Course unit details:
Biotechnology - Essay Paper

Course unit fact file
Unit code BIOL40522
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 4
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by School of Biological Sciences
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Essay papers assess your ability to construct clear, well‑reasoned written arguments that integrate material from across your degree programme. You will choose one question from a range of topics and produce a structured, analytical and evidenced response under exam conditions. Year 3 tutorials support the development of academic writing, critical thinking, and effective communication needed for essay examinations.

Aims

Essay papers aim to:
•     Develop your ability to synthesise and evaluate scientific knowledge.
•     Assess written communication and argument‑building at final‑year level.
•     Prepare you for independent, analytical writing relevant to academic and professional settings.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 100%

Feedback methods

Feedback to support essay paper preparation includes:
•     Formative feedback on essay plans and practice essays in tutorials.
•     Verbal and peer feedback during discussions and presentations.
•     General guidance on essay structure, exam technique, and time management in plenary sessions.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 1.5
Independent study hours
Independent study 98.5

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
James Linton Unit coordinator
Samina Naseeb Unit coordinator

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year. In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are subject to the Government fee cap, which the Government has announced will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year.

Government policy is to increase the fee cap on an annual basis to reflect inflation (i.e. increasing costs), and the tuition fee home students pay in subsequent academic years will reflect any increases in the Government fee cap (which we will communicate to you as soon as we can in advance of the relevant academic year).

Tuition fees for international students will be £38,000 for the 2027/28 academic year. For subsequent academic years, the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fee by up to 7% each year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our education and wider student experience.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees page for full details.

Additional expenses

 

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Students participating in placements outside the UK may be able to apply for funding from the UK's Turing scheme depending on eligibility. Priority will be given to students from low income households.

Return to course details

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.