BSc Biology with a Modern Language

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Academic Tutorials Year 3

Course unit fact file
Unit code BIOL30000
Credit rating 0
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

You will have a mixture of small group tutorials with your Academic Tutor and plenary sessions as part of a larger group. Tutorials with your Academic Tutor will allow you to prepare for your essay and problem paper examinations through activities such as essay writing, problem solving, and oral presentations. They will also develop skills associated with your degree programme. Plenary sessions will support the assessed written component associated with final year projects and exams, and provide transferable skills that will enhance employability.

Aims

To provide all students with the skills associated with their degree programme subject, along with many personal transferable skills that will prove of general use and enhance employability.

To prepare students for the degree programme problem and essay papers.

Learning outcomes

  • Develop and apply degree programme-specific knowledge.
  • Refine and apply degree programme-specific skills.
  • Integrate and synthesise the information obtained in lecture-based units to obtain an overview of the degree programme discipline.
  • Develop problem-solving skills within the degree programme discipline.
  • Select and apply appropriate approaches to assessment tasks.
  • Search for information and identify relevant data to meet information needs
  • Develop new and improve existing transferable skills including time management to balance course work and project work.

Syllabus

Syllabus
This unit will normally include at least 16 hours contact with the Tutor (for further details see the final level tutorial handbook) as well as plenary sessions in larger groups. Some small-group sessions may be student-led, and held in the absence of the Tutor. The precise scientific content of this unit will vary between degree programmes. The following may be included:

  • Essay writing
  • Problem solving
  • Discussion groups
  • Discussion of research papers
  • Oral presentations
  • Careers advice
  • Producing and updating a curriculum vitae


Attendance
Attendance at all sessions is compulsory. For further details see the final level tutorial handbook.
Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychology degree students need only attend sessions for the problem paper in order to complete the credit requirements.

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Students participate in problem solving exercises.
Group/team working
Students complete some assignments as groups and do peer assessments of work.
Innovation/creativity
Students come up with solutions to problems, which can employ creative methods.
Leadership
Students must manage sessions without their Tutor to ensure work is completed.
Project management
Students must manage assignments that may include multiple components and ensure completion to deadline.
Oral communication
Students give presentations and regularly have in-class discussions.
Problem solving
Students participate in problem solving exercises.
Research
Students must research topics for essays and presentations.
Written communication
Students prepare multiple essays and other short pieces of written work.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods may vary slightly between degree problems but will include: written assignments; oral assessments/presentations; set exercises - data handling problems; other.

Feedback methods

Students will receive written and verbal feedback from their Academic Tutor for all work submitted for the Tutorial Unit. Students are also encouraged to meet with their Academic Tutor to discuss their feedback in more detail.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Tutorials 19
Independent study hours
Independent study 81

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Catherine Millar Unit coordinator

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