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How we will deliver your course in 2021: Environmental Sciences (postgraduate)

Programmes this information applies to: 

  • Environmental Management/ Environmental Management (with Placement)
  • Sustainability Entrepreneurship and Design/ Sustainability Entrepreneurship and Design (with Professional Development).
  • MRes Environmental Sciences
  • MRes Environmental Management

1. Content of the course 

There are no changes to the content.

2. Length of the course 

There are no changes to the length of the course.

3. How your course will be delivered 


New students 

We will transition to roughly half our teaching being in-person on campus across the programmes by Term 2 although variations to in-person teaching will occur within modules.

The number of lab-based practical sessions has been streamlined but the skills developed are maintained.

Practical sessions, presentations and workshops will take place on campus, but if restrictions are increased they may be conducted online or could be delivered in Term 3.

MSc Sustainability Entrepreneurship and Design

  • The actual time for students to be on campus will vary depending on which Optional Modules are taken in Term 1 and Term 2.
  • Compulsory Design modules in T1 and T2 (DM5702 Professional Design Studio and DM5701 Sustainable Design) are expected to have an approximately 50% on-campus delivery and 50% Online.
  • ES5703 Introduction to Strategic Sustainable Development classes in Term 1 are expected to be approximately 50% on campus (for workshops, student-led sessions, coursework support and student presentations).
  • Modules that are less interactive and where there are large student numbers (MG5702 Business Planning and MG5701 Entrepreneurship in Term 1 and MG5703 International Business Ethics Sustainability and Corporate Governance in Term 2) are expected to be delivered online mostly with a small on-campus component (10%-20%) for seminar sessions and case study discussion.  ES5804 Integrated Assessment in Term 2 is expected to be on campus a minimum of three times (25%) and the assessment block for Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Brunel Entrepreneurship Hub will also have on-campus sessions over Terms1 and 2.
  • Optional modules will vary in their requirements for attendance on campus, but many will be 100% live Online, or will have simultaneous delivery (MG5564 International Business Strategy) with a physical class and simultaneous live streaming.

MSc Environmental Management

  • The MSc Environmental Management students are expected to have approximately 50% of their teaching on-campus in Term 1 and Term 2. Strategic Sustainable Development (ES5701) classes in Term 1 are expected to be 50% on campus (for workshops, student-led sessions, coursework support and student presentations). In addition, Environmental Management and Legislation (ES5600) classes in Term 1 are also expected to be 50 % on campus (typically 2 hours per week).
  • Two optional modules viz: 1) Environmental Pollution and Monitoring (ES5602) and 2) Clean Technology and the Environment (ES5603) are expected to be on-campus a minimum of three times (25%) in Term 2.

MRes Programmes:

  • The MRes Environmental Science and MRes Environmental Management students are expected to have 2 hr per week on-campus in person teaching during term 1) for the taught module - ES5806: Analytical Skills for Environmental Managers and Environmental Scientists (30 Credits) and the same amount of time (typically 2 hr) of on-campus teaching for the compulsory study block ES5700: Research and Analytical Skills (30 Credits).
  • In term 2 and 3, students undertaking the core block ES5622: Research Project in Environmental Management (120 credits) and the core block ES5623: Research Project in Environmental Sciences (120 Credits) for the MRes Environmental Science and MRes Environmental Management programmes respectively are expected to have a minimum of 1 day per week of their degree on-campus.
  • Students on non- laboratory-based projects on both MRes programmes will typically spend less time on campus (1 day per week) than laboratory-based students (2.5 days per week) in Terms 2 and 3.

Timetable:

  • All modules will have scheduled face to face sessions (either online and/or in person on campus).    The balance between teaching hours and independent study remains the same.

Teaching delivery:

  • Lecture material will be made available to students in the form of short, recorded videos, which are either pre-recorded or recorded during a live online or on-campus lecture.
  • Lectures will be complemented by a range of activities designed to put the learning into practice, such as tutorials, quizzes, seminars, Q&As, discussion forums.
  • In person, interactive sessions will be provided on campus (social distancing permitting) and live online, providing opportunities for peer-peer and staff-student interactions.
  • Practical sessions will take place on campus where possible and, if necessary, they will be conducted online or deferred to Term 3
  • Additional digital resources are provided on Blackboard Learn (e.g. TED talks, YouTube videos, web links, set readings etc.) to support student learning.

Assessments:

  • There are no changes to coursework assessments, which will be submitted online via Wiseflow.
  • Exams will be either (i) timed exams taken remotely and submitted online via Wiseflow, or (ii) timed exams on campus,

Tutoring and Pastoral Care:

  • Personal Tutors will hold regular virtual tutoring hours for tutees who have questions or would like to discuss issues/concerns and seek pastoral care.

Feedback and Consultation Hours:

  • Academic staff will hold weekly virtual or on-campus Feedback and Consultation hours for students who have questions or would like feedback.
  • Students who want to meet a member of staff outside of organised virtual Feedback and Consultation hours can contact the member of staff to make an appointment.

Returning students 

Placement/Professional Development:  MSc Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Design and MSc Environmental Management

  • The opportunity to find a placement has not changed.
  • If an external placement cannot be found (or is not wanted), students will be offered alternative opportunities within the University (where practical) to develop their professional skills.
  • Students retain the right to either:

(i)          Continue with the professional development

(ii)         Accept alternative provision

(iii)        Defer the professional development period to a later time, or

(vi)        Graduate with a standard MSc. 

