Programme Requirements for 2023/24 Session


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M.Sci. Biological Sciences Full-time

Year: 4
2023/24 Session

Specialist labels:

At least 20 credits of the qualifying modules for a specialist label must be at level M. Twenty credits from a relevant level M extended project may also be included, but this does not guarantee a project in a specific area (a project topic relevant to a specific specialist label will be defined by the programme lead and potential project supervisor in consultation).

Students who complete 120 credits in Zoology can be awarded MSci Biological Sciences (Zoology). This must include:

  • LC Introduction to Evolution and Animal Biology;
  • LI Animal Biology: Principles and Mechanisms;
  • LH/LM Animal Behaviour: From Theory to Application.

Students who complete 120 credits in Genetics can be awarded MSci Biological Sciences (Genetics) This must include:

  • LC Genetics I;
  • LI Genetics II. 

Students who complete 120 credits in Conservation Biology can be awarded MSci Biological Sciences (Conservation Biology). This must include:

  • LI Critical Issues for 21st Century Ecosystems;
  • EITHER LH/LM Conservation: Theory into Practice OR LH/LM Conservation Practice: Genes to Ecosystems. 

Students who complete 120 credits in Food Security and Sustainability can be awarded MSci Biological Science (Food Security and Sustainability). This must include:

  • LC Ecological Concepts and Plant Sciences;
  • LI Plant Sciences: from Cells to the Environment. 

Students who complete 120 credits in Human Health and Disease can be awarded MSci Biological Sciences (Human Health and Disease). This must include:

  • LC Cell Biology and Physiology;
  • LI Human Structure and Function. 

Students who complete 120 credits in Microbiology and Infection can be awarded MSci Biological Sciences (Microbiology and Infection). This must include:

  • LC Introduction to Microbiology;
  • LI Microbiology: Medicine, Environment and Industry;
  • LH/LM Microbial Pathogenicity and Disease. 

Specialist labels can be added to all variants of the degree including ‘Year in Continental Europe’, ‘International Year’ and ‘Year in Computer Science’.

The following must be taken:

Module Title Code Credits Semester
LM Extended Research Project 03 26435 80 Full Term
LM Funding Science 03 33635 10 Semester 1
LM Research Developments and Scientific Communication 03 33633 10 Semester 2

Choose 20 credits from the following:

Modules that contribute to the Zoology specialism:

Module Title Code Credits Semester
LM Animal Behaviour: From theory to application 03 36096 20 Semester 1
LM Evolution of Vertebrates 03 18108 20 Semester 2

Modules that contribute to the Genetics specialism:

Module Title Code Credits Semester
LH Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30948 20 Semester 2
LM Bacterial Gene Regulation 03 26427 20 Semester 2
LM Cancer Biology 03 23506 20 Semester 1
LM Current developments and advances in Eukaryotic Genetics 03 30795 20 Semester 2
LM Eukaryotic Gene Expression 03 21645 20 Semester 1
LM Functional Genomics and Reverse Genetics 03 25355 20 Semester 2
LM Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30949 20 Semester 2

Modules that contribute to the Conservation Biology specialism:

Module Title Code Credits Semester
LM Animal Behaviour: From theory to application 03 36096 20 Semester 1
LM Conservation Practice: Genes to Ecosystems 03 27877 20 Semester 1
LM Responses to Global Environmental Change 03 36120 20 Semester 2

Modules that contribute to the Food Security and Sustainability specialism:

Module Title Code Credits Semester
LH Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30948 20 Semester 2
LM Microbial Pathogenicity and Disease 03 38877 20 Semester 2
LM Molecular and Cellular Immunology 03 22940 20 Semester 2
LM Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30949 20 Semester 2

Modules that contribute to the Human Health and Disease specialism:

Module Title Code Credits Semester
LH Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30948 20 Semester 2
LM Cancer Biology 03 23506 20 Semester 1
LM Cellular Neurobiology 03 21649 20 Semester 1
LM Molecular and Cellular Immunology 03 22940 20 Semester 2
LM Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30949 20 Semester 2
LM Structures of Destruction: the Structural Biology of Pathogenicity 03 21596 20 Semester 2

Modules that contribute to the Microbiology and Infection specialism:

Module Title Code Credits Semester
LH Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30948 20 Semester 2
LM Bacterial Gene Regulation 03 26427 20 Semester 2
LM Microbial Pathogenicity and Disease 03 38877 20 Semester 2
LM Molecular and Cellular Immunology 03 22940 20 Semester 2
LM Omics for Biomedical Research 03 30949 20 Semester 2
LM Structures of Destruction: the Structural Biology of Pathogenicity 03 21596 20 Semester 2

General Optional Modules