THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : DPTs :  School of Biological Sciences DPTs
Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5

Year 1 Academic year: 2024/25, Starting in: September

Notes:
Guidance giving details of required and recommended courses will be available for students to facilitate planning. Students must take 120 credits in total for Year 1. This includes 80 credits of compulsory Biological Sciences courses that MUST be taken and passed.

To remain on the MBiol, students must finish the pre-honours portion of the programme (Year 1 and Year 2) with an average of at least 60%.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Biological Chemistry Courses - Level 8

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Exceptionally, the courses Biological Chemistry 1A and Biological Chemistry 1B may be replaced with any other courses at level 7 or 8 chosen in schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y.
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Year 2 Academic year: 2024/25, Starting in: August

Notes:
Guidance giving details of required and recommended courses will be available for students to facilitate planning. Students must take 120 credits in total for Year 2. This includes 60 credits of compulsory Biological Sciences courses that MUST be taken and passed.

To remain on the MBiol, students must finish the pre-honours portion of the programme (Year 1 and Year 2) with an average of at least 60%.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 60 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences Year 2 courses (20) - Level 8

Select between 0 and 60 credits of the following courses
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
AND

Level 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Year 3 Academic year: 2024/25, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students must take 120 credits of level 9 (or 10) courses and are required to include a minimum of 60 credits of Biological Sciences-owned level 9 courses and at least 20 further credits of Biological Sciences-owned or specified courses from other schools or deaneries.

Students should ensure that they choose 60 credits for each semester.

Occasionally a course will be suspended or cancelled.

Students are advised to carefully consider their combination of courses to ensure that they pursue a coherent programme of study in Years 3 and 4. You MUST take a combination of courses that will keep at least one specialist (honours) pathway open. Guidance will be provided.

To remain on the MBiol, students must have an average of at least 60% in Year 3 at first sit. They must have satisfied the Year 3 criteria for at least one Biological Sciences specialist programme of study.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 120 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences Year 3 courses

Select exactly 60 credits of the following courses
AND

Biological Sciences Year 3 Specific Courses

Select between 20 and 60 credits of the following courses
AND

Level 9 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 9 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W
Notes:
Exceptionally, a level 10 course make be taken, eg. where a School does not offer level 9 courses, as long as prerequisites have been satisfied.

Year 4 Academic year: 2024/25, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students must take 120 credits of level 10 (or higher) courses in Year 4.

Students must choose a 60-credit research project in a specialist subject area, along with 60-credits of additional core/optional courses, which will depend on the specialisation chosen.

Guidance giving details of required and recommended courses will be available for students to facilitate planning. Occasionally electives may be suspended or cancelled.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 120 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences Hons Research Project courses

Select exactly 60 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Refer to the Senior Honours Guide provided by the School, which gives details of course options, including restrictions and recommendations.
AND

Level 10 courses in the School of Biological Sciences

Select between 40 and 60 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Biological Sciences
Notes:
Refer to the Senior Honours Guide provided by the School, which gives details of course options, including restrictions and recommendations.
AND

Level 10 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 10 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W
Notes:
Refer to the Senior Honours Guide provided by the School, which gives details of course options, including restrictions and recommendations.

Year 5 Academic year: 2024/25, Starting in: August

Notes:
Year 5 represents an integrated Masters-level (Level 11) year. Students in Year 5 of the MBiol programme will undertake a placement in research or industry. Assessment will be via a 120-credit placement project.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

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