BSc in Biology and Geography within the Natural Sciences programme (CFG0): 2023-2024

Entry requirements: See the Essentials

The current course structure is shown in the table below that consists of modules which must be studied in the appropriate year - click on the module code for the current module content. After Year 1, students focus solely on studying Biology and Geography. If students don't wish to take a particular module or include a third subject then it may be possible take up the option of the more flexible "BSc in Natural Sciences degree. The subjects in which modules have been taken successfully in the final two years are as follows: Biology and Geography". As the rules below permit, students may take up to 80 credits in one subject and no less than 40 credits in the other subject and always take precisely 120 credits in one year. UCAS applicants are invited to use the app to discover the key modules to self-build a degree

Year 1
Biology	40 credits: Organisms And Environment (BIOL1161) and Genetics (BIOL1171)
Geography	40 credits: Introduction To Geographical Research (bsc) (GEOG1232)
Year 2
Biology	60 credits: Evolution (BIOL2451), Ecology (BIOL2461) and Behaviour (BIOL2511)
Geography	60 credits: Scientific Research In Geography (GEOG2462) and at least 20 credits from: Handling Geographic Information (GEOG2591); Climate Change: Geographical Perspectives (GEOG2661); Contested Environments (GEOG2551); Glaciers And Glaciation (GEOG2531); Mountain Landscapes (GEOG2611); Reconstructing Environmental Change (GEOG2571).
Year 3
Biology	40 credits: Modules taken from Ecology In The Anthropocene (BIOL3541); Conservation Biology (BIOL3551); Advanced Topics In Ecology, Evolution Andbehaviour (BIOL3561).
Geography	40 credits: Modules taken from Dissertation (double Module) In Geography B (GEOG3432); Iceland: Field Research In Glacial Environments (GEOG3691); Natural Hazards, Risk And Resilience (GEOG3621); Oceans Past And Present (GEOG3641); Remote Sensing (GEOG3261); River Dynamics (GEOG3461); Sea-level Change And Coastal Evolution (GEOG3191); The Arctic (GEOG3521); Antarctic Environments (GEOG3817); Catchment Modelling (GEOG3987); Glacial Sedimentary Environments (GEOG30H7); Ice Age Environments (GEOG30K7); Landslides (GEOG3807); Peatland Landscapes And Management (GEOG3947).
Students must take no less than 20 credits and no more than 60 Capstone Modules from the following list:
Capstone modules	20 credit Biology into Schools (BIOL3431); 20 credit Literature Review (BIOL3451); 20 credit Contemporary Issues in the Biosciences (BIOL3641); 20 credit Science Enterprise (NSCI3001); 40 credit Dissertation in Geography A (GEOG3232); 40 credit Dissertation (Double Module) in Geography B (GEOG3432);

Further details about the modules in the Biology list.
Further details about the modules in the Geography list.

Below is an example of modules that are timetabled to satisfy these rules except in Year 3 where the set may not include a capstone module. Click on the single digit numbered link on the left to see a sample timetable and the module code to see details about the module such as content, contact hours, teaching methods and assessment methods.

1	Introduction To Physiology (BIOL1151)	Organisms And Environment (BIOL1161)	Genetics (BIOL1171)	Introduction To Geographical Research (bsc) (GEOG1232)	Physical Geography (GEOG1081)
2	Evolution (BIOL2451)	Ecology (BIOL2461)	Behaviour (BIOL2511)	Scientific Research In Geography (GEOG2462)	Climate Change: Geographical Perspectives (GEOG2661)
3	Ecology In The Anthropocene (BIOL3541)	Conservation Biology (BIOL3551)	Advanced Topics In Ecology, Evolution Andbehaviour (BIOL3561)	Fieldcourse (BIOL3161)	The Arctic (GEOG3521)	Oceans Past And Present (GEOG3641)

Note that:

• You can vary the balance between the two subjects in all years assuming the rules below and timetable will allow it.
• In Year 3 students are required to take no less than 20 credits and no more than 60 Capstone Modules from two subjects. The minimum number of credits is reviewed on an annual basis as we are working towards students being required to take 40 credits, when this change happens students will be informed explicitly.

• Not all combinations of the modules which make up the degree rules are guaranteed to timetable, but one set will.
• If no student is following the Joint-Honours degree in a given year, then we do not ask for modules to be timetabled for that cohort in the following year.
• The timetable changes each year.
• Future changes in the Joint-Honours rules are either flagged up in the programme regulations in the Faculty Handbook or in the Biology/Geography advice.
• Students are welcome to suggest to the Director better guaranteed combinations, but due to the quality assurance process and timetabling the lead in time is one year.