HIGHESTTEACHINGQUALITY OUTSTANDING

STUDENT EXPERIENCESUPERB GRADUATE

EMPLOYABILITY INNOVATIONATTHE HEART OFTHE

UNIVERSITY

The University of HullHull, HU6 7RX, UK0870 126 2000admissions@hull.ac.uk

www.hull.ac.uk

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The University of Hull

Life sciences

ContentsWelcome 1

Life sciences at Hull 2

Why study at the University of Hull? 3

The Hull Campus 4

The Scarborough Campus 5

Choosing a degree and getting a place 6

Your questions answered 7

Employability of our graduates 8

Hull Campus programmesBSc Aquatic Zoology 9BSc Biology 10BSc/MBiol Biology with MolecularBioscience 11

BSc/MBiomedSci Biomedical Science 12BSc Human Biology 14BSc Marine and Freshwater Biology 15BSc Zoology 16

Scarborough Campus programmesBSc Coastal Marine Biology 17BSc Ecology 18BSc Environmental Science 20

The four-year route 22

Hull Campus modules 24

Scarborough Campus modules 25

Staff and their research interests 26

The Deep 28

Key factsHull CampusSingle Honours UCAS codeAquatic Zoology C390 BSc/AqZBiology C100 BSc/BBiology with Molecular Bioscience (3 years) C1CT BSc/BMBsBiology with Molecular Bioscience (4 years) C1CB MBiol/BMBBiomedical Science (3 years) BC99 BSc/BiSc3Biomedical Science (4 years with placement) BC9X MBSci/BSHuman Biology C102 BSc/HBMarine and Freshwater Biology C163 BSc/MFBZoology C300 BSc/Zoo

With a foundation yearAquatic Zoology (4 years) C350 BSc/AqZ4Biology (4 years) C101 BSc/B4Biology with Molecular Bioscience (4 years) C1CA BSc/BMBs4Biomedical Science (4 years)* BC9Y BSc/BioS4Human Biology (4 years) C103 BSc/HB4Marine and Freshwater Biology (4 years) C165 BSc/MFB4Zoology (4 years) C301 BSc/Zoo4

Scarborough CampusSingle Honours UCAS codeCoastal Marine Biology* CD14 S BSc/CMBEcology* C180 S BSc/EcEnvironmental Science* F750 S BSc/Env

With a foundation year✝Coastal Marine Biology (4 years)* CD1K S BSc/CMB4Ecology (4 years)* C181 S BSc/Ecol4Environmental Science (4 years)* F754 S BSc/EnvS4

* Also offered for part-time study.✝ The foundation year is taught at the Hull Campus.

Places availableSingle Honours degrees 100Biomedical Science degrees 50Scarborough Campus 50

Current offersSingle Honours, Hull Campus: 240–280 tariff points including A level Biology grade CSingle Honours Biomedical Science: BBB–BCCScarborough Campus: 200+ tariff pointsFour-year BSc programmes: 140–180 tariff points

Admissions/enquiries: Hull CampusJon Harvey (Admissions Tutor): email j.p.harvey@hull.ac.ukDepartmental Secretary: tel 01482 465144/465198E biosci@hull.ac.ukW www.hull.ac.uk/biosciBiological Sciences,The University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK

Admissions/enquiries: Scarborough CampusSunil Shastri (Admissions Tutor): tel 01723 357221Centre Administrator : tel 01723 357229E cems@hull.ac.ukW www.hull.ac.uk/cemsCentre for Environmental and Marine Sciences,The University of Hull, ScarboroughCampus, Scarborough,YO11 3AZ, UK

Life sciences

WelcomeHullHello, and a very warm welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences atthe University of Hull.

We invite you to discover why we pride ourselves as ‘one of the friendliestdepartments in the country’ and why our undergraduates are highly satisfiedwith their student experience.Whatever your area of interest, we havesomething for you.

Biological Sciences is a modern, dynamic and friendly place with internationallyrecognised research activities.The department has a long-standing tradition ofexcellence in teaching and offers a wide range of Bachelors degree courses aswell as taught and research Masters courses.

Our world-class research, as recognised in the recent Research AssementExercise (RAE 2008), means that there is a vibrant PhD student population,and of course it inspires and informs our teaching. Our degrees incorporate awide range of practical components, including exotic field courses and trainingin skills such as diving. In short, we believe that our courses offer more ‘addedvalue’ than other comparable degrees in the UK. More than 95% of ourgraduates find employment within six months of graduation.

There is a thriving campus community, with a dedicated award-winningnightclub,Asylum, and a students’ union that is among the best in England.TheSunday Times education supplement called the University Hull ‘the best-keptsecret in higher education’. Now the secret’s out …

Wishing you all the best in your studies,

Graham ScottHead of Department

ScarboroughWelcome to the Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences (CEMS).Weare a small specialist department based at the Scarborough Campus, withstrengths in marine, ecological and environmental teaching and research.Weare at the forefront of field-based teaching in the University, with CEMSacademics leading undergraduate trips to Egypt, Indonesia and Mallorca forstudents from both campuses.

The small size of the department means that our students learn in a variety ofways that are not really possible in a larger department. Instead of sitting in alecture theatre with 200 other undergraduates, you are likely to be working ina lab with 15 people that you know. Field and lab work constitute about 40%of what our students experience while they are here, whether that is samplingorganisms on the beach, dissecting squid in the lab, diving at our own localtraining site, climbing trees in Dalby Forest or snorkelling in Indonesia.

Modern technology means that, despite its rural location, our wireless campusis very well connected, and the online resources available are identical tothose on the Hull Campus.

Staff and students build up excellent working relationships at CEMS, andeveryone is on first-name terms. Because of our open-door policy forundergraduates, tutorials are available on a drop-in basis and you can be prettysure that your tutor will know who you are. It also means that you may havethe opportunity to get involved with staff research projects and develop yourskills further.

Hoping to see you soon,

Linda HockleyHead of Centre

www.hull.ac.uk2

Life sciences

Life sciences at the University of Hull – a tradition of excellenceextending into the 21st century

Established in 1928, the Department of Biological Sciences hasan excellent tradition in both research and teaching. Our veryfirst Head of Department, Sir Alistair Hardy, FRS, is world-famous for his work in oceanography and research into theimplications of plankton distribution for fisheries.As ChiefZoologist on Scott’s famous ship the Discovery (1926) he wasone of the first marine biologists to explore tropical andAntarctic waters.The department also has a strong tradition inbiomedical science, with notable successes such as thediscovery of the role of prolactin in vertebrate osmoregulationand the creation of the IVF Unit at Hull Princess RoyalHospital.

But the department is not just about great traditions – it is athriving, dynamic place that provides a vibrant teaching andresearch environment. Since 2004 the University has invested£3 million in new and improved infrastructure. In particular, ourteaching labs have been fully refurbished to provide world-classlearning facilities (see the panel).

