School of Biological Sciences - Programme Guide for Year 1 Students - Produced by The Biology Teaching Organisation
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School of Biological Sciences
Programme Guide for Year 1 Students
2020/2021
Produced by
The Biology Teaching Organisation
bto@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/btoDisclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure the contents of this booklet are
accurate at the time of printing. Unforeseen circumstances may
necessitate changes to the procedures, curricula and syllabuses
described. The Biology Teaching Organisation undertakes to operate
within the rules and regulations as set out in the University Calendar and
the Examination Regulations. It will also honour undertakings made in
writing to individual classes, insofar as these do not conflict with the
University’s regulations.
This guide is produced by the Biology Teaching Organisation (BTO) to
provide guidance for students enrolled for Biological Sciences degrees.
If you require this document in an alternative format, such as larger font
or a coloured background, contact bto@ed.ac.uk
Students are required to update their contact details on the student
record system via the MyEd Student Self-Service channel:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance/students
BTO website:
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/bto
Programme guides:
www.wiki.ed.ac.uk/display/SBSUndergraduateIntranet/Guides
To request a change to a tutorial/practical/workshop group:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/timetabling/personalised-
timetables/group-change-request
Ensure that you select the School that delivers the course and choose
the correct course name.
2Biology Teaching Organisation (BTO)
bto@ed.ac.uk
0131 650 8649
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/bto
JCMB Room 2105 or Ashworth Room 52, Kings Buildings
BTO Reception Ms Janna James (JCMB) 0131 650 8649
Teaching Administrators Dr Edward Dewhirst (JCMB) 0131 650 7376
Ms Rachel Law (Ashworth) 0131 651 3689
Vacancy (JCMB) 0131 650 8638
Mr Tim MacDonald (Ashworth) 0131 651 7296
Ms Jennie Morris (JCMB) 0131 650 5513
Ms Louise Robertson (JCMB) 0131 650 5988
Mr Karen Sutherland (JCMB) 0131 651 3404
Mrs Carolyn Wilson (JCMB) 0131 650 8651
Miss Donna Wright (JCMB) 0131 651 7051
Vacancy (Ashworth) 0131 650 5454
Director of Teaching Dr Patrick Walsh 0131 650 5520
Academic Administrator Dr Ann Haley 0131 650 5538
Senior Academic Tutor Dr Nadia Tuzi 0131 650 8652
Student Support Tutor Dr Abigail Cabrelli 0131 650 5887
Student Support Tutor Dr Hazel Cruickshanks 0131 650 5887
Student Support Tutor Dr John Curtis 0131 650 8654
Student Support Tutor Dr David Radford 0131 650 5723
Undergraduate Manager Dr Caroline Aspinwall (JCMB) 0131 650 5521
Recruitment & Employability Manager Ms Holly Robertson-Dick 0131 650 5952
UG Recruitment Officer Ms Rona Lindsay (JCMB) 0131 650 5528
Student Experience Admin Ms Gillian MacDonald (JCMB) 0131 650 5510
Project Enhancement Officer Mrs Louise Hann (JCMB) 0131 650 7481
Postgraduate Taught Manager Mrs Claire Black (JCMB) 0131 650 8637
Taught Prog Marketing Officer Ms Andrea Nichol (JCMB) 0131 650 8643
Technical Support Manager Dr David Hills (JCMB) 0131 650 7196
E-Learning Support Mr David Barrass / Dr Linda Hu 0131 651 7090
Biomedical Teaching Organisation (BMTO)
bmto@ed.ac.uk
0131 650 3160
www.ed.ac.uk/biomedical-sciences/bmto/contact
Geosciences Teaching Organisation (GTO)
info@geos.ed.ac.uk
0131 651 7068
www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/about/contact-us
3Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 7
The BTO ....................................................................................................................... 7
Contact BTO Reception ................................................................................................ 7
Learn site for our Year 1 Students ................................................................................ 7
Welcome from the Director of Teaching ........................................................................... 8
SECTION 1 .......................................................................................................................... 9
University structure........................................................................................................... 9
Semesters ........................................................................................................................ 9
Lecture times .................................................................................................................... 9
Examination dates .......................................................................................................... 10
Resits ............................................................................................................................. 10
Your degree programme ................................................................................................ 10
Qualifications.................................................................................................................. 11
The role of the Personal Tutor........................................................................................ 11
Enrolment in the University ............................................................................................ 11
Code of Conduct ......................................................................................................... 12
Contact details ............................................................................................................ 12
SECTION 2 ........................................................................................................................ 13
The Year 1 programme in Biological Sciences............................................................... 13
Year 1 curriculum ........................................................................................................... 14
Credits and workload .................................................................................................. 15
ePortfolio ........................................................................................................................ 16
Aims and learning objectives in Year 1 .......................................................................... 17
Direct Entry into Year 2 .................................................................................................. 17
Courses offered by the School of Biological Sciences ................................................... 18
Origin and Diversity of Life 1 (BILG08001) - Compulsory ........................................... 18
Quantitative Skills for Biologists 1 (BILG08019) ......................................................... 19
Biology, Ecology and Environment 1 (BILG08017) ..................................................... 19
Molecules, Genes and Cells 1 (BILG08015) - Compulsory ........................................ 20
Biological Chemistry courses for Biological Sciences students ...................................... 21
Biological Chemistry 1A (CHEM08022) ...................................................................... 21
Biological Chemistry 1B (CHEM08023) ...................................................................... 21
Courses offered by the Deanery of Biomedical Sciences............................................... 22
Our Changing World (BIME08006) ............................................................................. 22
Medical Biology 1 (BIME08004) ................................................................................. 22
Courses offered by the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences ..... 23
Psychology 1A (PSYL08009) ..................................................................................... 23
4Psychology 1B (PSYL08010) ..................................................................................... 23
Language courses for non-linguists................................................................................ 23
Courses offered by the Business School........................................................................ 23
