Programme Specification – 2015/16
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Awarding Body
Teaching Institution (if different)
Final Award
Programme title/route/pathway
Subsidiary award(s) and title(s)
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8.
FHEQ Level
Credits and ECTS credits
Name of Professional, Statutory or
Regulatory Body (PSRB)
Date of last accreditation (if
applicable)
Mode of study
Language of study
UCAS Code
QAA Subject Benchmark Statement
(if applicable)
Other internal and / or external
reference points
Faculty / Department
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16. Programme Director
17. Date of Production / Revision of the
specification
University of Surrey
N/A
MSc
Medical Microbiology (EuroMasters)
PG Dip Medical Microbiology, PG Cert Medical
Microbiology
FHEQ Level 7
240 UK credits, 120 ECTS credits
Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS)
August 2013
Full-time
English
N/A
N/A
IBMS accredited programme
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of
Biosciences and Medicine, Department of Microbial and
Cellular Sciences
Dr Dany Beste
May 2015
18. Educational aims of the Programme
This full-time two year programme is intended primarily for those who already have some
practical experience in medical microbiology or a closely related field. Those who undertake
this MSc will aspire to become leaders in their profession. The programme therefore aims to
provide a strong scientific and intellectual platform on which further development can be built,
including the ability to evaluate and exploit new technology. The programme will develop
students’ ability to conceive, execute and manage full-time research projects with the aim of
equipping students for careers in microbiology research.
19. Programme learning outcomes – the programme provides opportunities for students to develop
and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the
following areas:
Knowledge and Understanding
PG cert
ILO1 Medical Microbiology and its underlying
scientific basis.
PG Dip, MSc
ILO2 Analytical skills to allow interpretation of
data and formulation of conclusions.
ILO3 Managerial and research skills required for
further professional development as scientists.
Teaching and learning strategies
Interactive lectures, tutorials, group exercises,
and computer based exercises, self-directed
learning exercises and supervised Laboratory
Practical’s.
In addition, students gain the majority of their
practical experience in the laboratory of their
research group.
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by both formative and
summative assessments of; coursework essays,
research project dissertation, problem solving
exercises, oral presentations. Practical skills are
assessed by written laboratory reports and by a
Training Development Portfolio.
Skills and other attributes - Intellectual / cognitive
skills
PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc
ILO4 Appraise scientific literature.
PG Dip, MSc
ILO5 Critically analyse new developments in
technology
ILO6 Formulate hypothesis.
ILO7 Critically analyse experimental data.
ILO8 Design experiments.
Teaching and learning strategies
Cognitive skills are developed through the
lectures, group discussions, practical sessions
and the research project.
In addition, students gain the majority of their
practical experience in the laboratory of their
research group.
Assessment
Examinations, oral presentations, critical
essays, research project dissertation and
problem solving exercises.
The research project dissertation will allow the
student to demonstrate their ability to design,
execute and analyse experiments, relating the
data to present literature and question existing
principles and theorize beyond these.
Skills and other attributes - Professional practical
skills
PG cert
ILO9 Analyse numerical data using appropriate
statistical packages and computer packages.
PG Dip, MSc
ILO10 Articulate experimental data effectively
through oral and written work.
MSc
IL11 Apply key Medical Microbiology laboratory
skills to academic research.
ILO12 Compose an original experiment
independently.
Teaching and learning strategies
Practical skills will be developed through
practical sessions, in class activities,
coursework, the Training Development Portfolio
and the research project. The Training
Development Portfolio will allow students to
reflect on their practical experiences and the
research project dissertation will allow the
student to demonstrate their ability to design,
execute and analyse experiments. The student
is also examined on his/her research project by
viva voce examination.
Assessment
Assessment of practical skills is through the
observation of practical skills, practical reports
and the research project. The research
supervisor will also assess the practical
performance using the Training Development
Portfolio.
Skills and other attributes - Key / transferable skills
Teaching and Learning strategies
PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc
ILO13 Critically analyse literature and data
ILO14 Solve problems
ILO15 Evaluate and exploit new technology
ILO16 Reason effectively
PG Dip, MSc
ILO17 Time management whilst working
independently and as a team member.
ILO18 Interrogate data using statistical and
numerical skills.
ILO19 Prepare high quality assignments using
Information Technology including specialist
packages
Transferable skills are developed through
Journal Club Participation, Oral presentations,
Scientific poster presentations, practical
sessions and the research project. The set
reading and self-study sessions (e.g. online selftests) will encourage effective independent
working.
Assessment
Assessment of key skills will be carried out
through the set coursework of each module and
the research project. This includes facilitating
journal clubs, presentations, learning basic and
advanced laboratory techniques, presenting
experimental data and the final research
dissertation.