In terms of research, Biological Sciences is an active, focuseddepartment that is at the forefront of many exciting fields ofbiology. Over the last decade it has developed an internationalreputation not only in biomedical science but also inevolutionary biology and functional ecology. Researchers areinterested in projects ranging from the cellular basis of diseasessuch as cardiovascular disease and sleeping sickness to theecology and genetics of invasive ladybirds and the evolution ofsexual mode in tadpole shrimps.The marine sciences havealways featured prominently and are a particular area ofexpertise in CEMS at the Scarborough Campus.

Most importantly, we translate this cutting-edge knowledge intoresearch-driven teaching that benefits students at all levels.

Teaching facilitiesPractical classes at the Hull Campus take place in two ultra-modern teaching labs, both of which have been completelyrefurbished in the last few years with an investment of morethan £700,000. In all there are over 160 computerworkstations and interactive screens, allowing for computer-assisted teaching. Demonstrations by lecturers can beprojected on screen, and all information can be accesseddirectly by every student. Both labs are particularly well suitedto cater for disabled students, featuring special wheelchairbenching and facilities for visually and hearing impairedstudents.Teaching facilities at Scarborough also take advantageof the latest technology, and the campus is entirely wireless sothat students and staff can be online wherever they areworking or learning.Web-assisted learning and assignments area user-friendly teaching innovation used at both campuses,alongside more traditional techniques.

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In short: quality of teaching, friendliness of staff and students,value for money, unrivalled flexibility and added value leading toemployment afterwards.This pamphlet explains why we – andour students – love this place, and describes the opportunitiesthat it provides.We will try to help you choose the degree(and campus) most appropriate for you.

One of the greatest advantages of studying at Hull is that you willbecome part of a uniquely interactive department where thebreadth of disciplines covered by staff allows for collaborations inboth research and teaching. For example, molecular biologists arecollaborating with fisheries biologists to look at the geneticstructure of fish stocks; and invertebrate physiologists arecollaborating with biochemists to study the chemical basis ofbehaviour and its evolution.

Most importantly, this collaborative research will benefit youreducation. State-of-the-art knowledge acquired via research isbuilt into the structure and delivery of our degree courses. Onceyou have gained the basic skills required for biological sciencesduring your first year, you can select specific modules to reflectyour interests and, in effect, build your own degree. For example,you might wish to study marine and freshwater biology but alsospecialise in molecular biology. At Hull you can do this, and evenhave the flexibility of choosing between two campuses. Finally, allstudents are able to do their own research project and workclosely with research scientists in the lab or in the field.

In choosing your university you need to consider many factors. Aprime consideration is the course. Here you should first takeaccount of

• teaching quality and the value of the experience• student progression rates and the value of the education• graduate employment prospects and the value of the skills

taught• value for money and the opportunity for achievements

These vary considerably from university to university and fromdepartment to department.The facts and figures for Hull and ourdepartment are as follows.

Student satisfactionFor the fourth year running, the University of Hull has emergedas one of the top 10 mainstream English universities for overallstudent satisfaction. Our teaching, assessment, feedback andacademic support were all highly rated.This is no flash-in-the-panresult – our students are truly satisfied with their experience atthe University of Hull.

Excellence in teachingTeaching in the life sciences at this university has been rated asexcellent.The Quality Assurance Agency awarded BiologicalSciences 23 points out of a possible 24 and praised

• the supportive and stimulating learning environment• the innovative Biomedical Science courses• the flexible curriculum allowing movement between degree

courses and campuses

• key skills (sought by employers) taught in all courses and at alllevels

• a foundation year that gives excellent grounding to studentsentering by this route

Excellent employabilityThe University of Hull regularly achieves a top-10 position inleague tables recording graduate employability, with fewer than5% of students still unemployed six months after graduation.Biological Sciences usually matches, and sometimes improves on,these figures.

Other important factors• Both campuses offer a student-friendly environment.

• We are a long-established traditional university dedicated toexcellence in both teaching and research. But we are alsohighly innovative, with investment in new teaching labs, newdegrees in Human Biology and Zoology, and new teachinginitiatives such as the Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme.

• Our degree courses will introduce you to the core subjectsbut also allow you to develop and pursue your own particularinterests.Your progress will be monitored regularly, and you willhave the opportunity to transfer between some of ourspecialist degree courses.

• Our teaching and research interests span the breadth ofmodern-day biology, from molecular biology to management ofnatural resources.

• You may attend field courses or undertake field-based projectsboth in the UK and in exotic locations such as Indonesia,Tobago, Mallorca and Honduras.

• We have excellent links with local industry, hospitals andresearch units – almost all our Biomedical Science studentsgain employment straight away.

• At the Hull Campus we run a third-year module called Biologyin Education which allows students to spend time in localschools and help teaching biology – an excellent experiencefor those considering a teaching career.

• You may continue your studies by working towards a researchdegree (MSc, MRes, PhD) or one of several taught Mastersdegrees, all encouraging collaboration with potential employers.

• We offer a well-structured and proven foundation year, taughtat the Hull Campus, for applicants who do not haveappropriate entry qualifications.

• University accommodation is excellent, and both Hull andScarborough benefit from a plentiful supply of inexpensivehigh-quality private-sector accommodation. See the University’sprospectus or visit www.hull.ac.uk/accom.

• Our courses give you ample opportunity to refine those ‘keyskills’ so popular with employers.

Why study at the University of Hull?

Biological Sciences occupies most of the Hardy Building andthe adjacent Wolfson Building.Within these are teaching andresearch laboratories, an Electron Microscope Suite,freshwater and marine aquaria, a state-of-the-art GenomeAnalysis Suite, lecture theatres and staff offices.Thedepartment also runs Botanic Gardens in Cottingham, nearHull, and has very good links with industrial biotechnologycompanies, local hospitals and NHS research units, not leastthe world-renowned Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit at HullRoyal Infirmary.

Our degree portfolioWe offer three-year degree courses in Biology, BiomedicalScience, Aquatic Zoology, Marine and Freshwater Biology,Human Biology, Zoology, and Biology with Molecular Bioscience.We also offer routes into these for applicants without thenormal qualifications (see page 22).We are constantly updatingour portfolio, so contact us for the latest information or checkour website.

Why choose to study on the Hull Campus?• A department offering the chance to study the most recent

developments in a wide range of current biological topics• A compact campus with all facilities close at hand• Top-quality teaching in a supportive and friendly environment• A degree that allows you to choose the modules that most

interest you• The chance to travel overseas to conduct field-based work on

coral reefs, mangroves and exotic freshwater systems• A wide choice of free elective modules from other

departments if you wish to broaden your education• Great links with local industry, hospitals and NHS research

units• The chance to learn to dive and move towards a

professionally recognised qualification• Close to the centre of one of the UK’s largest cities, with all

the social and recreational facilities you would expect

Undergraduate Ambassadors SchemeAre you thinking of teaching as a possible career? If so, Hull isthe place for you. In a pioneering venture, our department offersan undergraduate module called Biology in Education.Developed under a national initiative called the UndergraduateAmbassadors Scheme, the module gives you the chance to visita school, help in classes and try teaching. In addition, you willdevise and develop a biology-based project with your class.Thisis a great way of gaining some teaching experience and findingout whether it is the right career for you.You gain a range ofskills, improve your employability and become a role modelinspiring more young people to choose science-based careers oreducation in the future. A highly rewarding experience!

