Unit information: MSc Core Skills in 2028/29

Unit name	MSc Core Skills
Unit code	PANMM0028
Credit points	40
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Burston
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	School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

The biomedical sciences are vital for advancing our understanding of health and disease, developing effective treatments, and improving overall healthcare outcomes. They play a central role in the progress of medicine and contribute to the wellbeing of individuals and populations worldwide. This unit will provide students with a strong foundation of skills relating to the biomedical sciences that support the whole programme. Additionally, students will gain practical laboratory experience in a variety of techniques relating to the various biomedical disciplines. As well as the science itself, the unit also includes support for scientific writing and presentation, employability skills, knowledge of entrepreneurial activity, equality and inequality in science, and ethics and sustainability in science. Collectively, these topics will introduce some of the global challenges relating to the biomedical sciences, supporting students to feel that they can make a positive contribution to their solutions after graduating.

How does this fit in with your programme of study?

This mandatory unit which runs throughout Teaching Block 1 and Teaching Block 2 will allow you to develop essential skills needed for successful completion of the programme and for your personal development as a scientist in the biomedical sciences. You will learn about key experimental techniques in the field and gain experience of many important experimental approaches through laboratory work. You will develop skills in data analysis and presentation; these are critical for your research as part of the Research Project unit. You will receive training in academic reading and writing as well as oral presentation skills which will benefit your work across the whole programme. You will undertake formative written and oral assessments which will support summative assessments in your optional units as well as the Literature Review, Project Proposal or Research Project unit.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

The unit includes lectures on core laboratory technologies that are fundamental to biomedical sciences, such as recombinant DNA technologies, genes and genomics, protein expression and purification, bioinformatics, proteomics, mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, electron and light microscopy, imaging techniques, the use of animal models, statistics and pharmacokinetics. This teaching is supported by laboratory practical classes to provide you with the technical knowledge, IT skills and experience in preparation for your research project. There are also workshops which will teach you how to use library resources to research the literature, critical reading and writing, how to present arguments, prepare and give oral presentations, as well as understanding feedback. This is designed to support you in preparing your literature review and research project dissertation. Additionally, there are also lectures and workshops focused on the position of science within society, including equality and inclusion in science, academic integrity, ethics and sustainability. Finally, you are encouraged to think about your future career, either inside or outside of science, with lectures and workshops about career options and sources of advice, preparing CVs for different jobs, entrepreneurship and a visit to a local biotechnology hub to talk to people working in the sector.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

After this unit;

• You will gain knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of core technologies that underpin biomedical scientific research.
• You will gain experience in different assessment methods, some in a formative setting, that will give you the required skills and confidence to undertake summative assessments in other units on the programme.
• You will acquire skills and experience in several laboratory practical techniques, including the use of IT for analysis, that will give you the confidence to undertake the challenge of your research project.
• You will be able to critically engage with the literature, synthesise ideas and arguments and present these clearly in written or oral form.
• You will engage in consideration and discussion of issues affecting biomedical science and its place in society, such as equality, inclusion, ethics and sustainability.
• You will consider your future career path both within and outside of science by learning how to approach preparing a CV and interview for different types of jobs, as well as learning about entrepreneurial activity from those who are involved in it.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the Unit you will be able to:

• Apply your knowledge and understanding of fundamental topics that are core to the biomedical sciences
• Demonstrate an understanding of experimental design
• Demonstrate proficiency in basic laboratory skills, organisation, decision-making and time management
• Apply a range of appropriate IT packages to acquire and analyse data
• Select and use appropriate statistical methods to analyse data
• Identify and synthesise concepts from the literature and summarising them in written form
• Research a topic and communicate your findings in an oral presentation

How you will learn

This unit includes a series of integrated lectures, laboratory-based practical classes, workshops and online learning resources for independent study. Lectures provide foundational knowledge essential to for your development of practical skills, many of which you will be able to apply in laboratory-based practical classes and workshops. Self-paced online learning resources will allow you to work through complex material at your own speed, with facilitated workshops to support your learning. Small group and one-to-one tutorials with your Personal Tutor give you the opportunity to reflect on feedback and your personal development.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks:

As part of the integrated assessment approach for the MSc Biomedical Sciences Research programme, you will complete a formative essay and a formative oral presentation in this unit. These will support you in preparation for summative written and oral assessments in your optional and mandatory units. You will receive support and guidance on how to prepare for these tasks and you will receive feedback on your work. Reflecting, and responding to feedback will allow you to improve your critical approach to engaging with research. It will also allow you to refine your written and oral communication skills.

You will receive feedback on each pre-laboratory summative assessment throughout the programme; this will support you in identifying your strengths, as well as areas for development for future laboratory-based assessments.

You will prepare a CV and receive formative feedback. This will allow you to refine your CV and target it appropriately for different applications, including further study or employment.

An opportunity will be given for you to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts in the formative Short Answer Question paper. You will receive feedback allowing you to identify strengths and areas for improvement ahead of the summative Short Answer Question paper.

Tutorials with your Personal Tutor in the MSc Core Skills unit will give you the opportunity to discuss your academic progress throughout the programme, providing a constructive space to reflect on feedback.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

• eBiolabs pre-lab quizzes and post-lab assignments (70%)
• Short Answer Question examination (summer) (30%)

When assessment does not go to plan

If you are unable to submit your post-lab assignments on time, you can request an extension no later than 48 hours before the deadline.

If you are unable to attend the Short Answer Examination, you will have the opportunity to sit this assessment in the reassessment period.

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 the programme of study. The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

Resources

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. PANMM0028).

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.