University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Life Sciences > School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience > Physiological Science with Study in Industry (MSci) > Specification
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Programme code | 7PYSI003U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Lauren Goodhead
|
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
School/department | School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Biomedical science (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
The MSci programme in Physiological Science with Study in Industry aims to provide students with a broad knowledge of physiology, ranging from the fundamental principles of membrane biology through to the importance and implications whole body physiology in health and disease. Students will gain an understanding of the processes involved in membrane, cell, tissue and organ function, the control systems involved in homeostasis, sensory and motor systems, and concepts of pathological change. Students will also learn about the overall scope of physiology, such as how failures of normal control processes can result in diseases such as high blood pressure that are of great impact on society. The value of drugs will be illustrated both in the study of physiological processes and for therapeutic benefit. Students will gain early exposure (year 3) to industrial methodologies and to a variety of advanced technologies that are rarely experienced in the university environment. In their final year, students will receive advanced training in current research and in research planning, the latter by assessing and then preparing a research grant proposal. The programme is designed primarily for those students who intend to pursue a career as practising physiologists, carrying out biomedical research in industry or in academia.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Level C: lectures, practical classes working in groups of 2 – 3, small group tutorials, some computer-based and/or web-based resources |
Methods of Assessment | |
Level C: predominantly unseen written examinations (‘best answer of five’ MCQs, ‘best answer of four’ data interpretation, extended matching questions). One coursework essay. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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|
Level C: Principally through practical classes and small group tutorials. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Level C: Coursework essay, practical reports (eBiolabs and written), examination data interpretation questions |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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|
Level C: Lectures, small group tutorials, practicals, seminars, personal tutorials. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Level C: Practical assessments online (eBiolabs), written practical report, coursework essay |
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 first year, students should be able to use information acquired from textbooks and in lectures, practical classes and tutorials to demonstrate a basic understanding of physiological processes. They should be able to carry out closely supervised practical work, using relevant IT and keyboard skills, and to interpret and manipulate some scientific data. They should have reached a comparable level of competence in their other (usually biomedical) optional units. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
By the end of their second year, students should have begun to develop the ability to synthesise information acquired from original research papers and web-based resources, although the main emphasis is still on formal teaching and textbooks. They should have deepened their knowledge base in physiology, in areas such as the central nervous system, cell biology, and integrated physiology. They should be able to extend worksheet-driven practical work into projects that include some student-led experiments. They should have broadened their IT skills and be able to interpret more complex scientific data. A similar level of competence is required in all their second year units, although one of these can be at a lower level of competence if it involves acquisition of skills/knowledge in a previously unexplored subject. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
In the third year, critical faculties are developed further as source materials consist almost exclusively of research papers, and topics are studied at the current boundaries of knowledge. Students are expected to be able to direct their own study, with some guidance from lecturers, so as to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and critical evaluation of their chosen specialised topics in physiological science. They are expected to have developed the skills necessary to carry out an original project, to contribute to its planning, and to present their conclusions in the form of a research report. They should also be aware of some of the more general techniques and concepts that underpin modern research in the medical sciences. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
In the fourth year, critical faculties are developed further as source materials consist almost exclusively of research papers, and topics are studied at the current boundaries of knowledge. Students are expected to be able to direct their own study, with some guidance from lecturers, so as to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and critical evaluation of their chosen specialised topics in physiological science. They are expected to have developed the skills necessary to formulate a grant application for an original research project in the format required by funding bodies, and to assess such applications. They should also display good awareness of the more general techniques and concepts that underpin modern research in the medical sciences. |
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.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes 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. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. 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.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
Study in Industry placements are usually paid. There will be costs for travel and accommodation, and possibly visa and insurance depending on the location of the placement.
All costs depend on the location of the placement.