The Hull Campus

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The Scarborough Campus

The Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences (CEMS) issituated in an ideal position on the Scarborough Campus. Just afew hundred yards from the shore of the Yorkshire coast, and afew miles away from the North York Moors National Park, ithas incomparable natural facilities for study and research intothe environment on its doorstep.

Situated within theWorsley Building, the centre offers modernlaboratory and aquarium facilities and a dedicated microscopysuite.The state-of-the art campus IT facilities are easily accessedin the same building.The halls of residence, providing excellenten-suite accommodation, are also located on campus.

Our degree portfolioAt Scarborough we offer three-year degrees in Coastal MarineBiology, Environmental Science and Ecology.We also offer routesinto these for applicants without the normal qualifications (seepage 22) and opportunities for part-time study.

Why choose Scarborough rather than a largemetropolitan university?• Degree courses that emphasise the hands-on, applied aspects

of biology thanks to the easy access to a variety of marine andterrestrial ecosystems

• Small, intimate campus that enables you to fulfil your potentialas an individual, rather than one among the crowd

• Easily accessible staff who will know your name and providesupport when you need it

• Links with the British Antarctic Survey and the Central ScienceLaboratory, who provide expert input

• Surfing opportunities when you need a break from work!

Dive trainingDive training for undergraduates is facilitated at both campuses,but in Scarborough there are two instructors on staff withScientific Diving expertise.Training to OpenWater level is offeredas a free elective, and those who wish to do so can train toEuropean Scientific Diving standard during their three years atCEMS. Students from CEMS have exclusive access to their owntraining facility atWykeham Lakes.

Although many students purchase their own equipment, CEMShas enough to train as many students as wish to learn. A recentdevelopment has been the purchase of full-face masks andunderwater communication technology that will give studentdivers experience of using commercial dive equipment.

Dive training not only lets you experience the wonderfulunderwater world at first hand; it also encourages personaldevelopment (confidence, working in groups, planning, safetyawareness, self-discipline), and it looks great on your CV –whatever career path you choose.

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Choosing a degree and getting a place

Our degree courses are listed on the inside front cover.Details of these courses are given elsewhere in this pamphlet.For up-to-date information call us or check our websites.

There is no need to worry about choosing between our degreecourses. Before you fill in your UCAS application, you can call us(01482 465398 or 465198) for advice.We will help you choosebetween Hull and Scarborough, and give you advice about whichdegree may be best for you. Alternatively you may email eitherof the following people.We promise a speedy reply.

Dr Jon Harvey(Admissions Officer, Hull):j.p.harvey@hull.ac.uk

Sunil Shastri(Admissions Officer, CEMS):cems@hull.ac.uk

One other piece of advice: if you are thinking of applying for oneof our degrees but are not certain whether you should go for athree-year course or a four-year course with a foundation year,put either one on your UCAS application and we will advise youduring your open-day visit. If you have applied for the four-yearroute and do better than expected in your exams, we may beable to transfer you to the three-year degree if that is what youwish.

Getting a placeIf we make you an offer we will invite you to one of our opendays, at either the Hull or the Scarborough Campus asappropriate. Please note that all candidates for the four-yearMasters in Biomedical Science (BC9X) will be interviewed.Youwill be given a choice of dates and days, usually Wednesdays andSaturdays. Members of your family or partners will also beencouraged to attend, and we offer help with travel costs, giveyou the opportunity to visit Hull’s famous aquarium,The Deep,and ensure that you have a great day in our friendly city. Lateapplicants or those who cannot attend open days shouldcontact the admissions staff identified above, who will makearrangements for individual visits.

We welcome and encourage applications from students withdisabilities.

Entrance requirements depend on the degree you wish to take.When we make our offer your suitability for the course appliedfor will be taken into account along with your predictedexamination performance. Candidates offering qualificationsother than A levels (for example, BTEC, IB, GNVQ,Accesscourses, etc) will be given careful and sympathetic consideration.Anyone without formal qualifications should contact us to see iftheir application will be considered.

For the four-year BSc degrees (including BiomedicalScience):These degrees are designed for those who in some way do notmeet the usual entry requirements of the three-year courses.(You may, for example, be offering an unusual combination of Alevel subjects.) See page 22 or contact our admissions officersfor more details.

For Biomedical Science (three-year BSc and four-yearMasters with placement):We ask for good A level passes in Biology, Chemistry and oneother, preferably science, subject. A typical offer would be240–280 points for the three-year BSc and 300 or above for thefour-year undergraduate Masters.

For all other courses:We ask for A level passes (or equivalent qualifications) in twoscience subjects, preferably including a biological subject. In ourexperience general aptitude and determination to succeed areoften more important than A level subjects. If Biology is youronly science, we will still give your application seriousconsideration.We will even consider applicants without scienceA levels as our four-year BSc courses can be used as ‘conversion’courses. Our typical offer is 240–280 points.

Changing your mindA major attraction of a University of Hull degree is that youhave the flexibility to change your mind! The only course withset target numbers is MBiomedSci Biomedical Science (four-yearwith placement). Because this is funded by a health authority(NHS) and provides a bursary, the numbers must be fixed.Otherwise we will fill degree courses according to demand.

This means that if you apply for, let’s say, Biology but decide laterthat your interests really lie in Marine and Freshwater Biology, itwill be simple for us to transfer you to your new choice, evenafter you arrive in Hull. Similarly, if you apply to Hull but laterdecide that you would be better suited to a Scarboroughcourse, or vice versa, we will be able to change your application.Because most degrees share a common first year (the skillsyear), a change of course is possible after a year of your studiesor even later. Also, if you apply for a three-year degree but havea disaster and do badly in your A levels there is the built-in‘safety net’ of an almost certain place on one of our four-yearBSc courses, giving you a chance to get back on track in asupportive environment.

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Who can I turn to for help and advice?Every student is allocated a personal tutor, a member of staffwho will look after you during your time at the University ofHull. Both Biological Sciences in Hull and CEMS in Scarboroughhave an ‘open-door’ policy, which means that you can call at mosttimes on any member of staff and seek their help. Staff are busy,but you will find that we are approachable and genuinely willingto help. If we can’t help we usually know someone who can.

How much work do I have to do? Is there any time forsport or leisure activities?TheYear 1 timetable has seven or eight one-hour lectures andthree practicals, each lasting three to four hours, per week.Wednesday afternoons are free for all students.The compactnature of both campuses means that you will not spend muchtime travelling around, and if you were feeling energetic youcould fit in a game of squash between lectures or go to thesuperb students’ union just next to Biology at Hull (or even gosurfing at Scarborough!).

