University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Life Sciences > School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience > Neuroscience (MSci) > Specification
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Programme code | 7PHPH003U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Bridget Lumb
|
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 | Biosciences (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
To develop an understanding of, and to foster interest in, the study of nervous system anatomy and function. Students will develop an understanding of (i) basic aspects of the organisation and function of mammalian physiology, as a foundation for understanding the nervous system; (ii) the detailed structural organisation and function of the mammalian nervous system from the molecular to the systems level; (iii) current research "highlights" in selected areas of neuroscience.
To develop skills in the acquisition, interpretation and analysis of scientific data via practical work and an extended research project in a research-led environment.
To develop a wide range of skills applicable throughout their future careers, including written and verbal communication, digital literacy, problem solving and collaborative working.
To prepare students for a career in biomedical research and/or teaching or industry, or for further professional training for a clinical/paraclinical vocation.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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1. Level 4/C - lectures, group practical classes, workshops, and small group tutorials 2. Level 5/I - lectures, group practical classes, workshops, small group tutorials, online tutorials, problem-based learning, library- and practical-based self-directed learning 3. Level 6/H - lectures, seminars, library study, online tutorials and research project supervision 4. Level 7/M - seminars, facilitated small group discussion, self-directed literature research, extended experimental research project supervision Independent learning is achieved through written coursework, directed self-education and library and practical research projects. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Level 4/C - unseen examinations, including MCQs, specimen identification tests, data interpretation questions; coursework including online quizzes, practical reports, written work Level 5/I - unseen examinations, including essays, MCQs, data interpretation questions; course work, including, online quizzes, library projects, practical write-ups and evaluation of individual contribution to group problem-based learning Level 6/H - unseen examinations, including essays and data handling/interpretation, experimental design and MCQs; coursework including essays and data handling/interpretation, experimental design, research project dissertation, oral presentation Level 7/M – coursework, including a project plan, an extended research project dissertation Peer marking is used at selected points throughout the programme. Formative assessment is also used throughout the programme, particularly in tutorial work, to provide students with feedback on their progress. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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1. Level 4/C - lectures, group practical classes, workshops, and small group tutorials 2. Level 5/I - lectures, group practical classes, workshops, small group tutorials, online tutorials, library-and practical-based self-directed learning projects and problem based learning 3. Level 6/H – Lectures, seminars, self-directed literature research, online tutorials and research project supervision 4. Level 7/M - seminars, facilitated small group discussion, self-directed literature research, extended experimental research project supervision Individual research papers are discussed during Level H seminars, and each student will prepare and deliver at least two oral presentations. Practical work progresses from closely supervised practical classes in the first year to an extended experimental project in the final year. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Level C - unseen examinations, including MCQs, specimen identification tests, data interpretation questions; coursework including online quizzes, practical reports, written work Level I - unseen examinations, including essays, MCQs, data interpretation questions, online quizzes, library-based course work, essays, practical write-ups and evaluation of individual contribution to group problem-based learning Level H - unseen examinations, including essays and data handling/interpretation, experimental design and MCQs; coursework including essays and data handling/interpretation, experimental design, research project dissertation, oral presentation Level 7/M – coursework, including a project plan, an extended research project dissertation There is a progressive emphasis on assessment methods that test the ability to critically evaluate source materials and to interpret and analyse data, rather than simply recall factual details. The emphasis on oral presentations and laboratory performance increases throughout the programme. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Level 4/C - H - personal study skills, problem-solving and use of IT are taught explicitly in practical classes, workshops and tutorials Level 5/I – lectures, online tutorials, workshops, practical classes Level 6/H – seminars, online tutorials, research project supervision. Level 7/M – lectures, seminars, individual supervision of research project, facilitated small group discussions Meeting deadlines is encouraged by automatic deduction of marks for late course work. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Level 4/C – written coursework such as essays and abstracts. Level 5/I - unseen examination essays, MCQs; course work, including online quizzes, essays, practical write-ups and evaluation of individual contribution to group problem-based learning Level 6/H - unseen examinations, including essays and data handling/interpretation, experimental design and MCQs; coursework including essays and data handling/interpretation, experimental design, research project dissertation, oral presentation Level 7/M – coursework, including a project plan, an extended research project dissertation, portfolios, oral and poster presentation, audit of contribution to collaborative work Formative feedback is used throughout the programme. There is a development of assessment of small pieces of work in early years through to extensive project dissertations and portfolios showing the development of ideas in final year. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Students are expected to develop their understanding of the basic principles of neuroscience and demonstrate the ability to assemble information from a wide variety of sources (lectures, practical classes, tutorials and the library), and to assimilate it into essays and reports. They should be able to carry out closely supervised practical work and to interpret and manipulate simple scientific data. They must learn to work more independently than in school. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
