Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £34,500 per annum. 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.
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.
Course unit details:
Projects
Course unit fact file
Unit code |
BIOL30030 |
Credit rating |
40 |
Unit level |
Level 3 |
Teaching period(s) |
Full year |
Available as a free choice unit? |
No |
Overview
The final year project is an opportunity to undertake a research project in an area of interest, whilst potentially contributing to cutting-edge scientific research. There are a wide range of project types available, depending on supervisor availability and previous academic performance.
Aims
During the final year students will be allocated to one of the project types described above, and will undertake project work in a topic and manner agreed by their supervisor. The Projects aim to develop research skills, both bioscience and generic, promote independent learning, enhance the employability of students, and enrich the student experience.
Learning outcomes
Outcomes for students are that they should: learn to work independently or as part of a group/team as required (research group, for example) to address a particular bioscience question or topic be able to search for and critically review the literature in a particular field and relate your own research to that in the existing literature develop critical and creative thinking skills (develop ideas, data analysis and evaluation skills, be able to form judgements) gain experience in the scientific method and develop problem solving skills; for example, how to design experiments or develop strategies to test hypotheses and/or evaluate your output develop communication skills write a scientific review and project report (or equivalent) develop oral presentation skills (tutorial talk and/or to supervisor) liaise with supervisor, other staff and students, as appropriate acquire additional project-specific skills as appropriate (such as various lab or IT skills)
Syllabus
Projects are worth 40 credits. Students will be allocated a supervisor in the first semester of the final year. Students are advised to contact their allocated supervisor as soon as possible; supervisors will discuss the type of project with the student and the bioscience topic on which it is based. Semester 5: students explore a bioscience topic area as directed by the supervisor, and receive written feedback on a written 4-page ‘Focused Study on Bioscience’ and an informal discussion (oral presentation) based on this piece. This piece of work will form the introduction to the main report in Semester 6.There may be supporting seminars to attend in this semester for some of the project types. Semester 6: project work Project work takes place within this semester weeks 1-9. Students should aim to finish project work by the Easter break to leave time to analyse results and write up the report.
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Analysis of lab data; analysis of evaluation data (SCP); analysis of project-related resources
- Group/team working
- This will vary depending on the type of project. You may work in a team (LSEP), be part of a lab group, work with other staff (Museum, school or elearning team), and support your colleagues
- Innovation/creativity
- In the design and evaluation of your project work
- Leadership
- You may need to work with other staff to organise and deliver your project
- Project management
- Plan your work and submissions in a timely manner
- Oral communication
- 10 minute talk on your project in the tutorial programme
- Problem solving
- Project work often produces unforeseen issues or problems; thinking about how to deal with them is part of the project experience, so rise to the challenge and make contingency plans where appropriate
- Research
- Research the literature; experimental lab-based research; research of related work (experiments, resources etc); market research (SCPs & LSEP); using research methods to design experiments and test hypotheses
- Written communication
- You will write a Lit Review and Project Report (or equivalent)
Assessment methods
15 % of unit mark: Understanding of bioscience research (Semester 5; short written and oral piece of work; Supervisor and moderator) Written ability to communicate science accurately/in depth (supervisor only) Oral ability to communicate science accurately/in depth (supervisor and moderator) Ability to answer questions about the science (supervisor and moderator) Final report and separate resource if appropriate (Semester 6; Supervisor and moderator) Report (short paper) consisting of e.g. 75% of unit mark. Standard Report (17 pages): Abstract science AND lay (1 page); Introduction to the bioscience ie from the semester 5 work and aims (4 pages); methods (3 pages); results (4 pages) and discussion (4 pages); Personal reflection (1 page) OR 60% of unit mark Science Communication Output Report Type A (17 pages): Abstract (0.5 page); Introduction to the bioscience which could be taken from the semester 1 work, and include an introduction to science communication and aims (4 pages) ; methods (3 pages); results (4 pages) and discussion (4 pages); personal reflection (1 page) PLUS 15% of unit mark for the creative resource output OR 60% of unit mark Science Communication Output Report Type B (17 pages): Abstract (0.5 page); Introduction to the bioscience which could be taken from the semester 1 work, and include an introduction to science communication and aims (4 pages); A Level Review article OR NS piece (3 pages); methods (2 pages); results (3 pages) and discussion (3 pages); personal reflection (1 page) PLUS 15% of unit mark for the creative resource output 10% of unit mark: Project performance (Semester 6; Supervisor only) Use of initiative Student input to planning & design of the project Mastery of skills (if appropriate) Organisation of work Communication with supervisor, team, other staff etc Reliability, effort & persistence Completion of Ethics Survey Reflection (in report)
Feedback methods
Students will receive feedback on the Semester 5 Focused Study on Bioscience. This piece of work may then form the introduction to the main report in Semester 6. Students can expect to receive formative feedback on 1 page of methods and 1 page results prior to submission of the Semester 6 report. Supervisors can comment on the Introduction to Science Communication and the New Scientist or ALR piece prior to submission where offered Feedback will only be forthcoming if dates for obtaining feedback are agreed with supervisors and are met
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours |
Project supervision |
40 |
Independent study hours |
Independent study |
360 |
Teaching staff
Staff member |
Role |
Ruth Grady |
Unit coordinator |
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