| Unit name | Introduction to Renal Sciences |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMSM0031 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Becky Foster |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
This unit provides essential content to understand kidney physiology in health and how it changes in disease. Research led lectures will be complemented with case-based learning style tutorials to synthesise and consolidate learning across the different lectures, to support self-directed learning and to present findings back to the group for discussion. Together, this unit ensures you have a good foundation understanding of kidney physiology and examples of current research applied to disease states. It will promote your critical thought and will enable you to apply your newly gained knowledge, whilst developing skills around evidence-based group discussions and communication.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is scheduled in the second teaching block of your programme and overlaps with your Renal Research Project. It is an essential component that is unique to your MRes Health Sciences Research (Renal).
An overview of content
This unit will be a combination of research-led taught lectures from clinicians and basic scientists who are experts in their field, and facilitated case-based tutorials to give co-ordinated, deep learning around renal sciences based on the intended learning outcomes below.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have a broad understanding of renal sciences, with more specific knowledge in certain areas of your choosing. This will complement your Renal Research Project and provide essential knowledge towards it. This unit will provide you with the understanding to undertake academic renal research in your future career.
Learning Outcomes
You will learn through taught lectures, directed reading suggested within case-based learning tutorials, and through discussions and feedback within case-based learning tutorials. You will learn through experience, applying the academic and research skills taught in Foundations of Health Sciences Research and from those that you have started to apply in your Renal Research Project, in the context of your own self-directed learning, i.e. finding, interpreting, reviewing, writing and presenting information relating to your area of research.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Discussion that is promoted within taught lectures will help you prepare for critical discussion and contributions within the case-based learning tutorials. These skills, including presentation skills, will also be brought across from earlier units: Foundations in Health Sciences Research and Research Club in Health Sciences Research.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
If you do not pass the unit, you will normally be given the opportunity to take a reassessment as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. Decisions on the award of reassessment will normally be taken after all taught units of the year have been completed. Reassessment will normally be in a similar format to the original assessment that has been failed.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BRMSM0031).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
