University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Life Sciences > School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine > Biomedical Sciences (BSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 7PANM026U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Ann Williams
David Morgan |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
School/department | School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the student’s interest in and knowledge and understanding of areas of biology and biochemistry relating to human health and disease, and to produce well informed graduates who will know their subject in depth and have well-developed skills and attitudes appropriate to their future careers. Students will obtain:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Plenary lectures are the principal mode of imparting information. Students also learn through workshops and tutorials, small group student-centred teaching allowing ready interaction between the teacher and the individual student. These are complemented by laboratory classes in which students learn experimental skills and how to handle materials safely. In Years 1 and 2 students gain experience of a wide variety of practical techniques across the breadth of the biomedical sciences. The practical classes are supported by web-based resources including the bespoke eBiolabs dynamic laboratory manual. In Year 3 students undertake a research project on which they write a dissertation. Students are encouraged to undertake independent reading throughout, mainly basic texts in the early stages and research papers and reviews later on. There are opportunities for students to work collaboratively in group work and as well as in the laboratory. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment of the knowledge base is largely through unseen written examinations (which include multiple choice questions, essays, short note questions, numerical calculations, data analysis and literature comprehension). Course work assessments include pre- and post-lab quizzes in the eBiolabs dynamic laboratory manual, laboratory reports, oral presentations, poster presentations, essays, reports and a project dissertation. Prompt and useful feedback will support assessment for learning. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. 1 is acquired principally through lectures, discussion in tutorials and interaction with teachers in these and in laboratory classes; 2 and 3 in laboratory classes and project work, and in preparation for oral presentations; 4 in workshops, tutorials, practical and project work; 5 and 6 in lectures and discussions across the programme, including in the skills unit. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All assessment tasks (written exams including MCQs, essays, short note questions, numerical calculations, data analysis and literature comprehension) and project work test powers of analysis, synthesis and problem solving. Practical, bioinformatics and literary projects assess these skills in the context of independent study. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Guidance for 1 and 2 are provided in lectures, workshops and by library staff. Tutorial presentations and workshops are used to develop oral communication skills (2). 3-8 are developed across the programme including in laboratory and project work. Students plan their time in laboratory and project work, and to meet deadlines generally (9). 10 is developed in the skills unit at level 5/I and central to the research project for students level 6/H. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessments including written examinations, essays, practical reports and dissertations test 1 and 2. Oral presentation skills (2) are assessed in tutorials, the project talk and vivas. Course work assessments of practical work via eBiolabs post-lab quizzes and laboratory reports, as well as project work test 3-7. Laboratory work, projects and group work require collaboration (8) and the ability to manage a project (10), this is assessed by other students in the level 5/I skills unit and by supervisors for the research project. Time management is essential across the programme and is important for timed written examinations, including data handling and literature comprehension examinations (9). |
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/4, students are expected to be able to use information acquired from textbooks and in lectures, practical classes and tutorials to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the fundamental principles of some of the core aspects of biomedical sciences and a level of competence in the relevant skills. It is expected that students should be able to relate this basic knowledge to a more detailed or advanced understanding of the subject later in the programme. The expectation is that students at this level may require substantial direction from members of staff. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
At level I/5 students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge of biomedical sciences 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/6 students are expected to expand the breadth and depth of their knowledge of specific areas of biomedical sciences, and through their practical or literary 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/4 and I/5, applying knowledge gained through formal teaching to new and as yet unexplored systems. Students are expected to develop intellectual and reasoning skills necessary for a research project. They should also be able to keep abreast of new and forthcoming developments in biomedical science. |
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.
Initially there will not be a sister programme with Study in Industry.
It is envisaged that the admissions requirements for the programme will be AAA to include Chemistry and at least one other science (Biology or Physics) or Mathematics. The contextual offer will be AAB.
Professor Ann Williams and Dr David Morgan, Programme Directors, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Ann.C.Williams@bristol.ac.uk and D.J.Morgan@bristol.ac.uk
Dr Ann Pullen and Dr Jon Tyrell, Admissions Tutors, Faculty of Life Sciences
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Biochemistry: Cellular Composition | BIOC10003 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Biochemistry: Cellular Processes | BIOC10004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Normal and Tumour Cells | PANM12051 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Pharmacology 1A | PHPH10003 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Fundamentals of Body Function | PHPH10014 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases | PANM10001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Biomedical Research, Employability and Enterprise Skills | MVSF20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Recombinant DNA Technology | MOLG22100 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Select a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 80 credit points from the following: | ||||
Infection and Immunity | PANM22041 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Bench to Bedside and Beyond | PANM20005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Molecular Cell Biology | BIOC20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Gene expression and rearrangement | MOLG22200 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Cellular and Molecular Pathology | PANM22042 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Pharmacology of the Nervous System | PHPH20011 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Pharmacology of Body Systems | PHPH20012 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Neurophysiology | PHPH20009 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Integrative Physiology | PHPH20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Students may also select 20 credit points from the following (if they have only chosen 60 credit points from the list above): | ||||
Any Language Unit at an appropriate level | ||||
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Biomedical Sciences Research Skills | MVSF30001 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Students normally choose 80 credit points of the following optional units in a single pathway: | ||||
CELLS AND MOLECULES PATHWAY | ||||
Biochemistry units | ||||
Advanced Cell Biology | BIOC30601 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Cellular Information | BIOC30602 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Cellular and Molecular Medicine units | ||||
Advanced Immunology | PANM33001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Immunopathology and Applied Immunology | PANM33002 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Developmental Genetics and Embryonal Cancers | PANM33003 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Cancer Mechanisms and Therapeutics | PANM33004 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Regenerative Medicine | PANM33005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Medical Microbiology | PANM33008 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Medical Virology | PANM33009 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Frontiers in Infectious Diseases | PANM30001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Clinical Pathology in Action | PANM30002 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
SYSTEMS PATHWAY | ||||
Physiology units | ||||
The Heart in Health & Disease | PHPH30019 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Exercise Physiology in Health and Disease | PHPH30028 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Pharmacology units | ||||
Pharmacology of ion channels and synaptic transmission | PHPH30002 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Receptor signalling and non-drug therapies | PHPH30003 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Pharmacology of the Nervous System | PHPH30004 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Concepts and Skills (pharmacology) | PHPH30005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neuroscience units | ||||
Concepts and Skills | PHPH30007 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Brain and Behaviour | PHPH30016 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
New Horizons in Medicine | PHPH30021 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Synaptic plasticity | PHPH30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neurological and Psychiatric disorders | PHPH30013 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neuroscience of Pain | PHPH30017 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Synaptic Cell Biology | PHPH30022 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
MOLECULES AND SYSTEMS PATHWAY | ||||
Biochemistry units | ||||
Advanced Cell Biology | BIOC30601 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Pharmacology units | ||||
Pharmacology of ion channels and synaptic transmission | PHPH30002 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Receptor signalling and non-drug therapies | PHPH30003 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Pharmacology of the Nervous System | PHPH30004 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Concepts and Skills (pharmacology) | PHPH30005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neuroscience units | ||||
Concepts and Skills | PHPH30007 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Brain and Behaviour | PHPH30016 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
New Horizons in Medicine | PHPH30021 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Synaptic plasticity | PHPH30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neuroscience of Pain | PHPH30017 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Synaptic Cell Biology | PHPH30022 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neurological and Psychiatric disorders | PHPH30013 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Biomedical Sciences (BSc) | 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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