Course Catalogue

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This course is the work placement year for integrated Masters (MSci) programmes with work placement in Life Sciences.

The placement year is taken after Year 3, and lasts between 10-12 months.

This course is only available to students in Year 4 of a Life Sciences MSci degree programme.

Written project report (25%) and viva on placement (25%). A presentation detailing the role of the organisation (10%) and critical review of the literature (40%).

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The course aims to provide experience of full-time employment in a research environment and experience of carrying out and reporting on extended scientific research.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

■ carry out biological research in a work environment;

■ prepare a detailed scientific report on that research;

■ defend their research and interpretation of data in oral interview;

■ assess and evaluate existing published scientific literature;

■ compose an appropriate review of existing primary literature on the chosen topic;

■ evaluate the role of the placement provider and design and deliver a presentation to present and explain such to an audience of their peers.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.