Introduction to Business (BUST08026)....................................................................... 23
Fundamentals of Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship (BUST08024) ......................... 23
Residential and Field Courses in Biological Subjects..................................................... 24
Field Ecology (ECSC08007) run by Geosciences ...................................................... 24
Expeditions, fieldwork and lab experience in vacations .............................................. 24
SECTION 3 ........................................................................................................................ 25
Timetables .................................................................................................................. 25
Changing groups ........................................................................................................ 25
Changing courses in Year 1 ....................................................................................... 25
Choosing your courses for Year 2 .............................................................................. 26
Engagement with studies............................................................................................ 26
Absences, late penalties, extensions and Special Circumstances ............................. 26
Learning and Teaching Strategy ................................................................................. 26
Assessment ................................................................................................................ 27
Plagiarism ................................................................................................................... 28
Assessment Regulations ............................................................................................ 28
Study skills .................................................................................................................. 28
Common marking scheme .......................................................................................... 28
Appeals procedure...................................................................................................... 29
Academic Progression in Years 1 and 2 ........................................................................ 30
Overseas exchanges...................................................................................................... 30
Student representatives ................................................................................................. 31
Course feedback......................................................................................................... 31
Student-Staff Liaison Committees .............................................................................. 31
Student voice .............................................................................................................. 31
SECTION 4 ........................................................................................................................ 32
Information Services....................................................................................................... 32
University systems ...................................................................................................... 32
Learn .......................................................................................................................... 32
Email........................................................................................................................... 32
Sources of help .............................................................................................................. 32
Personal Tutor ............................................................................................................ 32
BTO Student Support Team ....................................................................................... 33
BMTO Academic Support ........................................................................................... 33
Demonstrators ............................................................................................................ 34
5Student Counselling.................................................................................................... 34
Part-time jobs ................................................................................................................. 34
Societies......................................................................................................................... 34
6Introduction
Welcome to the University of Edinburgh. We hope that you will have an enriching and
enjoyable experience here that will prepare you for a successful future.
This Programme Guide for Year 1 Students provides the information you will need to
choose your courses and plan your curriculum, with the assistance of your Personal Tutor.
This guide should be read in conjunction with the Essential Information for Biological
Science Students guide, available from the BTO.
The BTO
Courses and programmes for the School of Biological Sciences are administered by staff
in the Biology Teaching Organisation (BTO).
You should regularly check the BTO website:
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/bto
Contact BTO Reception
The BTO Reception is located in the James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB 2105).
Our normal opening hours are 09:00 to 17:00 (Monday – Friday).
By phone: 0131 650 8649
By email: bto@ed.ac.uk
Depending on advice from the University and the Scottish Government on restrictions
relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, BTO administrative staff may sometimes work from
home. If we are unable to open the office to visitors, we will update the status on our
website:
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/current-students/biology-teaching-organisation/key-contacts
Learn site for our Year 1 Students
We strongly encourage you to read and regularly check the Learn site for Biological
Sciences Year 1 students. This will be updated with any information useful for your year
group. You can also use the discussion areas to socialise with your peers.
7Welcome from the Director of Teaching
Welcome to the University of Edinburgh!
You have entered University at an incredibly challenging time.
However, you have made an excellent choice by coming to
Edinburgh. While there is a great deal of uncertainty and
turmoil throughout the world, you can still be certain that during
your time at the University of Edinburgh you will be able to
pursue your chosen subject with the support of internationally
renowned experts in those same fields. The way in which we
interact this year will be different for many people, but you will
still benefit from encountering a wide variety of people from
diverse cultures and backgrounds. By the end of your degree,
through your efforts, you will be a highly skilled biologist; even
generating new knowledge at the frontiers of your subject.
The ethos of the School of Biological Sciences, and the University as a whole, is that our
students should grow to be ‘independent learners’ – developing skills for approaching
learning and problem solving that will be used by them, in whatever field of endeavour they
choose, for the rest of their lives.
There are some things to keep in mind during your journey through the University:
1. Your efforts will determine the value you get from your time at University: be bold!
Maintaining a high level of enthusiasm for your chosen subject area, and Biology at
large, and engaging in all the provided learning opportunities will benefit you multi-fold.
Taking advantage of the social and extracurricular activities that are on offer will allow
you to build life-long personal and professional relationships.
2. You are allowed (and encouraged) to make mistakes – to challenge yourselves and do
things in a different way.
Do not worry if your plans do not always succeed. You are resourceful and there are
many paths to “success” (often passing directly through perceived failures). The key is
to remain positive and reflect on how you can improve and progress.
