Course specification and structure
Undergraduate Course Structures Postgraduate Course Structures

UESCIENC - BSc Sciences Extended Degree - (Biology, Chemistry, Health, Psychology)

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Science Level Honours
Possible interim awards Preparatory Diploma, Preparatory Certificate
Total credits for course 480
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Human Sciences
Subject Area Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 4 YEARS  
Part-time 6 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

The Preparatory Year of the four year Extended Degree Programme is a level three course intended to introduce students to the fundamentals of science to enable them to study at level four. It makes no assumptions about prior scientific study. All students will gain a solid grounding in Biology and in mathematics; practical sessions in the Science Centre help students gain proficiency at experimental work, and are delivered within PR3001 (Scientific Studies). Students are required to select a specialist optional module in either Nutrition & Sports Science, Biochemistry, or Psychology depending upon their chosen route at level 4.

The material will be delivered by a range of mechanisms designed to allow the student to maximise the use of their preferred learning style (traditional lecture/tutorial sessions, guided independent learning, use of IT-based material such as VLOs, peer-assisted sessions).

Utilisation of the University’s VLE, Weblearn has become an invaluable tool with which to disseminate information and to support and assess student learning. Online progress tests will be used to provide students with formative and summative feedback on their progress. Exams in several modules are delivered as online exams.

Feedback will be delivered online and through provision of tutorial question-and-answer sessions and other formative exercises.

Students have access to the Learning Centre situated on the North campus. This has recently been comprehensively refurbished. It provides specific group study areas as well as access to a comprehensive and regularly reviewed range of textbooks, journals and online learning resources. In addition, there are newly fitted ‘all access’ areas on the ground floor of the Tower building and the green lounge in Benwell Road. These areas come with comfortable seating and IT facilities.

Course aims

The aims of the Preparatory Year are to equip students with the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to enable them to embark with well-founded confidence on to the second year of the Extended Degree course.
It will provide students with a broad, varied and stimulating experience which allows them to assess their own aptitudes and interests and develop the ability to apply principles learned in the classroom and laboratory in unfamiliar situations. It will help to develop in students the ability to communicate material of a technical nature both clearly and appropriately.

Course learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student is expected to have developed:

  1. an appreciation of the fundamental concepts in biology, chemistry, and numeracy;
  2. fundamental laboratory-based skills including awareness of relevant health and safety issues;
  3. competence in accessing and evaluating information independently and making effective use of paper-based and electronic sources of scientific information and data;
  4. the capacity to communicate a subject clearly and accurately orally, and/or in writing;
  5. an ability to analyse information and make reasoned judgements;
  6. an ability to employ a range of responses to well defined but often unpredictable or unfamiliar problems;
  7. a sense of responsibility for quantity and quality of output.

Principle QAA benchmark statements

None available for level 3.
For levels 4-6 this will be course-specific.

Assessment strategy

Students are assessed through a variety of methods including problem solving exercises, in-class tests, practical datasheets, oral presentations, essays and examinations. Formative assessments include regular on-line tests.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

The course includes the option to take either a 15 credit Work Placement module at level 6 or a 30 credit Sandwich Placement module between level 5 and level 6. Students are not allowed to register for both these modules.

Course specific regulations

To progress to level 4 of a BSc Hons course, students are required to attain at least 40% in their four level 3 modules (but see Section 29), and thus achieve 120 credits.

If attendance falls below 75% on a module, reassessment opportunities will not be available and instead the module will have to be retaken the following year with attendance and payment of fees. Mitigating circumstances cannot be claimed for missed classes; however Module Leaders will take account of absences that are a consequence of recorded disability or otherwise recorded as 'Authorised Absence' when applying the 75% threshold.

Modules required for interim awards

The cores for the Preparatory Year are listed in section 27. For intermediate awards, any combination of the modules from the course specification would be appropriate, such that for a Preparatory Certificate, 60 credits have been awarded, and for a Preparatory Diploma 120 credits have been awarded and the student is not continuing with study at the university.

See Course Specification for a table showing preparatory year module requirements for Level 4 entry into all BSc courses offered by the Faculty of Life Sciences, for students starting in September

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

As the programme progresses students will receive feedback from tutors and peers enabling them to reflect on their progress based on the evidence available. This process assists students in developing as independent learners, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. This will be of benefit throughout their future studies, and career. Students will also be able to track their performance on-line.

Arrangements on the course for careers education, information and guidance

In their optional module, students will learn more about the BSc courses available to them, and about a range of careers which successful graduates can embark upon.

Career opportunities

If you satisfactorily complete the preparatory year and reach the necessary academic criteria, you can progress to Year 1 of many of our science or psychology-based BSc (Hons) courses. Some degree programmes, such as our Dietetics and Nutrition BSc, and Biomedical Science BSc degrees, have higher entry criteria (in terms of grades obtained for topics on the preparatory year), and you may be required to attend an interview.

Completion of a science or psychology-related degree opens up a huge range of career options, as well as a route into further specialist training or postgraduate study. Our graduates are working as biotechnologists, sports coaches, clinical psychologists and many other professions in industries all over the world.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

  • at least one A level at grade C (or a minimum of 32 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC Subsidiary/National/BTEC Extended Diploma)
  • English Language and Mathematics GCSEs at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above (or equivalent)

You may apply if you have Level 3 qualifications such as A level, BTEC Extended Diploma or Access to Higher Education qualifications with high UCAS points and grades, but not in the relevant subject areas (eg biology and chemistry) which are required to study BSc programmes in the School of Human Sciences.

If you meet the UCAS points criteria but who obtained a D (grade 3 from 2017) in English and/or maths at GCSE, you may be offered a University test in these areas.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 02 Sep 2013 Last validation date 02 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes C100 (Biology): 50% , F100 (Chemistry): 50%
Route code SCIENC

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 03 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
PR3001 Scientific Studies Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR FRI AM
PR3002 Biology Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE AM
PC3000 Key Studies that Shaped Psychology Option 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE AM
PC3001 Being a Psychologist: Scientist and Practitioner Option 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
PR3003 Chemistry Option 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
PR3006 Nutrition and Sports Science Option 30        
PR3007 Biochemistry Option 30        

Stage 1 Level 03 January start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
PR3001 Scientific Studies Core 30        
PR3002 Biology Core 30        
PC3000 Key Studies that Shaped Psychology Option 30        
PC3001 Being a Psychologist: Scientist and Practitioner Option 30        
PR3003 Chemistry Option 30        
PR3006 Nutrition and Sports Science Option 30        
PR3007 Biochemistry Option 30