How do I get to know other people in the department?The induction week features a number of social events to ensurethat you meet staff and fellow students, and when teaching startsin a practical or tutorial you will work in small groups and willsoon get to know other members of your class.

Can I choose modules from outside the Department ofBiological Sciences?Yes, in most courses a wide range of free elective modules areavailable from across the subjects offered at the campus you areattending (see the inner back cover).The department itself offersa number of free elective modules, including Dive Training, AnimalBehaviour and Marine Field Studies.

How do I choose a research project?In your second year, and with guidance from advisers, you choosea research supervisor for your final year and choose a projectfrom the range available.This gives undergraduate students theopportunity to join a research group and gain researchexperience.We offer 20- and 40-credit research projects,including lab-based projects, projects involving field studiesabroad, and literature-based projects; there is also theUndergraduate Ambassadors Scheme, where you work in localschools.This practical element of your studies can contributesignificantly to your final degree assessment. It is also of value inshowing prospective employers your commitment to specificfields of biology and your potential as a research scientist, or itcan be seen as a stepping stone to a Masters or a PhD.Theresearch interests of our academic staff are listed on pages 26–7.

Are there any field courses?Field courses form an integral part of the Marine and FreshwaterBiology, Coastal Marine Biology, Aquatic Zoology, EnvironmentalScience and Ecology degrees. Biology students may also attend(space permitting). Students may attend a residential field course:recent destinations have included North Yorkshire, the Isle ofCumbrae, the Red Sea,Thailand, Indonesia and Lake Malawi.Thecost of the field course depends on the destination you choose,but all are heavily subsidised by the department and representexcellent value for money.

What will I have to buy?You’ll need a lab coat.You’ll need some books. Our libraries onboth campuses do have multiple copies of all-importanttextbooks, but it will be more convenient to have your own. Atthe Hull Campus there is also a small one-off charge to helpoffset the cost of the printed laboratory manuals and guides.Those taking field courses will need wellington boots and/orsnorkel and fins, sunglasses and suntan lotion.Those choosing theDive Training module will be required to contribute to the cost.

Can I transfer from another institution?One benefit of CATS (the Credit Accumulation and TransferScheme) is that it facilitates such transfers. Even if your presentinstitution isn’t yet running CATS, you are welcome to contactour admissions officer to see if you can be considered.

Can I gain work experience during my degree?We allow students to suspend their studies for a year betweenthe second and third levels if they wish to gain work experiencein a relevant industrial or research environment in the UK orabroad. In addition, a number of institutions offer summerinternships to our top-performing students. So you may beoffered the chance to work at The Deep, the Hull IVF Unit or theInstitute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies during your firstsummer. Many of our staff also look for students to undertakesummer projects and can arrange fellowships from places such asthe Nuffield Foundation – just approach staff working on subjectsyou have a particular interest in and they will be more thanhappy to help.

Your questions answered

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Employability of our graduates

The University of Hull is nationally recognised for the successof its graduates. Regularly among the top UK universities inleague tables recording graduate employability, approximately96% of its students find employment within six months ofgraduation. Biological Sciences usually matches, and evenimproves on, these figures.

Key issues to considerWe cannot deal here with all the complexities of graduateemployment – some of which are discussed in the CareersService’s entry in the University’s prospectus – but a few pointsdeserve mention.

• Graduates looking for satisfying work always have been andwill continue to be at a considerable advantage comparedwith non-graduates.

• Employers today look for ‘transferable skills’ and often providespecialised training ‘in house’.We have therefore built suchskills into our degree courses.This ensures that our studentsare suitably prepared for the work market and especially forthe 40% of opportunities that are completely ‘open’. For thesethe subject of your degree is less important than how yourpractical, social and intellectual skills have developed under thestimulus of the University’s academic and social life.

• The University’s Careers Service has been notably successfulin helping our students find jobs that fulfil them.

• The Careers Service does not stop providing help when yougraduate but will, if you wish, continue to help you throughoutyour working life.

Opportunities for biology graduatesMany graduates take up careers that draw on the various keyskills developed and practised during their time at the University,rather than on their biological training. Many employersrecognise that biologists from a good university make excellentemployees.This university is at the forefront, for example, ofenvironmental technologies, a job market that has, according tothe Natural Environment Research Council, an estimated skillsgap of more than 1.5 million jobs in the next 10 years.

Our degree courses open up many such career possibilities infields related to biology: that is, in industries such aspharmaceuticals, chemicals, paramedical work, hospital servicesand food production, or in other important areas such aspollution control, exploitation of natural resources andenvironmental conservation.Typical employers include the waterindustry, government agencies, industrial concerns, localauthorities, nature conservation bodies, research institutions andinternational agencies.

The improved management of fisheries is an important issue formany nations and is recognised as a major concern within theEuropean Common Fisheries Policy. Careers will thus continueto be available for graduates in the fishing industry, aquaculture,national and international government agencies, and the fisheriesresearch institutions.

Those who graduate with an upper second or a first classdegree may also consider becoming specialist researchers withinuniversities, industry or research institutes supported by theGovernment.We offer guaranteed places on our Masterscourses (depending on performance) for all our graduates.

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BScAquatic Zoology

The seas cover most of the earth’s surface and are of greatsignificance for reasons that range from harvesting fish tothe disposal of waste. Fresh water is a similarly preciouscommodity that supports a diverse range of organisms, butthe resource is under increasing pressure from human use.This course focuses on the land/sea interface – asrepresented by marine coastal areas, estuaries andassociated wetlands – and on freshwater environments.

In particular, the course explores the fascinating diversity,ecology and physiological adaptations of organisms in thefreshwater, estuarine and intertidal environments, emphasisinghow such scientific knowledge informs the management ofthese environments.The commercial importance of suchresources is another key topic.The course is delivered by oursuccessful research and teaching groups in aquatic ecologyand resource management, aquatic ecophysiology, andevolutionary biology.

Key modules provide extensive coverage of evolutionarybiology, ecophysiology of aquatic organisms, fish ecology,conservation biology, behavioural ecology, biodiversity,oceanography, and freshwater and coastal fisheries. State-of-the-art teaching in modules on molecular ecology and theevolution of aquatic organisms focuses on tropical fishes(cichlids and guppies) that we research in our impressivefreshwater aquaria.

One or more residential field trips are available. In recentyears, students have had the choice of a UK-based trip orone to a more exotic foreign destination. All trips aresubsidised heavily, but students have to bear some of thecost. Foreign destinations include Tobago, Indonesia andMallorca. Honduras may be a new destination for 2010.

Focus on researchConservation biologyHuman activities destroy habitats andthreaten many species with extinction.Breeding endangered animals in captivity forfuture reintroduction into natural habitats isan important conservation method.However, no consensus has yet beenreached as to which captive breedingregime is most likely to lead to successfulreintroduction, and this is an important gapin our knowledge.

