BSc

Biology and Climate Change

Biology and Climate Change Code FC7F

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Key Facts

FC7F

  • UCAS Tariff

  • Course Length

    4 Year

Further details on entry requirements

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The Biology and Climate Change (with integrated foundation year) degree at Aberystwyth University addresses one of the key challenges of contemporary living, namely Climate Change and its impacts on life. One of the distinctive features of this innovative degree is that cohorts of students from different departments (International Politics, Business, and English and Creative Writing) will work in interdisciplinary learning communities. Students will come together across disciplinary boundaries to identify and communicate the challenges, responses and solutions to Climate Change, both within and beyond their own subject areas. This degree explores creative ways of responding to the challenge and opportunities of the current climate crisis. The degree will also equip you with relevant subject-specific knowledge alongside the multi-disciplinary, interpersonal skills and attributes needed to create a more just and sustainable world. The integrated foundation year - designed for prospective students who do not have a sufficient or relevant academic background - is the perfect option to access this highly-sort scheme. In the Foundation Year, you will learn about key concepts for Biology and Climate Change from an inter-disciplinary angle, giving you a unique experience and critical perspective to make the most of the full undergraduate degree.

Course Overview

Why study BSc Biology and Climate Change (with an integrated year in foundation) at Aberystwyth University?

The BSc Biology and Climate Change (with an integrated year in foundation) will enable you to study the science underpinning climate, and how humans have changed these processes in recent times. You will explore the impacts of climate change on biodiversity at the level of species, habitats, and ecosystems, and the scope for organisms and populations to evolve in the light of this threat. By working across disciplines, you will learn the need for both scientific research and governance in tackling these important issues. Specialist opportunities at Aberystwyth for Biology and Climate Change students include:

  • The great variety of local habitats and ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial – an ideal location to study the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, and the scope for mitigation
  • The chance to carry out field research, both locally and abroad
  • An opportunity to work with established Academic researchers who work on various aspects of the past, present and future effects of global climate change on natural ecosystems.
Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry.  The Institute has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

Modules

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Communication Skills BR01520 20
Molecules and Cells BR01340 40
Organisms and the Environment BR01440 40
Practical Skills for Biologists BR01220 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Climate and Climate Change BR10620 20
Ecology * BR13510 10
Evolution and the Diversity of Life BR14310 10
Introduction to Conservation BR10110 10
Microbial Diversity * BR12110 10
Study and Communication Skills * BR12410 10
The Biosphere BR13210 10
The Green Planet * BR13610 10

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Biochemistry and the Cellular Basis of Life BR15320 20
Biological Thought and Discovery BR12510 10
Comparative Animal Physiology BR14110 10
Exploring Genetics BR14410 10
Introduction to Palaeobiology BR16510 10
Soils and their Management BR14910 10

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Global Biodiversity Conservation BR33420 20
Research Project * BR36440 40

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Marine and Freshwater Field Course BR35020 20
Parasitology BR33820 20
Population and Community Ecology BR33920 20
Terrestrial Ecology Fieldcourse BR36620 20
The Agri-Environment BR30420 20
Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Conservation (Trec) Field Course BR30120 20
Wildlife Conservation BR34520 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Graduates studying this degree will be well-placed to pursue a career in climate change management, adaptation, and mitigation, both in the UK and abroad. Additionally, they will be suited to careers in related areas, such as environmental education and consultancy or conservation. Many are likely to undertake further postgraduate study, either at Masters or Doctoral level.

Course Content

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four year degree scheme.

What will I learn?

This is a four-year course, and during the duration of this degree, you will study from a varied curriculum. During the four year degree, you will explore diverse subjects such as: The Science of Climate; The Biosphere; Introduction to Conservation; The Green Planet; Evolution and Diversity of Life; Ecology; Microbial Diversity; Study and Communication Skills; Climate Change: Impacts, Perceptions, Adaptations. You will also have the opportunity to select from diverse modules from you choose from, which include: Climate Change: Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems; The Governance of Climate Change; Research Methods. In your fourth and final year, you will have the opportunity to study Global Biodiversity Conservation; Research Project.

How will I be taught?

It’s not all lectures and exams here at Aberystwyth. We place great emphasis on field and practical to let you get your hands dirty and build the practical and analytical skills. We have a very well developed E-learning environment which captures every lecture for you to revisit at your leisure and hosts a wide-range of contents in all formats. We have an excellent Student Support team at Aberystwyth who can help arrange for additional teaching resources and alternatives for those students who need it. Our aim is to make everything we do fully accessible to everyone and our teaching and support staff are dedicated to this end.

There are, of course, exams, but every module has more than one form of assessment. In most modules coursework makes up a significant proportion of the marks (typically up to 50% although there are modules assessed entirely by coursework). Coursework assessments range from practical or field reports through to writing journal-style articles and making podcasts. Our assessments are not just designed to test your knowledge and understanding, they also build real-world skills such as team work, presentation and report writing skills that are needed in any graduate-level job. When we teach and examine, we are aiming to create the scientists of the future and first class potential employees at the same time.

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff

A Levels Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh, Mathematics

BTEC National Diploma:
Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

International Baccalaureate:
Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

European Baccalaureate:
Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma. Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits, and offers can vary. If you are studying a qualification not listed on this page, please get in touch with the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further advice. For further information, contact ug-admissions@aber.ac.uk

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