Timetable: n/a as taught component completed

Teaching provision: n/a as taught component completed

Practical classes: n/a as taught component completed

Assessment: Portfolio

All portfolios are expected to be submitted online via Wiseflow in the normal timeframe.

Tutoring and Pastoral Care:

  • Students on Professional Development will continue with their allocated personal tutor.
  • Students will have in person one-to-one meetings with their tutors and will be able to request ad-hoc one-to-one online appointments with their tutors to discuss any personal issues they might have.

January Starters (Environmental Management MSc Only):

All students that have successfully completedTerm 2 will continue to complete Term 1.

The content of all blocks will be maintained as previously.

  • The MSc Environmental Management students are expected to have 50% of their teaching on-campus in Term 1. Strategic Sustainable Development (ES5701) classes in Term 1 are expected to be 50% on campus (for workshops, student-led sessions, coursework support and student presentations). In addition, Environmental Management and Legislation (ES5600) classes in Term 1 are also expected to be 50 % on campus (typically 2 hours per week).

Timetable:

All modules will have scheduled face to face sessions (either online and/or in person on campus). The balance between teaching hours and independent study remains the same.

Teaching delivery:

  • Didactic material will be made available to students in the form of short, recorded videos, which are either pre-recorded or recorded during a live online or on-campus lecture.
  • Lectures will be complemented by a range of activities designed to put the learning into practice, such as tutorials, quizzes, seminars, Q&As, discussion forums.
  •  In person, interactive sessions will be provided on campus (social distancing permitting) and live online, providing opportunities for peer-peer and staff-student interactions.
  •  Practical sessions will take place on campus where possible and, if necessary, they will be conducted online or deferred to Term 3
  • Additional digital resources are provided on Blackboard Learn (e.g. TED talks, YouTube videos, web links, set readings etc.) to support student learning.

Assessments:

  • There are no changes to coursework assessments, which will be submitted online via Wiseflow.
  • Exams will be either (i) timed exams taken remotely and submitted online via Wiseflow, or (ii) timed exams on campus.

Tutoring and Pastoral Care:

Personal Tutors will hold regular virtual tutoring hours for tutees who have questions or would like to discuss issues/concerns and seek pastoral care.

Feedback and Consultation Hours:

  • Academic staff will hold weekly virtual or on-campus Feedback and Consultation hours for students who have questions or would like feedback.
  • Students who want to meet a member of staff outside of organised virtual Feedback and Consultation hours can contact the member of staff to make an appointment.

4. Cost of the course 

There are no changes to the course fees.

Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
If you have any concerns about accessing a suitable device, please complete and return this form to enquire about the University’s loan laptop scheme.

5. Award

There are no changes to the qualifications awarded.

6. Feedback and consultation

We provide set times where you can talk to your lecturers and module leaders about academic matters relating to your course. You can also use these opportunities to obtain and discuss feedback on an assessment. You can find these hours on Blackboard Learn and in your module booklets.  

You can book your slot by emailing your lecturer. We will be holding these virtually until it is safe to hold these appointments on campus.

7. Personal tutoring

Your personal tutor is responsible for monitoring and supporting your academic and personal development both in your transition to university and between years. It is someone you can discuss, in confidence, your academic progress with or any special requirements you may need. 

If you are a first year student, these sessions will be included in your timetable every other week. 

If you are a second year, final year, or postgraduate student you can request to have a session at a time that is convenient for you.  

You can attend our virtual ‘drop-in’ sessions which are advertised on Blackboard Learn, or request a session by emailing your personal tutor.

8. Departmental communications and events

You can keep up with subject and module updates through Blackboard Learn. We will also send important updates to your student email account, including a newsletter once a term, so please keep an eye on your emails. 

We host department assemblies where you will receive department updates and get to hear from lecturers and your peers. These take place at least once a term and you’ll receive an email invitation. 

Our programmes feature a range of opportunities including trips and visits, once it is safe to do so we will resume these.

9. Student-led academic representation

Student reps are elected to represent the views of their course, department or college to improve the academic experience at Brunel. They gather views and opinions from students on things such as lectures, exams, assessment and feedback and then take a collective view to the University and Union in order to develop the student experience at Brunel.

We welcome feedback from our student community on matters relating to your experience through your student representatives or through your programme leaders. 

Find out who your course rep is here. You’ll also receive an email from your programme leader who will confirm your contact.

10. Peer-to-peer opportunities

You can join our student societies, we have one for each subject area including Politics, History, Sociology, and Anthropology. You can join these societies through the Union of Brunel Students or contact your course rep to find out more. We have Facebook groups for these societies too.

Our department also has a Postgraduate Research Society, if you would like to join this please contact your PGR Director.

You can join our social media groups to keep in touch with your peers and exchange knowledge.  Find out how to do this by contacting your course rep.

Contact us 

If you have any specific questions about the above information, please email:  CHMLS-TPO-biosciences@brunel.ac.uk

 

Disclaimer: We have used our best endeavours to plan for the coming academic year and to ensure the information on this page is correct at the time of publication. The information provided here is intended for the general guidance of students studying the University’s degree programmes listed above in the academic year 2021/22. The University will deliver the course of study as described unless there are changes outside of our control related to COVID-19. In such circumstances, the University will adjust the delivery of the course accordingly, and use its best endeavours to ensure equivalence.

Date of publication: 16.07.21