Dr Cock van Oosterhout’s groupinvestigates the effects of selection, geneticdrift and inbreeding in captive populations,using different breeding regimes. He studiestropical freshwater fish (the guppy) andanalyses the effects of such regimes onimportant evolutionary traits (growth,survival rate, fecundity, mating success andgenetic variation). After several generationsin captivity, he introduced the guppies intoan experimental set-up in their naturalhabitat in Trinidad.There, the fitness, healthand survival of guppies were analysed insemi-natural conditions.

The ultimate goal of this study is toinvestigate the effects of changes in micro-evolutionary forces on the fitness, geneticvariation and evolutionary potential ofpopulations.This research providesthorough scientific support forrecommendations in relation toconservation management for ex-situcaptive breeding and reintroduction ofendangered animals.

Focus on researchImpacts of hydropowerThe impacts of hydropower schemes onfish populations are well documented.Common examples include changes in fishspecies composition or populationstructure. Loss of longitudinal connectivity isoften a key reason for this, since fish mayno longer be able to reach their spawninggrounds, or the spawning grounds may belost because of changes in habitatassociated with the engineering works.

Nevertheless, such schemes remain afavourable option for power generationsince they are ‘renewable’ and do notpollute the environment to the extent thatmore traditional sources of powergeneration do. HIFI (the Hull InternationalFisheries Institute, one of our specialistunits) was commissioned to survey the fishpopulations of a selection of uplandstreams inWales, Scotland and Ireland thatwere considered suitable for powergeneration.The aim was to identify keyspawning and nursery areas for salmon andbrown trout, so that such areas could beprotected when future hydropowerschemes were designed.

Fisheries data were collected and analysedfor age structure, population density, andgrowth rates. Continuing research providesscientific analysis and resolution of thepossible conflict between the need forrenewable energy and the conservation ofimportant aquatic species.

Focus on researchChemical ecologyHow do animals communicate? This is aquestion as old as mankind, and it is of bothacademic and practical interest.We want tounderstand how animal signals have evolvedbut also whether they can be disrupted byhuman influences – for instance, whetherpollutants such as fuel oil may alter odour-mediated behaviours.To this end ourresearch has uncovered many aspects ofthe chemical nature of animal signals. Forexample, we have induced a male shorecrab to attempt to mate with a stone bycoating the stone with the sex pheromonefrom a female crab.This is a dramaticexample of how important chemical signalsare in controlling behaviour, particularly inaquatic animals.The focus of our researchteam is to study how aquatic organisms usesuch chemical signals as a mechanism ofcommunication. Sex pheromones, feedingstimulants and deterrents are studied usingorganisms such as the European otter,lobsters, crayfish, marine polychaetes andcrabs.

The research feeds into applied projectssuch as studying the use of chemical signalsin aquaculture, their potential use againstinvasive pest species (crayfish, zebramussels, American lobster), and how to usesignal molecules to monitor/manage otterpopulations.

BSc Biology

Our flagship degree course, Biology provides a broadeducation for those who choose not to specialise.Depending on your choice of modules, you can incorporatemolecular biology, human biology, ecology and biomedical-based subjects in your degree.You can thus keep yourdegree broadly based or give a particular emphasis to yourstudies by your choice of optional modules.The list ofmodules on page 24 shows that you have plenty to choosefrom.

Our modules are usually worth 20 credits, and you arerequired to take 120 credits each year.You have the optionof selecting 20 of these credits each year from a free electivecatalogue that lists a range of attractive modules offered byother departments. In this way you could supplement yourbiological training, if you wished, with, for example, a languagemodule or one in psychology.

Learning takes place in lectures, practical classes and tutorials.You will also have tutorials – small-group sessions involvingother students and your personal tutor. In your second yearyou will meet with other staff and have the chance toexplore contemporary issues in biology at a scientific and anethical level, and in your final year you will receive closepersonal tuition from your research project supervisor.

Assessment takes a number of forms. Lectures are normallyassessed by written examination at the end of the module,but multiple-choice tests and essays written during theteaching period are also used. All laboratory-based work iscontinuously assessed by means of lab books, assignments orshort tests. For most modules the split between continuousassessment and written exam is 50:50. If you fail a moduleyou will be reassessed at a later date. Our overall failure rateis low, and we encourage and expect all our students toperform at their highest possible standard. Normally morethan half the class graduate with degrees classified at the toptwo levels (first and upper second).

Focus on researchCell biology of trypanosomesThe parasite Trypanosoma brucei causes African sleepingsickness, a disease that claims more than 50,000 lives per yearin sub-Saharan Africa. Klaus Ersfeld’s lab is working on aspectsof the cell biology of T brucei using molecular cell biologytechniques to identify molecules involved in the pathogenesisof this organism, with the aim of exploiting them as potentialdrug targets. Specific topics of research include mechanismsof cell division and chromosome segregation during mitosis.This research integrates well with modules taught by DrErsfeld in molecular cell biology and in molecular and medicalparasitology.

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BSc/MBiol Biology with Molecular Bioscience

These new courses fit closely with the existing andsuccessful BSc Biology degree but will especially appeal tostudents wanting to learn more molecular genetictechniques and understand how to take molecularapproaches to a range of modern biological questions.

Molecular genetic techniques are now widespread in all areasof biology, being commonly used by researchers in disciplinessuch as parasitology, microbiology, ecology, evolutionarybiology, fisheries, conservation biology and biomedical science.Yet many universities have molecular biology degrees that arerestricted to ‘classical’ molecular biology systems. By contrastwe have designed a broad-based course with a moderncurriculum where you will be able to choose options tomatch your interests throughout the breadth of biology.

The MBiol degree allows you to progress to an advancedfourth year in which you can choose to work in the researchlaboratories of members of staff, and also take both practicaland lecture courses on molecular techniques. One examplemight be ‘Practical DNA Sequencing and Bioinformatics’, inwhich students will sequence a small genomic library andinterpret the data by working in the department’s GenomeAnalysis Suite and Bioinformatics Laboratory.

Focus on researchMolecular genetic approaches to biodiversityApproximately half of the Earth’s surface is deep ocean. Inthese depths 50–90% of all animals are nematode worms.Although they dominate the abyssal community, little hasbeen know about their biology or diversity. Are these speciesunique to the ocean depths or are they much the same asthose on the continental shelf? By DNA sequencing andbioinformatics Dr David Lunt, working with the NaturalHistory Museum and other institutions, has been able toshow extensive new diversity in the ocean abyss. Moleculargenetic approaches like these are becoming more and moreimportant in biodiversity research, and students in thedepartment have worked on projects investigating manyanimals including owls, sea cucumbers and iguanas.

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BSc/MBiomedSci Biomedical Science

The biomedical sciences are currently among the fastest-growing areas of knowledge, and all aspects of biomedicalscience and research have become increasinglysophisticated. Graduates are needed to cope with thisincreasing sophistication and to continue the developmentand implementation of new fundamental knowledge in thesciences relevant to the clinical laboratory situation. Mostof our graduates are employed as biomedical scientists orresearchers in NHS hospitals or in research laboratories,universities or the private sector.