3. A major point for happiness involves understanding your own strengths and
weaknesses and your likes and dislikes.
Knowing these, you should ‘choose’ your pathway in life wherever possible. You are
best helped by choosing something for positive reasons (i.e. for the benefits it offers),
than for negative reasons (i.e. choosing something because it allows you to avoid
something else that is unpleasant).
Our students will make life-changing impacts on the world. You are one of them, and it will
happen naturally if you strive. We look forward to our opportunity to support you and
facilitate your development during this time.
Dr Patrick Walsh,
Director of Teaching
8SECTION 1
GETTING TO KNOW THE UNIVERSITY
University structure
The University of Edinburgh is structured into three Colleges:
• College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
• College of Science and Engineering
• College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Each College is comprised of a number of Schools. The School of Biological Sciences
is in the College of Science and Engineering. The Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, is
part of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and plays a large role in Biology
teaching.
Undergraduate teaching in the School of Biological Sciences is administered by the
Biology Teaching Organisation (BTO).
Close collaboration takes place with the Biomedical Teaching Organisation (BMTO) who
run the Biomedical Sciences and Medical Science Degree Programme, the Geoscience
Teaching Organisation (GTO) who run the Ecological and Environmental Sciences degree
Programme and the Chemistry Teaching Organisation (CTO) who run some courses that
form part of the Biological Science degree programme.
Semesters
Teaching at the University of Edinburgh takes place during two semesters per year.
All Year 1 students will meet their Personal Tutor (PT) during their first week, to consider
their course choices and get to know their PT.
Semester dates for this year and future years: www.ed.ac.uk/semester-dates
Lecture times
Lecture time slots are common throughout the University as follows:
09:00 - 09:50 13:10 - 14:00
10:00 - 10:50 14:10 - 15:00
15:10 - 16:00
11:10 - 12:00 16:10 - 17:00
12:10 - 13:00 17:10 - 18:00
9You should note that lectures will start at the announced time. Twenty minutes travel time
is built into the middle of the morning (10:50 – 11:10). This helps students on campus who
take courses in different parts of the University to travel between locations.
Examination dates
Exams take place at the end of each semester. Not all courses use an end-of-semester
exam – some may use continuous assessment through the course instead. The
assessment arrangements for each course can be found on Learn.
Exam timetables and venues are arranged by the central Examinations Unit:
www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/exams
They will make every effort to achieve a satisfactory distribution of exam times across the
exam period but it is possible that you will sometimes have examinations on consecutive
days. It is important to plan your revision well in advance of the exams.
Resits
Some students may be required to undertake resits during the summer:
● You should not make holiday arrangements for the summer before you know
whether you are required to take any resits.
● Taking resits will involve a fee (this fee applies whether you need to resit coursework,
exams, or both). If you have resit exams that will take place in Edinburgh, you may
also need to arrange accommodation.
● Students who live outside the UK may apply to take August resit examinations in
their home country. There is a deadline to apply for this service (usually in June) and,
if accepted, an additional fee. Please be aware that due to logistical constraints,
overseas sittings are rarely granted. Further information can be found here:
www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/exams/oes
Your degree programme
The School of Biological Sciences offers a four-year degree programme leading to
honours in Biological Sciences with many different honours specialisations.
You work towards your degree by taking courses worth a total of 120 credits each year.
At this stage all of the Biological Sciences honours programmes are available to all
students registered for Biological Sciences, regardless of the preference (if any) stated on
your UCAS form. Demand for honours programmes does vary, with some being more
popular than others. Specialisation at honours is conditional on taking the appropriate
compulsory courses in earlier years.
It is possible to change your degree programme (for example, between Biological
Sciences and Ecological & Environmental Sciences) if you have the necessary entrance
qualifications and have taken appropriate courses in the earlier years. If you think you
10would like to change School, you should discuss this with your Personal Tutor and then
contact the teaching office for the School you wish to move to. The appropriate time to do
this would be during Welcome Week or during Semester 2. Applications must be
submitted by the date set by each School. Please note that some deadlines may be as
early as March.
If you have particularly high entry qualifications you may have been offered the option of
Direct Entry into Year 2 of the degree programme – this is also called ‘Advanced
Standing’. This enables you to complete the honours degree in three years. You may
accept or reject this offer, after discussing the implications with your Personal Tutor and
reading material provided by the BTO. Direct Entry is not available for students intending
to specialise in Biological Sciences with Management.
Qualifications
The vast majority of students in Biological Sciences graduate with an honours degree.
However, there are several other qualifications available to students who do not progress
to honours. The exact requirements to obtain these qualifications are set out in the Degree
Regulations and Programmes of Study under College of Science and Engineering.
www.drps.ed.ac.uk/20-21/dpt/drps_bio.htm
In summary these qualifications are:
1. Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education.
2. Undergraduate Diploma of Higher Education.
3. Bachelor of Science, Ordinary Degree in Biological Sciences.
4. Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours in Biological Sciences.
The role of the Personal Tutor
Your Personal Tutor (PT) will play an important role in guiding you through the University’s
rules and regulations and in discussing course choices. Your PT also has a pastoral role
that is shared with the Student Support Tutors. Your PT is a sympathetic member of staff
who will follow your progress during undergraduate studies. You will meet your PT during
Welcome Week.
