography September-January 20 GE-007
An Introduction to Data Visualisation. January-June 20 GE-006
OR
Year 0 Optional Chemistry Modules
Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Elementary Chemistry September-January 20 CH-005
Reactions and Products January-June 20 CH-010
Year 1 (Level 4)
FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert
Compulsory Modules
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code
Cellular & Microbial Biology September-January 20 BIO104
Core Skills for Biological Sciences September-January 20 BIO109
Botany and Ecology September-January 20 BIO111
Evolution and Genetics January-June 20 BIO108
Life in the Oceans January-June 20 BIO112
Animal Diversity and Behaviour January-June 20 BIO114
Year 2 (Level 5)
FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip
Students choose 120 credits from the following:
Compulsory Modules
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code
Introduction to field ecology September-January 15 BIO249
Ecological Data Analysis September-January 15 BIO252
Year 2 Biological Sciences Literature Review January-June 15 BIO231
Plant Ecology January-June 15 BIO232
Ecological Microbiology and the Cycles of Life January-June 15 BIO239
Optional Modules
Biology Optional
Choose Exactly 15 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : from TB1
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Parasitology September-January 15 BIO228
Entomology - General Introduction September-January 15 BIO230
Animal behaviour in conservation and welfare September-January 15 BIO234
Molecular Ecology September-January 15 BIO235
Marine Invertebrates September-January 15 BIO237
AND
Biology Optional
Choose Exactly 15 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : from TB2
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Ichthyology January-June 15 BIO224
Tetrapod Evolution January-June 15 BIO229
Cells and Immunity January-June 15 BIO236
Animal Physiology January-June 15 BIO258
Population and Community Ecology January-June 15 BIO261
AND
Biology Optional
Choose Exactly 15 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : from either Teaching Block – the maximum credits permitted in a teaching block is 75
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Parasitology September-January 15 BIO228
Entomology - General Introduction September-January 15 BIO230
Animal behaviour in conservation and welfare September-January 15 BIO234
Molecular Ecology September-January 15 BIO235
Marine Invertebrates September-January 15 BIO237
Ichthyology January-June 15 BIO224
Tetrapod Evolution January-June 15 BIO229
Cells and Immunity January-June 15 BIO236
Animal Physiology January-June 15 BIO258
Population and Community Ecology January-June 15 BIO261
Year 3 (Level 6)
FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours
Students choose 120 credits from the following:
Compulsory Modules
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code
Biosciences Research Project September-June 30 BIO350
Optional Modules
Fieldtrip
Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : Biologists MUST choose ONE (and only one) of the following. N.B. BIO327, BIO347, GEB300 and GEB301 have limited places available. If you are unsuccessful in securing a place on these modules, you must select from BIO331 or BIO340.
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Professional skills in conservation September-January 20 BIO331
Tropical marine ecology field course January-June 20 BIO327 BIO327 If you are unsuccessful in securing a place on this module, you MUST select BIO331 or BIO340.
Professional Laboratory Skills January-June 20 BIO340
Tropical Ecology and Conservation - Borneo Field Trip January-June 20 BIO347 BIO347 If you are unsuccessful in securing a place on this module, you MUST select BIO331 or BIO340.
Gwaith Maes Gwlad yr Ia January-June 20 GEB300
Interdisciplinary Field Course to the Indian Himalayas (Sikkim) January-June 20 GEB301 GEB301 If you are unsuccessful in securing a place on this module, you MUST select BIO331 or BIO340.
AND
Biology Recommended
Choose Minimum Of 30 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : No more than 70 credits can be selected from any one semester.
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Biodiversity September-January 10 BIO337
Plant Conservation and Ecology September-January 10 BIO341
Macroevolution and Phylogenies September-January 10 BIO345
Epidemiology of zoonotic diseases January-June 10 BIO328
AND
Biology Optional
Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : No more than 70 credits can be selected from any one semester.
Module Name Module Duration Credits Module Code Guidance
Mammalian Carnivore Ecology and Conservation September-January 10 BIO316
Climate Change Biology September-January 10 BIO329
Tropical marine ecology and conservation September-January 10 BIO330
Advanced Data Analysis September-January 10 BIO334
Diseases of aquatic animals January-June 10 BIO313
Ecology of Marine Megafauna January-June 10 BIO318
Biological Control of Invertebrate Pests January-June 10 BIO319
Polar Biology January-June 10 BIO338
Sensory Ecology January-June 10 BIO342
Hormones and Behaviour January-June 10 BIO344
Animal behaviour - from individuals to groups January-June 10 BIO355