Our degree courses are designed to equip students with theskills necessary to follow careers in a wide range ofoccupations in the health services, including biomedicalscientist roles, research and development, clinical trials,education, and sales and marketing.

These courses have been designed in partnership with theHull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHSTrust and embody amultidisciplinary biomedical laboratory-based approach,encouraging you to be flexible in your professional outlookwhile still allowing you to specialise in one of the clinicaldisciplines. Both courses are accredited by the IBMS (Instituteof Biomedical Science).

Students following the four-year MBiomedSci course,sponsored by NHSYorkshire and the Humber, spend a ‘yearout’ on placement in one of our partner hospitallaboratories.The degree thus offers a high level ofexperiential training, and is validated by the IBMS andapproved by the HPC (Health Professions Council).

Financial arrangements for the four-year course are differentfrom the normal HEFCE-funded route, with provision for atraining allowance during the experiential placement year.Different funding arrangements apply to EU and overseasstudents. Details can be obtained from the University.

Year 1 andYear 2 are identical for the BSc and MBiomedScicourses.The first year consists of common core modules,which introduce you to the fundamentals of biochemistry,microbiology, physiology and cell biology. In your second yearyou continue to study core subjects, including an introductionto the biological basis of disease, and you study the basicconcepts underlying the principal clinical disciplines: clinicalbiochemistry, haematology and transfusion science, cellularpathology, medical microbiology and immunology.Thesemodules include contributions by senior staff from hospitallaboratories in the Yorkshire region.

At the end of Year 2, the four-year course is extended by ashort placement in a hospital laboratory.

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In your third year you follow in-depth modules in two clinicalspecialties. Modules on the importance of quality assuranceare included to give you a broader perspective on biomedicalsciences.

In the three-year BSc degree you gain experience in researchtechniques by carrying out a laboratory-based project in thefinal year and by choosing from optional modules designed todevelop your understanding and breadth of knowledge.Graduates from the three-year degree course are eligible toapply for trainee biomedical scientist posts in hospitallaboratories.

In the four-year degree, you spend a year (bridging your thirdand fourth years of study) working within one of the clinicaldisciplines in a hospital laboratory.Those participating areapproved training laboratories recognised by the HPC.Hospitals currently used include Hull Royal Infirmary, thePathLinks group of NHS laboratories (Grimsby, Scunthorpeand Boston), the Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Barnsley DistrictGeneral Hospital,York District Hospital, Huddersfield RoyalInfirmary, Pontefract General Hospital, Scarborough Hospital,Bassetlaw and Doncaster Hospitals, the Northern Generaland Royal Hallamshire Hospitals at Sheffield, and HarrogateGeneral Hospital.

Senior staff within the hospital labs are appointed as practicetutors responsible for your training and will act as mentorsthroughout the year. One of the aims of this part of thecourse is to provide instruction, training and experienceappropriate to the requirements of the HPC.You will berequired to complete assessed work, which will counttowards your degree, and the IBMS Portfolio for theCertificate of Competence. Satisfactory completion of thispart of the course will allow you to apply for professionalregistered status accredited by the HPC on graduation.

After your training year you return to the University for thefinal semester, to undertake a laboratory-based researchproject, modules covering the structure and management ofhealth services, and clinical case studies.

Meeting professional standards in biomedicalscienceThe undergraduate Masters in Biomedical Science (BC9X)has been approved by the Health Professions Council.Thismeans that on graduation, students can apply to the HPC forRegistered Practitioner status to work as biomedical scientistswithin the NHS. Satisfactory completion and assessment ofthe Registration Portfolio, which takes place during theplacement year, ensure that our graduates are competent tomeet the professional standards required. In collaborationwith the University of theWest of England, our students use‘Profiles’ – an electronic version of the Portfolio.

In addition, both BC9X and BC99 have been accredited bythe Institute of Biomedical Science until 2010.Thisaccreditation also facilitates career pathways for graduatesfrom the three-year BSc if they wish to pursue a career as aregistered biomedical scientist.

Widening access to biomedical scienceIf you are interested in studying Biomedical Science but donot have conventional qualifications, our four-year courseincluding a foundation year may interest you.This is designedfor mature applicants or those with qualificationsinappropriate for direct entry to the three-year degree.

All four years are taught at the University of Hull, where youhave access to all facilities.Year 1 provides a firm foundationin chemistry, mathematics, biochemistry, etc. Some of themodules are common with the four-year Biology course.After successful completion of this foundation year you startthe first year of the three-year course.

What happens after graduation?Our first cohort of students graduated in 1999. Since thenthe number of graduates has increased steadily, and 67% ofthe four-year programme graduates from 1999–2007 havetaken up posts as biomedical scientists in hospitallaboratories. All our graduates have gained employment, orcontinued their education with a PhD, MSc, PGCE or medicaldegree.

BSc Human Biology

Our Human Biology degree course has been developed tomeet the growing need for scientists who are able tounderstand and solve problems at the interface ofbioscience and medicine.The content of the course reflectsthe interdisciplinary nature of biomedical sciences andoffers excellent job prospects in academic research,industry, medical institutions and education.

The degree has a flexible modular structure which allowsstudents to define their own emphasis on particular areas ofhuman biology. Some of the modules are shared with thedepartment’s highly successful Biomedical Science degrees.

During the first year you will study core disciplines of biology,such as physiology, molecular biology and genetics, andbiochemistry.

In the second year these foundations will be expanded inmodules specific to human biology, covering topics such asmolecular cell biology, pathology, immunology, the biologicalbasis of disease and human evolution.You will also be able todo a literature study on a topic of your choice.

The third year of your studies offers opportunities tospecialise in areas that particularly interest you. Examples areinfectious diseases and molecular parasitology, cellularpathology, applied molecular biology, sports physiology anddrug discovery.You will have the opportunity to undertake atwo-semester research project in an area relevant to humanbiology. Students’ research projects are closely linked withongoing research in our department. Also, for studentsinterested in getting a job in teaching and education, we offera secondary school placement module that will allow you todevelop teaching skills.

Focus on researchHuman biologyHeart and vascular diseases are one of the major causes ofdeath in theWestern world.The teams around Dr Anne-Marie Seymour and Dr Sandra Jones investigate changes inheart tissue metabolism underlying the development of heartfailure. Approaches involve the use of molecular and cellularimaging together with magnetic resonance techniques.Thegroups have close collaborative links with the AcademicDepartment of Cardiology and the Department ofNephrology at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Infectious diseases are one of the most important causes ofmortality and disability worldwide, particularly in developingcountries.The groups led by Dr Klaus Ersfeld and Dr FrankVoncken are working on the parasite Trypanosoma brucei,the causative agent of sleeping sickness in sub-Saharan Africa.Using molecular cell biology and imaging techniques, they areinvestigating how the parasite mutiplies and persists insidethe human host.

Dr Camille Ettelaie and her research group are investigatingthe role of cell surface receptors and associated signaltransduction processes in cardiovascular disease.This researchis relevant to the mechanisms of atherosclerosis andthrombosis.