Guidance on the PT system at the University can be found here:
www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/personal-tutor
You will also find information on PTs on the Biological Sciences Year 1 Students Learn
site.
Enrolment in the University
Matriculation is the process by which students are formally admitted to the University.
Matriculation is explained in detail here: www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-
guidance/students/matriculation
11Matriculation consists of the four elements outlined below, all of which must be completed
before you are fully admitted as a student to the University.
1. Online registration.
2. Confirmation that you have started your studies.
3. Fulfillment of any outstanding admissions criteria.
4. Payment of tuition fees.
These four steps are described in detail, along with useful links, here:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance/students/matriculation/matriculation-intro
All students must matriculate at the beginning of their studies and then again at the start of
each academic year. Matriculation carries with it the agreement to abide by University
rules and includes payment of tuition fees and other costs. It also allows access to the
services and facilities offered to you by the University.
Code of Conduct
The University’s Code of Student Conduct applies at all times, including when you are
using social media: www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/staff/discipline/code-discipline
Contact details
Students MUST keep their contact details up to date via the Student Self-Service channel
in MyEd: www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance/students
This is to ensure that staff at the University have access to accurate contact details,
particularly during any period of study away (e.g. exchanges).
12SECTION 2
THE YEAR 1 PROGRAMME IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The Year 1 programme in Biological Sciences
The standard Biological Sciences Year 1 programme
Origin & Diversity of Life 1 Semester 1 BILG08001
Quantitative Skills for Biologists 1 Semester 1 BILG08019
Biology, Ecology & Environment 1 Semester 2 BILG08017
Molecules, Genes & Cells 1 Semester 2 BILG08015
Courses offered by the School of Chemistry
Biological Chemistry 1A Semester 1 CHEM08022
Biological Chemistry 1B Semester 2 CHEM08023
Courses offered by the Deanery of Biomedical Sciences
Our Changing World Semester 1 BIME08006
Medical Biology 1 Semester 2 BIME08004
Courses offered by the School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences
Psychology 1A Semester 1 PSYL08009
Psychology 1B Semester 2 PSYL08010
Courses offered by the Business School
Introduction to Business Full Year BUST08026
Fundamentals of Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship Semester 2 BUST08024
13Year 1 curriculum
You are required to take and pass two compulsory Biological Sciences 20 credit courses.
In practice, most students choose all their courses from those set out in the table below.
When you first log in to MyEd and look at the courses tab, you will see your compulsory
courses listed but may have others listed too. You are free to change the extra courses
after consultation with your PT. Your PT will provide you with academic guidance and
register your final choices. The table below shows the courses taken by the majority of
students. It also shows courses that are taken by students who are registered for
Biological Sciences with Management. Other courses can also be considered and some of
these are described in this guide. A complete list of all the University courses can be found
in the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study (remember to select the correct
academic year): www.drps.ed.ac.uk
You can look at the description of courses and see if any of them appeal to you. In
general, Year 1 is the best time to take outside courses because taking them later may
restrict your honours options.
Semester 1 Semester 2
(September to December) (January to May)
Origin & Diversity of Life 1 Molecules, Genes & Cells 1
(compulsory) (compulsory)
(BILG08001) (BILG08015)
Quantitative Skills for Biologists 1 Biology, Ecology & Environment 1
(BILG08019) (BILG08017)
Biological Chemistry 1A Biological Chemistry 1B
(CHEM08022) (CHEM08023)
Introduction to Business (BUST08026)
Full Year
(compulsory for Biological Sciences with Management students)
Other courses are optional but some may be required for particular sets of students.
Semester 1 Semester 2
(September to December) (January to May)
Mathematics for Natural Sciences 1A Mathematics for Natural Sciences 1B
(MATH08072) (MATH08073)
Human Geography Medical Biology 1
(GEGR08007) (BIME08004)
Earth Dynamics Sustainability, Society & Environment
(EASC08001) (ENVI08001)
Psychology 1A Psychology 1B
(PSYL08009) (PSYL08010)
Fundamentals of Innovation-Driven
Entrepreneurship (BUST08024)
14A typical first year programme for Biological Science students consists of 120 credits,
generally made up of six courses (each worth 20 credits), which together provide a solid
foundation in Biology. This programme introduces you to all the major aspects of modern
Biology along with relevant chemical, mathematical and physical principles.
To ensure a solid basis in biological subjects, all Biological Science students must take
and pass the compulsory courses: Origin and Diversity of Life 1 (ODL1) in Semester 1
and Molecules, Genes and Cells 1 (MGC1) in Semester 2. These core courses must be
passed to enable progression into Year 2.
Students who are taking the Biological Sciences with Management programme must
take the Introduction to Business course as well as ODL1 and MGC1.
Most PTs will stress the importance of Biological Chemistry in understanding modern
Biology. If you are inclined to take an alternative, you should think through your reasons
for this, think about which course(s) you would wish to take instead and about the longer
term implications.
Courses may start at a basic level but will soon provide much greater depth than that of A-
levels or Scottish Advanced Highers. More importantly, courses are designed specifically
around the expertise and research interests of the academic staff. You will be introduced
to some of the major biological issues and controversies of the day, by staff who are
experts in their chosen fields.