Students are expected to deal with more intellectually-challenging neuroscience concepts, and begin to develop the ability to evaluate the information upon which these are based. They are expected to extend their self-directed learning skills, such that they can write essays and reports based on their own searches of information outside of standard textbooks. They should be able to undertake some student-led practical work. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Students are expected to be able to cope with uncertainty and evolving concepts that are at the forefront of their discipline, and be able to critically evaluate evidence from research papers that may be contradictory. Based on seminar discussion, and advanced reading, they should be able to provide a coherent overview of our current level of understanding, as well as the unresolved issues, in the topics covered. They must also be able to statistically analyse and interpret scientific data and apply their understanding to interpret unfamiliar data. Students are expected to confidently and effectively communicate ideas via oral presentations and written reports. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
Students are expected to be able to direct their own work, coming to independent decisions based on their own judgement. They are expected to be able to plan and design original experiments, including appropriate statistical analysis. They need to be able to critically appraise the quality of their own work and that of others. They need to be able to work collaboratively and creatively on long-term projects, setting their own goals and monitoring their own progress. |
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.
Professor Zafar Bashir
Programme Director – Neuroscience
School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Biomedical Sciences Building
University Walk
Bristol
BS8 1TD
Z.I.Bashir@bristol.ac.uk
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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Introduction to Neuroscience | PHPH10012 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Functional Neuroanatomy | PHPH10013 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Physiology 1A | PHPH10017 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Physiology 1B | PHPH10018 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Pharmacology 1A | PHPH10003 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Options totalling 20 credit points, normally selected from: | ||||
Introduction to Cognitive and Biological Psychology | PSYC10013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Science of Happiness | PSYC10014 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
The following option may also be available, subject to timetabling constraints: | ||||
Biological Chemistry 1B: Powering Biomolecular Interactions | BIOC10002 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Biochemistry: Cellular Processes | BIOC10004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Pharmacology 1B | PHPH10004 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Anatomical Science 1B | ANAT10009 | 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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Biomedical Research, Employability and Enterprise Skills | MVSF20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Neurophysiology | PHPH20009 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Pharmacology of the Nervous System | PHPH20011 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Techniques in Neuroscience | PHPH20007 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Options totalling 40 credit points, normally selected from the list below: | ||||
Cellular Physiology | PHPH20013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Integrative Physiology | PHPH20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Human Anatomy: Thorax, Head and Neck | ANAT20003 | 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 may also be available, subject to timetabling constraints: | ||||
Big Ideas in Science | CHEM10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Introduction to Philosophy A | PHIL10005 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Introduction to Philosophy B | PHIL10006 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Normal and Tumour Cells | PANM12051 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Disease and Defence | PANM10002 | 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 | |
Students are required to achieve an overall year average mark of 60 in Year 2 in order to continue on the MSci. Students who do not achieve this will transfer to BSc Neuroscience at the end of Year 2. | ||||
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 | |
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Concepts and Skills | PHPH30007 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Research Project | PHPH30009 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Optional units totalling 60 credit points, are normally selected from the following: | ||||
The Rhythms of Life | PHPH30027 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Synaptic plasticity | PHPH30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Synaptic Cell Biology | PHPH30022 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Brain and Behaviour | PHPH30016 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neuroscience of Pain | PHPH30017 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
New Horizons in Medicine | PHPH30021 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Neurological and Psychiatric disorders | PHPH30013 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Students may be able to select 20 of their 60 credit points from the following list, subject to timetabling constraints. No more than 20 credit points can be chosen. | ||||
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 |
The Heart in Health & Disease | PHPH30019 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Exercise Physiology in Health and Disease | PHPH30028 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
Students are required to achieve an overall year average mark of 50 in Year 3 in order to continue on the MSci. Students who do not achieve this will be awarded a BSc degree at the end of Year 3. | ||||
Neuroscience (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 | |
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Ideas and Enterprise | PHPHM0015 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Advanced Creative Communication | PHPHM0014 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Extended Research Project Planning | PHPHM0013 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Extended Research Project Background | PHPHM0018 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Extended Research Project | PHPHM0019 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Neuroscience (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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