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BScMarine and Freshwater Biology

This course covers many aspects of marine and freshwateranimals and plants and their relation to the environment,giving particular emphasis to the effects of human activitieson nearshore and estuarine systems. In order to preparestudents for careers in the field, due weight is given toenvironmental management.The course focuses on marineand freshwater zoology, and to that extent shares manymodules with Aquatic Zoology, but also covers microscopicand macroscopic plants and other microbial organisms.

We start by giving you a general biological background, butfrom the outset we take you into the field to allow you toexperience a range of habitats and techniques. Many of ourstudents now broaden their experience and skills by takingour free elective module in Dive Training. Such skills can thenbe employed in the field courses that come later.

The final year includes a research project based in the field orlaboratory, and students are given the chance to work withthe research teams in our Institute of Estuarine and CoastalStudies (IECS) and International Fisheries Institute (HIFI) aswell as others in the department.Topics range fromfundamental physiological studies to impacts of pollution,species conservation and behavioural studies. Some studentstake the opportunity to mix the marine biology withmolecular genetics and issues relating to natural selection andevolution.

The course builds on a long tradition of marine andfreshwater biology at Hull.The department and its institutes(IECS and HIFI) have many members of academic staff aswell as researchers who specialise in marine, freshwater andestuarine biology.

The course also prepares students to enter taught MSccourses at Hull and elsewhere.Those who take this routegain a further qualification which increases their employabilityand breadth of expertise.

Focus on field workOur Marine and Freshwater Biology students are exposed tofield work through a residential course atWhitby, NorthYorkshire, in their first semester and then through courses insuch locations as Portugal, Mallorca,Tobago, Indonesia andScotland. During these international field courses, whichusually occur during the vacation between the second andthird years, our students acquire many skills that are highlyrelevant to their future careers as well as seeing otherhabitats and species.They survey marine and freshwatersystems and do small projects which allow them to exploreand understand these ecosystems.

Focus on researchPhysical ecologyAll animals and plants live in a world defined by physical laws.Through natural selection, organisms are constantly bumpingup against the physical limits of their environment, but theycan also take advantage of these limits in interesting ways. Forinstance, many aquatic organisms take advantage of the wayin which water flows over their bodies to enhance theirrespiration, photosynthetic or feeding rates.

By using simple ideas from engineering and physics, we canincrease our understanding of the biology and ecology ofliving systems. Our research spans a wide range of biology,from the dynamics of particle capture by filter feeders,through swimming by microscopic organisms, to usingknowledge of physical laws in the present to predict thebehaviour of extinct animals.We apply these concepts toorganisms as diverse as fish and plankton and toenvironments ranging from coral reefs to the open ocean.While our biological work draws on engineering and physics,it also has the potential to provide insights from biology thatcan lead to solutions to engineering problems.

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BSc Zoology

This course combines elements of traditional zoology withcontemporary biology to create a zoology programme for21st-century scientists. It includes analyses of animalbiology from cellular to population level, and coversmolecular, neuronal, morphological and behaviouralapproaches.

During the first year of study you will cover the basic buildingblocks of zoology – organism diversity, evolution, ecology,genetics and biochemistry – and will have the option towiden your experience through the study of physiology orchemistry or by taking part in a field trip to learn aboutintertidal organisms. Some students will even learn to dive byfollowing one of our credit-bearing free elective modules.

For second- and third-year students, options will broaden toinclude animal behaviour, aspects of vertebrate biology andecology, molecular genetics, evolutionary biology,ecophysiology, human/animal interactions, conservationbiology and environmental management. For many studentsthe highlights of their degree will be our final-year practicalmodules, which offer students opportunities to work as amember of one of the research groups in the department onan original research project – you can choose to work withdiverse organisms such as ants, ladybirds, crayfish, guppies,bats or hedgehogs.You can also take part in a residential fieldtrip to destinations as diverse as Scotland, Indonesia, the RedSea and Mallorca. If your heart is set on teaching as a careerbut your head tells you to try it first, we can even arrange foryou to take a credit-bearing module, Biology in Education,that will allow you to develop your subject knowledge in theschool classroom (see pages 4 and 24).

Learning and assessment styles are varied in all coursesoffered by the department, and BSc Zoology is no different.You will be exposed to classroom-based learning in smallseminar groups or traditional lecture situations.You will takepart in laboratory practicals and have the opportunity toexperience field work; you will learn independently and as amember of a group; and you will benefit from excellent ITand literature resources in a friendly and supportive setting.

Focus on researchThe evolution of social behaviourHumans are social beings, and we take for granted our constantinteractions with members of our family, friends and strangers. Otherspecies are social too, and arguably the complexity of socialinteractions found in social insects – particularly the Hymenoptera(bees, wasps and ants) – approaches that found in human societies.

Since their evolution from solitary wasps some 100 million yearsago, ants have evolved highly complex societies. For example: a singlearmy ant colony can contain up to 10 million individuals – more thanthe population of Switzerland or London; leafcutter ants evolvedagriculture – farming a fungus – tens of millions of years beforemodern humans had even evolved, let alone discovered agriculture(only 10,000 years ago); ants have also evolved slavery, wherebysome species capture and enslave the workers of other species.

Such amazing and varied biology raises interesting questions. Howand why does social behaviour evolve? Are social insects alwayscooperative or, as in any family, is there conflict as well ascooperation? If there are conflicts, how are these resolved? How doants communicate, organise their workforce and come to collectivedecisions? These are some of the questions that interest Dr RobHammond and his research group.

Evolutionary causes and consequences of dispersal andcolonisationDispersal and colonisation of new habitats are among the mostimportant events in an organism’s life. Dr Lori Lawson Handley isinterested in the evolutionary causes and consequences of dispersal:for example, how does geography influence dispersal, and whatmakes certain species so successful at colonising new areas? Recentwork has focused on global colonisation and local dispersal inhumans and the harlequin ladybird – two species that have more incommon than you might think!

Dr Lawson Handley and colleagues’ recent research has shown thatgenetic diversity declines smoothly with distance from East Africa,the cradle of modern humans.These simple patterns tell us thatanatomically modern humans evolved in Africa and that from therethey colonised the world, beginning approximately 60,000 years ago.We are now trying to improve our understanding of the role ofnatural selection in shaping human populations: for example, we haveestablished that adaptation to colder climates has left a footprint onour genomes.

Another very successful global coloniser is the harlequin ladybird,Harmonia axyridis. Native to Asia, it is currently invading the BritishIsles, continental Europe, the USA and several other parts of theworld.We are investigating the spread of this invasive species usingmolecular genetic techniques, and trying to understand why it is soinvasive. Members of the public have made a fantastic contributionto our work by reporting sightings and sending samples to theHarlequin Ladybird Survey. Please see our group home page orwww.harlequin-survey.org for more information.

