Paper 1314/BMSBoS/5
6 November 2013
Brief description of the paper
Paper describes the admission policy for the Biomedical Sciences degree programmes and proposed degree titles.
Action requested
For discussion and approval
Resource implications
Resources are covered form core teaching at a College level.
Equality and Diversity
There are no equality and diversity implications.
Originator of the paper
Dr John Stewart
24 October 2013
Freedom of information
This paper to be included in open business.
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Background
At present, about 320 - 350 students are admitted by the College of Science & Engineering into the School of Biological Sciences to study for a BSc in Biological Sciences. In the first two years, they take a mixture of courses run by either the Biology Teaching Organisation
(BTO) or the Biomedical Teaching Organisation (BMTO). At the end of third year, students progress into a specific Honours programme in either the School of Biological Sciences or the
School of Biomedical Sciences.
This situation gives rise to many concerns including some expressed by the recent Teaching
Programme Review of Biomedical Sciences. Specifically:
1) NSS scores for feedback are weak in Biological Sciences, but given the large and diverse cohort and the mix of teaching responsibilities it is hard to discern exactly where the problems lie. We believe that part of the problem lies in a fractured student experience, with a poor sense of belonging in early years and weakness in connections between years.
2) The curriculum in years 1 and 2 is largely organised by the BTO with content and development of their courses being influenced by the needs of their Honours programmes in mind. The present curriculum does not adequately address the needs of Honours in Biomedical Sciences courses, with an adverse effect on the structure and content of third and fourth year courses. The mixed academic responsibility impedes innovation in the curriculum
3) Because the UG teaching performed (and associated income earned) by the School of
Biomedical Sciences is not transparent, there are weaknesses in College level support.
Specifically there is confusion about who has responsibility for resourcing courses in years 1-3. CMVM does supply monies towards course budgets but there are problems in the recruitment of staff to teach and support courses. There is a lack of understanding within CMVM as to the level of commitment of SBMS to Biological
Sciences teaching in early years and this will not be rectified until SBMS has defined responsibility for the cohort of students who graduate with Biomedical Sciences degrees.
4) This lack of transparency and accountability, together with the complex organisational structure, impedes the evolution of cost-effective delivery of teaching.
Accordingly a proposal to move to separate entry streams for Biomedical Sciences and
Biological Sciences has been agreed. The new Biomedical Sciences degree programmes will continue to share some teaching in years 1 and 2 with the Biological Sciences degree programme, and will allow controlled transfer of students through clearly defined procedures at the end of years 1 and 2. However we expect the programmes to diverge in ways appropriate to the eventual Honours programme destinations.
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Proposal
Admissions to the Degree Programme will be administered by the College Office Admissions staff with academic responsibility lying with the School of Biomedical Sciences. Negotiations are currently taking place with the College of Science & Engineering with the expected quota to be set at approximately 120 SEU/RUK entrants per year. The first intake of students will be in September 2015.
The format of the degree programmes will not change from that already in place or being planned.
A.
Programmes to be offered
There are currently twelve degree programmes awarded by this School to students who enter the Biological Sciences degree programme:
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Infectious Diseases)
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Medical Biology)
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Neuroscience)
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Pharmacology)
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Physiology)
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Reproductive Biology)
BSc Biomedical Sciences with Management (Infectious Diseases)
BSc Biomedical Sciences with Management (Medical Biology)
BSc Biomedical Sciences with Management (Neuroscience)
BSc Biomedical Sciences with Management (Pharmacology)
BSc Biomedical Sciences with Management (Physiology)
BSc Biomedical Sciences with Management (Reproductive Biology)
The current procedure is that each of the individual programmes is offered plus a single with management programme. Application to BSc Biological Sciences is also offered. Students are initially admitted to BSc Biological Sciences irrespective of which programme they applied for.
From September 2015 the following programmes are offered:
BSc Infectious Diseases
BSc Medical Biology
BSc Neuroscience
BSc Pharmacology
BSc Physiology
BSc Reproductive Biology
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It is proposed that:
1) each programme is offered and students are admitted to that programme. There will be no generic application to a BSc Biomedical Sciences programme or assignment to such a programme in the first two years.
2) the degree titles will not include the term Biomedical Sciences, e.g. the degree will be
BSc Infectious Diseases.
3) the with Management programmes will no longer be offered. Students will have the opportunity to study a range of elective courses out with their specific discipline and this can include Business Studies and Management courses.
4) students admitted to a specific degree programme will be able to move to the other programmes at the end of years two and three if they have passed the pre-requisite courses for that programme.
5) students will not be able to move to BSc Medical Sciences, BSc Biological Sciences or
MBChB programmes, or vice versa, except by recognised transfer procedures.
B. Entry requirements
The minimum entry requirements will be the same as those for the BSc Medical Sciences degree programme. The level at which offers are made will be dependent on the number of applicants but will be considerably above the minimum entry requirements.
First-year entry
SQA Highers. ABBB or more if two sittings, to include Biology and Chemistry. Mathematics and/or Physics are recommended.Standard Grades: Mathematics at Grade 2. English at
Grade 3.
GCE A-levels. ABB in one sitting to include Biology and Chemistry. Mathematics and/or
Physics are recommended. GCSEs: Mathematics at Grade B andEnglish at Grade C.
IB. Overall score of 32 points, including HL Grade 5 in Biology and Chemistry. Mathematics and/or Physics are recommended. SL: English at Grade 4 and Mathematics at SL Grade 4.
Second-year entry
GCE A-levels. AAB in one sitting, to include Biologyand Chemistry.
SQA Advanced Highers. AB in Biology and Chemistry.
IB. 36 points overall and award of IB Diploma to include Biology HL at Grade 6, Chemistry
HL at Grade 6.
Students who achieve these grades will be offered Direct Entry to second year but they can accept or reject this offer as they wish.
A range of qualifications from different countries around the world are also accepted and comparative levels have been determined.
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