Dr Lauren Goodhead
Programme Director – Physiological Science
School of Physiology and Pharmacology
Medical Sciences Building
University Walk
Bristol
BS8 1TD
This integrated Masters programme has been designated as type II: Specialised or Advanced Masters in accordance with the QAA Degree Characteristics Statement. 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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Physiology 1A | PHPH10017 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Physiology 1B | PHPH10018 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Pharmacology 1A | PHPH10003 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Options totalling 60 CP normally chosen from: | ||||
Pharmacology 1B | PHPH10004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Introduction to Social and Developmental Psychology | PSYC10012 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Introduction to Cognitive and Biological Psychology | PSYC10013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Biochemistry: Cellular Composition | BIOC10003 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Biochemistry: Cellular Processes | BIOC10004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Functional Neuroanatomy | PHPH10013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Introduction to Neuroscience | PHPH10012 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Anatomical Science 1A | ANAT10008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Anatomical Science 1B | ANAT10009 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Science of Happiness | PSYC10014 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
The following options can also be taken subject to timetabling constraints | ||||
Mathematics 1A20 | MATH11004 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Chemistry IE | CHEM10200 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 |
Big Ideas in Science | CHEM10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Biological Chemistry 1A: Molecules of Life | BIOC10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Biological Chemistry 1B: Powering Biomolecular Interactions | BIOC10002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
This integrated Masters programme has been designated as type II: Specialised or Advanced Masters in accordance with the QAA Degree Characteristics Statement. 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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Neurophysiology | PHPH20009 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Cellular Physiology | PHPH20013 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Integrative Physiology | PHPH20008 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Biomedical Research, Employability and Enterprise Skills | MVSF20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Options totalling 40 CP normally chosen from: | ||||
Techniques in Neuroscience | PHPH20007 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Pharmacology of the Nervous System | PHPH20011 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Pharmacology of Body Systems | PHPH20012 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Human Anatomy: Abdomen, Pelvis and Limbs | ANAT20002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Human Anatomy: Thorax, Head and Neck | ANAT20003 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Disease and Defence | PANM10002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Normal and Tumour Cells | PANM12051 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Introduction to Social and Developmental Psychology | PSYC10012 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Introduction to Cognitive and Biological Psychology | PSYC10013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The following options can also be taken subject to timetabling constraints | ||||
Pharmacology 1B | PHPH10004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Big Ideas in Science | CHEM10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Molecular Cell Biology | BIOC20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Any other Level 1 UWLP (University-Wide Language Programme) unit - 20 credit points. Please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/study/uwlp/ for more details. | OPEN | 20 | Optional | |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
This integrated Masters programme has been designated as type II: Specialised or Advanced Masters in accordance with the QAA Degree Characteristics Statement. 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction to Industrial study | PHPH30024 | 60 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Study in Industry Project (M level) | PHPHM0012 | 60 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
BSc | 120 |
This integrated Masters programme has been designated as type II: Specialised or Advanced Masters in accordance with the QAA Degree Characteristics Statement. 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advanced Concepts and Skills | PHPHM0011 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Grant Proposal (M level) | PHPHM0010 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Choose 20 credit points from the following teaching block 1 units: | ||||
The Heart in Health & Disease | PHPH30019 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
or | ||||
The Rhythms of Life | PHPH30027 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Choose 40 credit points from the following teaching block 2 units: | ||||
Neuroscience of Pain | PHPH30017 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
New Horizons in Medicine | PHPH30021 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Exercise Physiology in Health and Disease | PHPH30028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Neural Basis of Behaviour | PHPH30031 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Alternatively, swap 20 credit points for any of the following units as long as you are taking one optional unit in teaching block 1 and two optional units in teaching block 2: | ||||
Receptor signalling and non-drug therapies | PHPH30003 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Synaptic plasticity | PHPH30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Neurological and Psychiatric disorders | PHPH30013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Synaptic Cell Biology | PHPH30022 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Molecular Pharmacology | PHPH30029 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Drugs in the Nervous System | PHPH30030 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Physiological Science with Study in Industry (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.
University of Bristol,
Senate House,
Tyndall Avenue,
Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000