Welcome-back/induction sessions will run online (Synchronous) at the start of terms 1 and 2.
Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences BSc will be delivered with a combination of high-quality material provided online (asynchronous), interactive on-line ‘live’ sessions (synchronous) and in-person teaching delivered on campus.
Typically, students will have in-person, on-campus teaching sessions on two days a week. These on-campus sessions will be a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and lab-based practical classes. For practical classes, students will be allocated a specific day and time to attend. For lectures, seminars and tutorials, students will have the opportunity to book a place in the session in advance.
On the remaining days, students will have timetabled online ‘live’ sessions and self-directed learning periods, where they will be required to engage with asynchronous teaching materials. These teaching materials will be provided to students at the start of each week in the form of pre-recorded short videos, podcasts, narrated lecture recordings, reading material and online interactive resources. Also, students will often be given tasks and formative activities to aid their learning. All this material will allow students to engage in guided and well-structured self-directed learning remotely and in their own time.
Practical skills will be taught using a combination of online resources, video demonstrations, online exercises and lab-based practical work (in-person and on campus) throughout term 1 and term 2. It is expected that students will have a minimum of 4 practical classes in term 1, and 2 practical classes in term 2, provided government restrictions allow it.
In the case of another lockdown, we may repeat the practical sessions towards the end of term 2 and term 3 to ensure all students have the opportunity to attend them. We will offer catch-up sessions in week 0 of the 2022/23 academic year if practical sessions are severely disrupted.
Catch-up laboratory sessions for the academic year 20/21 will run in week 0. Students wanting to attend these sessions will have the opportunity to book a place in advance.
The plan for final year projects in 21/22 will guarantee that all students can graduate in the summer of 2022 with a well-developed capstone project that is in line with the accreditation requirements of the Royal Society of Biology. We will endeavour to provide the opportunity for students to carry out part of their final year project in the laboratory, should they wish to, provided this is in line with government COVID-19 guidance. However, wet (lab-based) final year projects will also include dry (desk-based) work to mitigate the impact of any possible future lockdown measures.
The format and online submission of coursework assessments, such as essays, journal articles, case reports and reflections will remain unchanged. The schedule of these will be communicated to students at the start of the academic year and lecturers will provide guidance on how they will work in their sessions. All exams will be taken on campus via WISEflow or Blackboard, our digital assessment platforms.
Assessments involving face-to-face presentations, (e.g. oral abstract-style or poster presentations individually or in groups) will take place in-person, on campus. These assessments will be scheduled and communicated to students at the start of the academic year.
All teaching blocks will also include opportunities for formative, self- and peer-assessment. These will offer students and staff the opportunity to monitor students’ learning and provide extra support if necessary.
Tutoring: The Biomedical Sciences team has devised a comprehensive plan to deliver academic and personal tutoring to all our students. The tutoring framework provides academic and pastoral support to students and gives them a point of contact with an academic member of staff throughout their degree. Tutoring sessions will be a combination of online and on-campus sessions. There will be a minimum of one on-campus tutoring session every month.