Second Year Honours degree programmes and progression information Maurice Gallagher, Director of Teaching March 2016

Where you are now and where you are going? Working towards entering third year: Now - pre-register for the courses/programme for next year June – Enter Biological Sciences OR Biomedical Sciences Honours degree programme ‘Junior Honours’ End of third year - progress into ‘Senior Honours’ Progression is subject to meeting the necessary requirements

What are the requirements (by Sept 2016)? Normally 240 credits from years one and two. What happens if I fail one courses in second year? With 220 credits - normally allowed to progress (Progression Board decision). You MUST make up 20 credits by end of Junior Honours. For Biomedical Sciences programmes (ONLY): At least 50%, BMS2 + PASS either CTO or MII2 at 1st attempt. Pass all 3 with 50% average and have 240 credits (normally) by September. I f I fail 2 or more courses? You will NOT be allowed to progress. You will be interviewed by the Senior Tutor who will decide whether you can continue with your studies (or not), and be allowed to make good the missing credits but NOT in attendance.

What to Consider now! Which Honours programme should I choose? What are the required courses? Can I choose more than one Honours Programme? Can I change my mind? Will I keep my personal tutor? What about third year?

Which Honours programmes are available? School of Biological SciencesBiomedical Sciences BiochemistryInfectious Diseases BiotechnologyMedical Biology Cell BiologyNeuroscience Development, Regeneration and Stem CellsPharmacology EcologyPhysiology Evolutionary Biology Reproductive Biology Genetics Immunology Molecular Biology Molecular Genetics Plant Science Zoology Biological/Biomedical Sciences with Management *Note: if you have enrolled in the Medical Sciences Honours programme, your choices are already defined by the School of Biomedical Sciences.

Choosing a programme – General considerations Biological Sciences: Take 120 credits (only) of 3rd year courses (level 9/10); 3 in each semester Each Honours Programme REQUIRES 2 or 3 third year (20 credit) courses 80 credit points must be from Biological OR Biomedical Sciences courses Biological Sciences (Ecology) can choose their 80 credit points from Biological, including 40 credits of Geosciences courses. Biomedical Sciences 80 credits from Biomedical Sciences courses, including Biomedical sciences 3 (40 points) Note: Exchange students MUST agree their third year programme with the relevant Honours Programme Organiser and study the equivalent of the programmes required 3 rd year courses.

Required Third year courses for Honours programmes School of Biological Sciences Biochemistry Biotechnology Cell Biology Dev. Biol/Stem Ecology Evolutionary Biology Struct Funct ProtMolec Microbiology Molec Cell Biol Dev Biol Pop Commun Ecol Animal Div and Evol Molec Cell BiolBiotechnology Molec Genetics One of: Field ZoologyEvol Ecol Genetics Molec Genetics Gen & Genomics MCB, Gen, An DiversityGen & Genomics MOG, RB, APB Genetics ImmunologyMolecular BiologyMolecular Genetics Plant Science Zoology Evol Ecol GeneticsImmunology Struct Funct ProtMolec Cell Biol Appl Plant Biol Field Zoology Molec GeneticsAND ONE OFMolec GeneticsMolec Genetics Evol Ecol Plants Animal Div and Evol Gen & Genomics Molec Genetics Gen & GenomicsGen & Genomicsor ONE of aboveBehav Ecol Para Biol AND TGP2AND PaBi if Clin Imm Haem 3B (SBMS) parasite focused Med Microbiol (SBMS) School of Biomedical Sciences Infect Diseases Medical Biology Neuroscience Pharmacology PhysiologyReproductive Biology Biomed Sci 3 Biomed Sci 3 Biomed Sci 3 Med Microbiol Neurosci Pharmacology Physiology Reproductive Biology ONE of: ONE of:Clin Bioch Endo Immunol (SBS)Clin Imm Haem 3A/B Clin Imm Haem 3AMed Microbiol Mech Brain Dev Neurosci Pharmacol Physiol Repro Biol

Can I choose more than one Honours Programme? You can register for more than one but you will only be invited to join one. Can I change my mind in third year? Yes, providing you have taken the required courses and meet the other Honours programme requirements. Course requirements will limit changes between Biological and Biomedical sciences Programmes. Will I keep my personal tutor? You will have a personal tutor who is linked with the Honours Programme or a closely related Programme within the School.

Progression from Junior Honours to Senior Honours programmes Require 360 credits – from level 9 or 10 courses. No resits for Honours exams UNLESS the Board of Examiners decide that there were appropriate special circumstances. Your first sitting would then be in August. Providing you have met the requirements, you will automatically progress into Senior Honours on your existing programme. Passing third year courses The 3 rd year rules differ between SBS and SBMS. This affects progression! Biological Sciences – Require an overall mark of at least 40% and must meet the learning objectives. Biomedical Sciences – May need to achieve a course mark of at least 40% in the in-course assessment AND in the degree exam.

What if: You fail one (or even two) courses in THIRD year? It is still possible to progress. You may be eligible for credit by aggregation IF……. you have passed a minimum of 80 credits AND have a mean mark of at least 40% over the 120 points of courses which count toward Junior Honours BUT you MUST pass the required courses for your Honours programme. All your Junior and Senior Honours marks will still count towards your degree classification. First or second year course (level 8) MUST be passed by the end of 3rd year. They do not count towards credit by aggregation or for classification. If you do not meet these requirements, most students are able to sit exams in August to achieve sufficient credit points for an Ordinary degree.

How do I sign up for my courses/programme? The site is now live and ALL students (including those on exchange) MUST complete it. Your last submission will be taken as the correct one so you can change your mind!

What to do now? Start thinking and talking about it! What are the career opportunities? What would I be doing each day and will the lifestyle suit me? Can I work in industry/hospitals/a science/non-science field? Can I work abroad/ travel/ go to scientific conferences? You have received a pre-registration guide which will describe all the relevant Honours programmes and their requirements. BUT today… Listen to and talk with the Honours Convenors Once you get your guide…. discuss your Honours options and course choices with your PT before you sign up electronically. Are you taking all the necessary REQUIRED courses? What about recommended courses?

Good luck with your exams. We look forward to you joining us in Junior Honours. Maurice Gallagher, Director of Teaching March 2016