The courses that comprise the standard Year 1 programme are designed to increase your
skill-base and incorporate a broad range of teaching methods (including lectures,
practicals, tutorials, computer workshops, project-based investigations). However, the
courses differ in both their subject content and the specific skills that they each develop.
By taking the whole programme you will develop a wide and balanced range of study skills
that provide a firm grounding for courses in the later years.
Plan your revision. Note that some Semester 1 courses will be examined at the end of
the semester and there is little time for revision after teaching has finished. If you leave all
your revision in all courses to the last minute you will not have enough time to complete it
satisfactorily. You are strongly advised to keep your work and revision up-to-date
throughout the semester.
Students are advised to review their work even for courses that do not use an end-of-
semester exam, to consolidate learning and ensure that you are well prepared for the next
year of study.
Credits and workload
You have enrolled for full-time education. This is reflected in the credits that are awarded
for each course. Many courses in Years 1 and 2 are worth 20 credits. Some, like
Biomedical Sciences 2, are worth 40 credits. You take courses worth 120 credits in each
year. This credit system is applied throughout Higher Education in Britain, and one credit
is defined as equivalent to 10 hours of "student effort".
A 20 credit course is equivalent to 200 hours of student effort. The total number of contact
teaching hours (lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials) will seldom be more than 70 hours
15for a 20 credit course, so you will see that you are expected to put in almost twice as much
time outside of these contact hours. A full year's workload (120 credits) is the equivalent of
working 5 days per week for 8 hours per day, over the 30 weeks between September and
the start of the exams in April.
ePortfolio
Overview
Students are required to keep a reflective log of the learning activities completed in
Semesters 1 (Origin and Diversity of Life 1 course) and 2 (Molecules, Genes and Cells 1
course), in the form of an ePortfolio.
We can define reflection as:
“…the conscious examination of past experiences, thoughts and ways of doing things. Its
goal is to surface learning about oneself and the situation, and to bring meaning to it in
order to inform the present and the future. It challenges the status quo of practice,
thoughts and assumptions and may therefore inform our decisions, actions, attitudes,
beliefs and understanding about ourselves.” Source: https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection
Reflection plays a fundamental part in learning from experience; as humans, we all
engage in reflection, asking ourselves how past events have gone and whether we could
have done something differently. The online Reflective ePortfolio offers students greater
opportunities for experiential learning and to understand how they can apply their learning
in the future. It encourages students to refine and improve their approach to studying at
university, and provides a reference point to demonstrate development over the academic
year. This will ultimately enhance their employability through showcasing evidence of
achievement and critical reflection.
Format
The Reflective ePortfolio contributes 25% of the final marks for Origin and Diversity of
Life 1 and Molecules, Genes and Cells 1, and comprises a series of reflective entries
based around weekly academic activities released on Learn. The aim of this assignment is
to allow students to demonstrate how they go about monitoring and enhancing their
effectiveness as a learner. They will be encouraged to be open about their weaknesses
(what didn’t go well, how they are going to improve next time around), and to make it
explanatory, not descriptive, i.e. why, not just what. Marking criteria and submission
details will be available in PebblePad.
Using a structured ePortfolio template in PebblePad, students will explore the following
themes:
Attitudes vital to the achievement of personal goals (motivation, confidence, resilience,
adaptability), making the most of opportunities, and overcoming obstacles.
Strengths and weaknesses, and planning for further personal development.
Personal values, beliefs, and aspirations, and physical and mental wellbeing.
Support
To help structure their ePortfolio entries, students will be referred to the University’s
Reflection Toolkit (https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection). Examples of reflective entries will be
shared in the early weeks of teaching, and students will have the opportunity to receive
formative feedback on their entries from teaching staff.
16A discussion board dedicated to the ePortfolio will run in Learn, on which students can ask
the Portfolio Director questions relating to the assignment. A weekly podcast will provide
insights relevant to the themes explored, and will offer additional sources for student
reflection. For general questions regarding the Reflective ePortfolio assignment, please
contact Dr Paula Smith, Portfolio Director, at paula.smith@ed.ac.uk
Aims and learning objectives in Year 1
Overall aims of the Year 1 programme
• To provide a broad knowledge base and understanding of the diversity of modern
biology, as a foundation for specialisation in subsequent years.
• To demonstrate how elements of chemistry, physics and quantitative analysis can
inform and elucidate biological phenomena.
• To provide familiarity with a wide range of analytical and investigative skills
relating to biology.
• To promote a positive and inquisitive attitude to science.
• To promote independent, self-motivated learning.
Learning objectives
• To be able to organise your time effectively.
• To be able to take effective lecture notes and to supplement these with
appropriate material from other sources (books, internet, etc.).
• To contribute and learn from small-group interactions in a tutorial environment.
• To be able to perform experiments with safety and accuracy, and to record,
analyse and summarise the results.
• To carry out numerical calculations confidently and accurately.
• To be able to use a wide range of IT resources.
• To appreciate the variability of biological data and to apply simple but appropriate
statistical tests for data analysis.
• To be aware of the social responsibility of scientists to society and to each other.
Direct Entry into Year 2
Direct Entry is not available to those taking the Biological Sciences with
Management Programme. The degree regulations for this programme require students to
take Management courses in both Years 1 and 2 so that they are qualified to take further
Management courses at honours level in Years 3 and 4.