20. Programme structure – including the route / pathway / field requirements, levels modules,
credits, awards and further information on the mode of study.
All students are initially registered for 2 years. The programme is divided into modules. All taught
modules are worth 15 credits, which is indicative of 150 hours of learning, comprised of student
contact, private study and assessment. In order to achieve the award of MSc the students must
complete 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7. The Project module is 60 credits and takes place in year two of
the MSc. In order for students to progress to (FHEQ Level 7) they are required to achieve a minimum
of 50%. The course structure is illustrated in the table below.
Award requirements
MSc (EuroMasters)
Post graduate Diploma
Postgraduate Certificate
Pass all taught modules (180 credits)
and the research dissertation (60 credits)
Pass any 8 taught modules (120 credits)
Pass any 4 taught modules (60 credits)
Programme adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Programme pathways and variants
N/A
FHEQ Level 7: Potential awards – MSc, PG DIP, PG CERT
Module
Module title
Core /compulsory
Credit
code
/optional
volume
MMIM015 Viral Infections
compulsory
15
MMIM016 Managing
compulsory
15
Research
Semester
(1 / 2)
1
1
Award requirements
MSc (Euro Master) must
complete ALL modules
including the 60 credit
MMIM017
Epidemiology,
Disease control
and Public
Health
Microbial
Genetics and
Molecular
Biology
Bacterial,
Protozoal and
Fungal Diseases
Part 1. Diseases
Bacterial,
Protozoal and
Fungal Diseases
Part 2. Treatment
Introduction to
Immunology
Pathogenesis of
Infectious
diseases
Research
Methods 1
compulsory
15
1
compulsory
15
2
compulsory
15
1
MMIM027
MMIM028
MMIM018
MMIM021
MMIM022
MMIM023
MMIM024
MMIM026
MMIM029
MMIM025
compulsory
15
2
compulsory
15
2
compulsory
15
2
compulsory
15
Research
Methods 2
compulsory
15
Critical Review of
the Scientific
Literature
Journal club
compulsory
15
compulsory
15
Year 1,
semester
1
Year 1,
Semester
2
Year 1
semester
2
Year 1,
Semester
1
Year 2
Research project to
achieve 240 credits.
PG Dip. Must complete 8
taught modules selected
from the above to achieve
120 credits.
PG Cert. Must complete
any 4 taught modules to
achieve 60 credits
A minimum of 50% is
required to pass any one
module and also the
complete programmes.
Research
Compulsory
60
project
How many optional modules must a
N/A
student choose in order to achieve the
necessary amount of credits to achieve
this level?
21. Opportunities for placements / work-related learning / collaborative activity – please
indicate if any of the following apply to your programme
Data supplied by an external source for student analysis which contributes to an
No
assessment
Guest / external / associate lecturer (please detail the extent of their contribution, i.e. Yes
do they mark?)
Professional Training Year (PTY)
No
Placement, study or work placement outside of the PTY(please indicate if this is one No
day, one month, six months, a year etc.)
Clinical Placements (that are not part of the PTY Scheme)
No
ERASMUS Study (that is not taken during Level P)
No
Study exchanges (that are not part of the ERASMUS Scheme)
No
Dual Degree
No
Further information
N/A
22. Criteria for admission
For MSc award: minimum entry criteria are a BSc in relevant Bioscience programme at minimum 2.ii
level, or higher degree, such as a medical degree. Candidates with a lesser degree maybe considered
if they have significant professional experiences. Candidates for CPD may apply and be considered on
individual basis. IELTS minimum overall: 7.0
23. Assessment regulations
Please click on the following link for the full assessment regulations
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality_enhancement/regulations/index.htm
All programmes within the University of Surrey adhere to the Assessment Regulations. All taught
programmes also reference and follow the Code of practice for assessment and feedback.
24. Support for students and their learning
Sources of help and advice may include: Induction, handbooks, personal tutors, project and personal
supervisors, central support services, careers service, SurreyLearn.
25. Quality management – indications of quality and the methods for evaluating and improving
quality
The quality management of this programme is monitored through:
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Periodic programme review
Annual Programme Review Reports
Module Evaluation Questionnaires
The iGrad Survey
Joint Staff Student Liaison Committees
Personal Tutoring
Board of Study meetings
Board of Examiners
26. Further information
Further information can be found on our webpages at http://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/medicalmicrobiology-euromasters and within the Programme Handbook, which is provided on entry to the
Programme.
The Regulations and Codes of practice for taught programmes can be found at
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality_enhancement/regulations/index.htm
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality_enhancement/standards/index.htm