University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2018/19 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Life Sciences > School of Biochemistry > Biochemistry with Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MSci) > Specification
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Programme code | 7BIOC009U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Nigel Savery
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Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
School/department | School of Biochemistry |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the student’s interest in and knowledge and understanding of life's processes at a molecular and cellular level and to produce well-informed graduates with an excellent range of skills and attitudes appropriate to their future careers. Students will obtain:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Acquisition of knowledge through lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials, practical classes, web-based resources and directed reading with a strong emphasis on primary materials. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework, directed self-education and literary and practical research projects. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The knowledge base is largely tested through traditional unseen written examinations (which include essay/short answer and multiple choice questions and numerical calculations, data analysis and literature comprehension). Knowledge is also assessed project work, and a variety of coursework formats. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through lectures, workshops, tutorials, practical classes, web-based resources and directed reading with a strong emphasis on primary materials later in the programme. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework, directed self-education and literary and practical research projects. Units are structured in such a way that the skills develop progressively over the programme. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All assessment tasks (written examinations, assessed coursework, laboratory classes and research projects) test powers of analysis, synthesis, problem-solving and evaluation. Practical and literary projects provide an opportunity to assess the integration of these skills within the context of original independent study. Other formats of coursework are designed to assess intellectual skills. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Tutorials and workshops are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in discussions and to make oral presentations. Team working is developed in practical classes, projects, coursework and in tutorial group projects. Written communication is developed through written assignments, assessed coursework and research projects. Digital skills are integral to research and students are encouraged to produce assignments in appropriate formats. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment is primarily through written assignments (examinations, assessed coursework, laboratory write-ups and research projects) that provide evidence of written communication and digital skills as well as knowledge management and information retrieval. Oral communication and team working are assessed through formal presentations and vivas. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
By the end of their studies at level C, students are expected to be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the fundamental principles of some of the core aspects of Biochemistry and competence in the relevant skills. It is expected that students should be able to relate this basic biochemical knowledge to a more detailed or advanced understanding of the subject later in the programme. The expectation is that their work at this level may require substantial direction from members of staff. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
At level I students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge of Biochemistry in selected areas. They should also have developed a higher and broader level of competence in the relevant skills and practical techniques. They are expected to be developing a capacity for self-directed learning. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
At level H students are expected to expand the breadth and depth of their knowledge of Biochemistry through their study of the core curriculum and specialised options and through their literature and practical research projects. At this level students are expected to be able to demonstrate their capacity for self-directed study using the skills acquired and developed at levels C and I, applying knowledge gained through formal teaching to new and as yet unexplored systems and problems. They should also be able to keep abreast of new and forthcoming developments in biochemistry and in related areas of science. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
At level M students are expected to demonstrate an in-depth, understanding and critical awareness of the frontiers of biochemistry, and are expected to develop a comprehensive and practical understanding of biochemical techniques. They will apply this knowledge to an extended research project where they will they will show the ability to work independently on a research problem. At this level students will be able to synthesize complex knowledge and evaluate its significance. They will show an ethical awareness of the importance of biochemistry to society and be able to reflect on how to develop their professional skills independently. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. The programmes offered in the Faculty are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive from staff. But at the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing, whether in the library or at home. It is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Student workloads in the Faculty of Life Sciences are calculated on the assumption that you will work at least an average of 40 hours per week over the academic year. This workload includes all types of activity related to the delivery and assessment of taught units.
A major component of this workload in the early years of your programme is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes lectures, laboratories, tutorials and practical classes. Outside classes you will need to undertake two types of academic activity. One type is that directed by your unit (such as eBiolabs pre- and post-lab quizzes, practical class reports and project work). The other type requires you to pursue self-motivated independent learning in order to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks and the scientific literature, and revising for examinations. In later years of your programme, timetabled teaching will make up a smaller proportion of your overall workload and you will spend much of your time pursuing independent study.
Wednesday afternoons are set aside for students to engage in extracurricular activities, such as sporting activities. Note also that formal teaching is undertaken on Wednesday mornings, which in some programmes may preclude absences for travelling to sporting events.
You will be expected to work during most University vacations. All students are expected to use the Christmas and Easter holidays to revise for the examinations held in January and May/June, respectively. Should you be unsuccessful in the examinations, you should expect to set aside sufficient time over the summer vacation firstly to consolidate your understanding and then to revise intensively for the resit examinations held in August/September (resit examinations are not available in the final year of BSc programmes). Certain components of the teaching and assessment are mandatory - for details see individual programme regulations.
The Life Sciences BSc programmes conform to the University modular framework where 10 credits represent about 100 hours of student work. We recognise that many students have to take paid employment to fund their studies. In order to achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Assessment Statement
Please select the following link for a statement about assessment. This is University of Bristol access only.
Dr Kelly Moule (phone 0117 331 2169, email S.K.Moule@bristol.ac.uk)
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Biological Chemistry 1A: Molecules of Life | BIOC10001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Biological Chemistry 1B: Powering Biomolecular Interactions | BIOC10002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Biochemistry: Cellular Composition | BIOC10003 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Biochemistry: Cellular Processes | BIOC10004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Either both the following: | ||||
Fundamentals of Molecular Microbiology | PANM10003 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases | PANM10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Or both of the following | ||||
Normal and Tumour Cells | PANM12051 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Disease and Defence | PANM10002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Macromolecular Structure, Dynamics and Function | BIOC20002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Molecular Cell Biology | BIOC20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Recombinant DNA Technology | MOLG22100 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Gene expression and rearrangement | MOLG22200 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Biomedical Research, Employability and Enterprise Skills | MVSF20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
20 credit points from the recommended optional units: | ||||
Infection and Immunity | PANM22041 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
or | ||||
Disease and Defence | PANM10002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Or 20 credit points from the following: | ||||
Cellular and Molecular Pathology | PANM22042 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Pharmacology of Body Systems | PHPH20012 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Mathematics 1A20 | MATH11004 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Or another 20cp of options normally chosen from the open unit catalogue, subject to availability and timetabling constraints | ||||
Diploma of Higehr Education | 120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Research and Communication Skills | BIOC30001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Research Training | BIOC30002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Advanced Cell Biology | BIOC30601 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
The Dynamic Proteome | BIOC30604 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Cellular Information | BIOC30602 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Advanced Options in Biochemistry | BIOC30600 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
BSc | 120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Extended Research Project | BIOCM0015 | 60 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Science and Society | BIOCM0016 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Synthetic Biology | BIOCM0017 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Select 20 credits points from either | ||||
Cell Biology of Development and Disease | BIOCM0019 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
or: | ||||
Protein Assemblies and Molecular Machines | BIOCM0018 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Biochemistry with Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MSci) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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