If you are offered Direct Entry and decide to accept the offer, you should enrol for Year 2
courses rather than Year 1 courses. Read the information available from the BTO and
consult your PT. You might find Year 2 courses difficult at first, because you will not have
developed the study skills that Year 1 students acquire. You will also need to look at some
of the resources for the Year 1 courses, to catch up on any material.
17If you decide to stay in Year 1 then you can choose a much wider range of courses from
elsewhere in the University, to supplement the two compulsory first year courses that all
first year Biological Sciences students must take (ODL1 and MGC1).
Courses offered by the School of Biological Sciences
Semester 1
(September to December)
Origin and Diversity of Life 1 (BILG08001) - Compulsory
In this exciting course you will study the diversity of living organisms and the evolutionary
forces that created it. You will travel from life's beginnings in the ocean through the
evolution of bacteria, the origin of eukaryotes, the evolution of plants, fungi and animals to
the complexities of the immune systems that protect organisms from parasites and
pathogens.
Science is about the unknown as much as the known, so you will learn how to pose an
evolutionary question and then turn that question into an hypothesis that can be tested.
Helped by technical and teaching staff working for you in a real laboratory, you and your
research team will design and conduct experiments in drosophila genetics and the
experimental evolution of bacteria.
With your research team and guided by your tutor, you will learn how to write a scientific
paper and then use this skill to write up your own experimental results.
Throughout the course you will use your Portfolio to record and reflect on your learning.
Your Portfolio will be a permanent record that will be available to you even after you
graduate from the University of Edinburgh.
Everything you will need for this course is contained in the course website, or can be
accessed from links contained within it. This includes access via the library website to a
short term (3hr) loan ebook of the textbook (Campbell, N. A. 2018 Biology: a global
approach. New York : Pearson), but we recommend that you buy your own hard copy or
ebook.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course you should be able to:
1. Name the 3 domains of life and describe their evolutionary relationships.
2. Identify the major kingdoms by reference to their distinguishing characteristics.
3. Describe some of the major evolutionary events in the origin of life and the evolution
of plants, microbes, fungi and animals.
4. Solve simple problems in Mendelian genetics.
5. Recognise and understand different forms of immunity.
6. Devise and conduct an experimental investigation of an evolutionary question.
7. Write up your experiments in the standard format of a scientific paper.
8. Reflect productively on your own learning and show evidence of this.
(20 credits)
18Quantitative Skills for Biologists 1 (BILG08019)
This course will teach key quantitative skills used in biology through online pair
programming exercises, online Q&A sessions and self-directed study. The course will
consist of 3 modules: a) exploratory data analysis, b) mathematics and c) programming for
analysis of biological data.
Mathematics: There will be an online introductory lecture. Every week, students will be
asked to read specific chapters from the book “Easy Mathematics for Biologists” and
answer questions. The answers to these questions will be posted online and there will be
interactive online sessions where students can ask questions to reinforce understanding of
the material.
Statistics and Programming: Both components will be taught throughout the course via
online workshops, in addition to two introductory online lectures. In the workshops,
students will work in pairs to learn how to solve programming problems, supported by
online demonstrators, to consolidate their self-directed study.
Pre- and post-workshop learning activities will be provided, with students expected to work
on these in their own time. Students will be set weekly quizzes based on the material they
will have learned up to that point.
Online drop-in help sessions will be available to students throughout the course to assist
them with any programming queries they may have.
(20 credits)
Semester 2
(January to May)
Biology, Ecology and Environment 1 (BILG08017)
Biology, Ecology and Environment 1 focuses on the interconnectedness of nature and
offers valuable insights into the diversity, distribution and abundance of life on planet
Earth. The course provides the foundations for understanding the complex relationships
that form throughout our planet and provides a backdrop for appreciating our current
global crises. We will also explore how, by understanding biology, ecology and the
environment, we can begin to respond to some of these challenges.
Lectures and Practicals are divided into modules that reflect the "hierarchical structure of
nature", demonstrating the organisation of life from the single individual to complete
ecosystems and the importance of interactions at each level. The core factual material
covers the following topics:
• Global Environments
(how climatic conditions are established on our planet)
• Organisms and Biology
(the astonishing number of ways in which organisms make a living)
• Population Ecology
(how individuals interact and populations change)
19• Communities and Ecosystems
(how organisms, species and whole communities interact)
• The Changing Planet
(how the changes we humans are making affect those interactions)
However, the scope is much beyond just the core knowledge. The course aims to explore
the nature of science, as an active field, using Ecological concepts as the basis of this
exploration.
Students will develop a deeper understanding of science by engaging in activities where
they are:
• generating new knowledge and understanding;
• honing their critical thinking skills;
• communicating scientific research; and
• developing data handling and interpretation skills.
The details of how the course will run will depend on the developing circumstances of the
pandemic, but assessments will include individual and group activities.
