Module Catalogue 2024/25

BMS3030 : Professional Placement Year

BMS3030 : Professional Placement Year

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Beth Lawry
  • Lecturer: Dr Harley Stevenson-Cocks
  • Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
  • Teaching Location: Off Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 60
Semester 2 Credit Value: 60
ECTS Credits: 60.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The Professional Placement year aims to provide students with the opportunity:

•       for personal development within a work environment
•       to contribute to the work of the organisation
•       to extend their knowledge and understanding of the sector of the life science industry and related areas
•       to extend their knowledge and understanding of the techniques and methods used
•       to enhance their knowledge of career options and help in the making of career choices
•       to develop appropriate attitudes in a professional work environment
•       to improve their portfolio of skills

Outline Of Syllabus

There is no specific syllabus as the placements will be provided by various industrial life science organisations and so each student experience will vary. All students will spend a minimum of 34 weeks working with the placement provider according to in-house guidelines and is unique to the specific placement. Most placements will be based within the commercial setting of the Life Science Industry.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of the Professional Placement, students will be able to:

K1       Define the strategic aims of the organisation and explain how the organisation contributes to the Life Sciences sector
K2       Identify their role in the organisation and how they contribute to the aims of the organisation
K3       Describe techniques and methods applied during the placement and evaluate their effectiveness
K4       Identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for a successful career
K5       Evaluate the learning opportunities offered during the placement for personal development and relate these to career goals

Intended Skill Outcomes

On completion of the Professional Placement, students will be able to:

S1       Apply knowledge and skills to investigate a research problem or professional support role as defined by the organisation
S2       Take advantage of any learning opportunities and record these
S3       Master essentials of basic life science skills, safe working practices and the ability to perform roles efficiently.
S4       Obtain, record, collate, analyse and interpret information
S5       Summarise and present such data according to scientific conventions
S6       Locate, retrieve and critically evaluate information (including primary literature)
S7       Work effectively as part of a team

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Placement/Study AbroadEmployer-based learning11200:001200:00Based on 34 - 48 working week year and 37.5h per week
Total1200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Skills will be learnt on-site throughout placement and will be dependent on nature of placement. An overview of a Life Science-related industry with relevant and specific skill sets as is appropriate will be gained. Professionalism, experience of team work and general work-related skills will be learnt whilst on placement. These skills closely mirror the learning outcomes.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
Description When Set Comment
ReportMA written report on the project and experience of the placement year. Maximum 3500 words.
Oral PresentationM10 min present/5 min video or blog (>800 words) giving an overview of year experience - may be PIP/sync-online, consult with School.
ReportMSupervisor's Report - A series of documents logging progress and discussion completed throughout the year placement.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Both the report and oral/video/blog presentation will give the student the opportunity to reflect on their placement year and provide a record of their experiences. Students choose the most appropriate presentation modality for them. Both will encourage critical thinking about the project and company they have worked with. The report and presentation alongside the supervisory report must be satisfactory and achieve a pass in order for the student to remain on the ‘with Professional Placement’ version of the degree.

In order to pass BMS3030 candidates must achieve a mark of at least 40 in each of the three components of assessment (Report, Oral/Video/Blog Presentation and Supervisor Report). If the Report or Oral/Video/Blog Presentation is failed, they will have to be retaken and a pass mark obtained. However, no resit can be offered for the Supervisor Report. Thus, if the Supervisor Report is failed, this will constitute a fail for the entire module.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.