(20 credits)
Molecules, Genes and Cells 1 (BILG08015) - Compulsory
This course focuses on the molecular biology of cells and the topics covered provide an
essential foundation for all Biological Sciences degree programmes. The course examines
the function of molecules, like proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids within the context of living
cells. In-depth study of protein structure and function is covered, and the molecular
techniques used in protein purification and analysis. The structure of nucleic acids is also
covered, including mechanisms of DNA replication and the regulated expression of genetic
information. Genetic engineering is described in detail and how it is used for
biotechnological applications. Cell membrane structure and function, the cytoskeleton and
the cell cycle are further subjects in the course.
The major skills that you will develop in this course include: familiarisation with the major
molecular constituents of the cell and their functional relationships and problem solving
through independent research and collaboration. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,
laboratory experience in a variety of molecular biological techniques will be conducted
through virtual technologies, and possibly via hands-on practical sessions.
(20 credits)
20Biological Chemistry courses for Biological Sciences students
Two first year courses in Biological Chemistry (BC1A in Semester 1 and BC1B in
Semester 2) are administered by the School of Chemistry Teaching Organisation.
Students may take either or both BC1A and BC1B. These two courses have been
designed specifically for Biological Sciences students. Each course is worth 20 credits.
BC1A and BC1B are required for students intending to proceed to biological degrees
requiring credits in Chemistry and are prerequisites for Biological Chemistry 2.
Semester 1
Biological Chemistry 1A (CHEM08022)
The course is designed to provide an introduction to the key chemical principles
underpinning many biological processes. The main themes addressed by the course are:
structure, shape and bonding of covalent molecules, reactivity of singly bonded functional
groups and carbonyl chemistry; primary, secondary and tertiary structure of bio-molecules
and an introduction to metabolic processes.
The learning outcomes of this course are to understand, describe and account for: the
fundamental principles of the structure, shape and bonding of covalent molecules,
reactivity of singly bonded functional groups and carbonyl chemistry; primary, secondary
and tertiary structure of bio-molecules and basic metabolic processes.
Lectures will be delivered online with each of the five topics having a lecture week followed
by a tutorial week. The tutorials will be a hybrid of in-person tutorials and real time online
tutorials. Practical sessions will be a series of on-line workshops for which you will be
provided with sample data.
Semester 2
Biological Chemistry 1B (CHEM08023)
BC1B builds on material in the BC1A course and integrates closely with Molecules, Genes
& Cells 1. The course is designed to provide an introduction to the key chemical principles
underpinning many biological processes. The course provides an introduction to structural
characterization and the key physical chemistry driving many biological processes. The
main themes addressed are: bioenergetics, equilibria, biological catalysis, bio-
electrochemistry and structural characterization.
The learning outcomes of this course are to understand, describe and account for: the key
physical chemistry driving many biological processes, bioenergetics, equilibria, biological
catalysis, bio-electrochemistry and structural characterisation. Use data sets acquired in
practical laboratory sessions to reinforce taught topics and demonstrate your
understanding by completing online worksheets.
21Courses offered by the Deanery of Biomedical Sciences
Semester 1
Our Changing World (BIME08006)
The theme for this challenging interdisciplinary course is “Pandemic: A Changed World?”
The course introduces a range of resources to investigate the pandemic: the science,
economics, social and legal aspects all within the context of political decision making. We
ask whether the pandemic is also an opportunity: an opportunity to press Reset and
change the way the world works. To ask ourselves fundamental questions about the future
of the planet and shape our changing world.
But how might we change it? What should our world look like as we enter the “new
normal”? In supportive groups we will examine the potential future directions of, for
example, scientific and medical research and the global economy. We investigate issues
such as the role of the scientist in the political decision making process and whether we
should focus on environmental investment and green technologies to support nations and
institutions on the brink of financial catastrophe.
Of course, there may be no single correct answer to the questions we ask. And one of the
roles of the course is to develop the skills required to reach evidence based opinion. The
course is assessed on the basis of individual written work and a group project. Seminars
are weekly and will meet in accordance with Government and University policy with live
online sessions and online discussion fora.
This course may appeal to students who already have a strong foundation in all of the core
subjects covered in first year and who consequently wish to engage with academic
research in a broader interdisciplinary way.
Introductory video: www.ed.ac.uk/biomedical-sciences/news/our-changing-world
(20 credits)
Semester 2
Medical Biology 1 (BIME08004)
The aims of this course are to demonstrate through lectures, facilitated group discussions,
presentations and a practical project the scientific basis of modern medicine and the role
of basic biological sciences in advancing medical knowledge. The course is suitable for
first year Biology students, as well as students from other Schools and Colleges who have
an interest in human biology and medicine.
The intended learning outcomes are to enable students (a) to gain an insight into the
biological basis of a number of diseases of current interest, and the advance in biological
knowledge in areas relevant to these; (b) to develop skills in assimilation and critical
analysis of scientific evidence related to particular research topics during balanced
discussion and presentations in a group setting; and (c) to develop skills in the collection,
analysis, interpretation and written presentation of data collected during a group practical
project.
(20 credits)
22Courses offered by the School of Philosophy, Psychology and
Language Sciences
Semester 1
Psychology 1A (PSYL08009)
Psychology 1A is an introduction to the study of the mind and behaviour. We will cover the
psychology of memory, perception, and learning, the biological basis of the mind in the
brain, along with key historical, conceptual and methodological issues that relate to the
whole of psychology. (20 credits)
Semester 2
Psychology 1B (PSYL08010)
Psychology 1B is the continuation of the study of the mind and behaviour. We will cover
the social psychology, developmental psychology, the psychology of language, and
differential psychology, along with further historical, conceptual and methodological issues
that relate to the whole of psychology.
Studying Psychology 1A in Semester 1 is recommended, although not required, for
students intending to study Psychology 1B in Semester 2. (20 credits)
Language courses for non-linguists
Language courses for non-linguists are offered by the School of Literature, Languages and
Cultures: www.llc.ed.ac.uk/open-languages
Courses offered by the Business School
Full Year
Introduction to Business (BUST08026)
Compulsory for those on the Biological Sciences with Management programme.
This course affords students an understanding of the nature, structure and workings of
contemporary business organisations. This is achieved by applying the concepts and
techniques of the social sciences to the problems of business. With the mix of lectures,
tutorials and assignments, the course aims simultaneously to cater for the needs of those
who have, and have not, formally studied the subject prior to University. (40 credits)
Semester 2
Fundamentals of Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship (BUST08024)
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of innovation-driven
entrepreneurship. The objective of the course is to demonstrate and understand that
exploiting a new opportunity is a process that can be planned, resourced, and managed.
23This course provides you with some of the generic knowledge, and transferable skills
required to become an innovator and entrepreneur. The course will raise your awareness
of the legal, business, managerial, creative, analytical and interpersonal skills relevant to
bring an idea to the market, setting up and running an innovative organisation. It focuses
specifically on how and why some innovations are successfully commercialised, with a
particular emphasis on the role of the innovator-entrepreneur, with specific reference to
science-driven innovation, which may be relevant to your areas of study.
This course is delivered primarily via online (there is no physical weekly lecture or tutorial
session). The course utilises multiple learning modes, including: independent reading;
primary research; video lectures; the entrepreneurial journey videos with quizzes; group
project and discussion; case studies on entrepreneurs; and exposure to practice. The
group project will involve direct interactions with other students, where you are expected to
demonstrate your creativity as well as analytical ability. Your active engagement is
essential, as you are expected to be active participants in your own and others’ learning
experience. A video introduction will be available on Learn once you are enrolled. (20
credits)
Residential and Field Courses in Biological Subjects
Students intending to take Honours in Ecology or Zoology are required to attend a field
course in Year 3 (Field Zoology 3).
All programmes will attend a Residential or Field Course in Year 4.
All Residential and Field Courses will incur an additional charge that is paid in the year it is
taken.
Field Ecology (ECSC08007) run by Geosciences
This is a Level 8 course worth 20 credits. It is recommended for students intending to take
a whole organism honours programme (Ecology, Zoology, Plant Sciences or Evolutionary
Biology). Note that this course is normally taken after the end of Year 1 when it counts
as a Year 2 course.
The course consists of fieldwork plus an extended assessment. Normally the fieldwork
element takes place in May/June, before the start of the academic year, and the extended
assessment is handed in during Semester 1. At the time of publication, planning is
underway to determine the nature of the fieldwork component for the academic year
2020/21 and more details will be available in January 2021.
Students interested in taking Field Ecology should contact the course administrator
before the end of February 2021 to register their interest, as places are limited. A
course fee must be paid to secure a place (as a guide, the fee in 2019 was £40).
Expeditions, fieldwork and lab experience in vacations
Fieldwork and internships can give you valuable experience and enhance your CV. You
can search for opportunities on the MyCareerHub tool, as well as find a wealth of other
useful careers-related information, here: www.ed.ac.uk/careers/mycareerhub
24SECTION 3
CURRICULUM AND COURSE INFORMATION
Timetables
Your timetable can be accessed via MyEd. This service includes the delivery of a
personalised timetable service called MyTimetable. Your personalised timetable will
also appear on Office 365 calendars, which you can view on your smart phone or other
device.
www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/timetabling/personalised-timetables/student-
timetables
You can find information on the classes that make up any course by looking in the course
guide on the course Learn site. You should study your course information on Learn to
ensure that you do not miss any online activities – make sure that you fully participate in all
of your courses so that you can get the most out of them.
You can also find timetable information for all courses using PATH, an interactive online
tool that allows you to choose courses, see the options within these courses and put
together a timetable. More information on PATH: https://path.is.ed.ac.uk/
Changing groups
Many classes are split into smaller groups, for example for tutorials. You will often be
allocated to groups for these activities. Occasionally you may find that you have a clash
with another course or that one of the alternative groups would work better for you. In
these circumstances, you can complete a Group Change Request form online:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/timetabling/personalised-timetables
Ensure that you enter the correct course details when completing the form – you must first
select the School that delivers the course. Course codes starting ‘BILG’ are delivered by
Biological Sciences; those starting ‘CHEM’ are delivered by Chemistry. Before you
complete the form, check when the alterative groups meet. This information should be
available in the course book.
Note that group allocations on MyTimetable will be updated more quickly that your Office
365 calendar, particularly during the first few weeks of semester.
Changing courses in Year 1
If you feel that you have made the wrong choice of courses, it is very important that you
talk to your PT as soon as possible. You are not normally allowed to change courses
after Week 2, because of the difficulty of catching up with material you have missed in a
new course. PTs will have teaching or other commitments, so please contact them in goodYou can also read