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BSc Coastal Marine Biology

Students on the Scarborough Campus spend 40% of theirtime in the lab or in the field – it’s easy to do when thebeach is 10 minutes’ walk away! This course’s emphasis ondeveloping skills and learning through action rather than byrote makes our students stand out from the crowd.WhenCath Waller (Coastal Marine Biology, first class Honours)called to tell us that she had been selected from more thana hundred applicants for an ecology PhD with the BritishAntarctic Survey, she said that what got her the positionwas the ability to talk fluently about how to sample plantsand animals. She is now Dr Waller.

The coastal fringe represents some of the most exciting andimportant marine environments. Coastal waters and theestuarine systems within them form an important linkbetween the terrestrial and marine environments, exhibitingcomplex interfaces in terms of energy and materialmovements. In addition they represent a marine systemheavily impacted upon by man.

Coastal Marine Biology has a core of field-based modules.Youare required to undertake field work in all three years of thedegree course, some of it residential. In your first year youvisit the west coast of Scotland. In Year 3 the Field Studiesmodule is optional: together with students from the HullCampus, you can take the skills that you have learned in theUK to a more exotic location such as Indonesia, Spain orMalawi.

Students on the course take six modules per year.Typicallythese have 10–15 hours of teaching supported by 30 hoursof labs, field work, tutorials and seminars. Depending on yourchoice of optional modules over the three years, modules areassessed by a variety of means (examination, coursework,practical exams, oral presentations, web pages, posters orreports).

Focus on researchCleaners of the oceanic realmStaff at the Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences(CEMS) explore a wide range of biological and physiologicalissues relating to marine organisms, from the Indo-WesternPacific to the Antarctic and from deep-sea hydrothermalvents to the beach.The experiences and data gathered bystaff are essential tools for the education of CEMS students.

The blue-streak cleaner wrasse, found in the tropical seasaround Indonesia, make their living by picking microscopicparasites from the enormous variety of fish resident in andaround coral reefs. One of these 7 cm wrasse can pick 1,500parasites from its clients over the course of a day. Observingthe cleaners in action involves spending three hours a daydiving in some of the most pristine and diverse reefs in theworld. Sometimes it’s tough being a marine biologist!

Generally, working out which species are found in a particulararea of reef involves swimming in a straight line while makingnotes on what you see. Swimming in a straight line for apredetermined distance, trying not to change depth,identifying which of the 250 possible species you get a briefglimpse of, writing it down and making sure you don’t runout of air is something like trying to pat your head, rub yourstomach and recite the alphabet backwards at the same time.

A diver hanging around a cleaner station has the advantagethat the fish seek cleaners out and will wait in line patientlyuntil the cleaner fish has time to deal with them. Our focushas been on whether the fish that visit cleaner stations are agood indication of which species are found on reefs generally.

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BSc Ecology

Our ecologists are by nature ‘hard-core’ field biologists,exploring the links between organism and environment insitu. Scarborough’s unique position between sea and moorprovides a wide range of habitats and therefore offers anexcellent field environment for the study of ecology.

This degree offers the excitement of field biology within therobust framework of a rigorous academic course. From dayone, students launch into a course designed to provide themwith the field-based and academic skills needed to pursuetheir chosen careers. Field work is of utmost importance, andstudents have the opportunity to visit a range of terrestrialand aquatic environments within the UK and abroad.Thereare residential and local field trip opportunities in all threeyears of the degree course, and final-year students currentlychoose between Mallorca, Indonesia and Scotland.

The degree is supported by a dedicated team of terrestrialand aquatic ecologists. Students develop a broad range ofacademic and practical skills within the field and laboratoryenvironments, and cover a diverse range of topics includingconservation biology, upland ecology, ecological monitoringand environmental ecology.

We aim to produce graduates who hit the ground runningand are equipped to carry out high-quality ecologicalinvestigations, either at postgraduate level or within theprivate or public sector. As with all of our courses, somestudents choose to remain at the University for a furtheryear in order to study for an MSc by research. (All studentswho graduate from the University of Hull with a 2.1 degreeor better are guaranteed a place on one of our taught orresearch-based Masters courses.)

Focus on researchEcological studiesStaff and students at all levels get involved in research atScarborough, much of it coming from strong links with localand national organisations. Researchers at Scarborough workin a range of environments, exploring how organisms andecosystems function and putting this knowledge to practicaluse. Staff are currently investigating a wide variety of topicsfrom coastal fisheries to seaweed communities, coral reefsand upland mammals.

The anoa is a dwarf buffalo found only in rainforest on theislands of Indonesia. It is one of South-East Asia’s least knownlarge mammals and is declining rapidly owing to hunting andhabitat loss. Phil Wheeler has been spending his summers onButon living in makeshift camps, sleeping in a hammock andwalking line transects through mountainous rainforest tosurvey the distribution and abundance of this rare species.His field work aims to improve our knowledge of this rareand charismatic animal, the threats it is currently facing and itsgeneral ecology. During his field work Phil often encounteredhunters carrying dead anoas and, through interviewing them,found that large adults of this species – the population ofwhich is estimated at around 3,000 – will sell for no morethan £30.

Research in ecology at Scarborough is expanding ourknowledge of species and their environments in a way thatwill help safeguard their future.

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Peter RobinsonBSc Ecology

I’m inYear 3 and have thoroughly

enjoyed my time at Scarborough.The

size of the place makes it easy to get to

know like-minded people, and the

course provides lots of interesting

opportunities.The teaching is excellent,

and the lecturers really do follow the

‘open-door policy’.The week-long field

trip to Scotland inYear 1 allowed us all

to get to know each other really well,

then at the end ofYear 2 we travelled to

Indonesia. Here we investigated

rainforest and coral reef ecology – a

highlight of the course and an

experience I’ll never forget. Last year a

group of students, including myself, set

up SHrUBS (the Scarborough and

Hull University Biological Society), and

this year I took over as Chairman.The

aim was to enhance our field-work skills

and our CVs, allowing everyone’s

interests to be catered for.Whale and

dolphin watches, marine mammal rescue

courses and bird surveys were a few of

the activities organised this year. I’ve

also taken up scuba diving and am

currently working towards my PADI

Divemaster qualification. Being able to

explore the underwater world is

fantastic, and this is a skill that I’ll

continue to use in the future.

BSc Environmental Science

Our location in Scarborough offers easy access to fieldstudy sites and ample opportunity to practise a range ofadvanced techniques, so our course gives students a flyingstart in the job market.

Environmental Science is a broad-based, holistic course whichnot only draws on natural sciences such as biology,geography, geology, chemistry, ecology and anthropology butalso deals with topics relating to recreational managementand to legal, economic and ethical issues.The teaching teamreflects this diversity of topics and consists of a terrestrialecologist, an economist, a chemist, a geomorphologist andmarine biologists.

The Scarborough Campus, situated on the edge of theNorth York Moors National Park, the ChalkWolds andBritain’s Dinosaur Coast, provides many excellentopportunities for field work. Associations with the NorthYork Moors and Forest Enterprises provide our students withexceptional resources.

For the core final-year residential field trip many of ourEnvironmental Scientists opt for Mallorca, where they applywhat they have learned in north-east England to the widerange of habitats and environments available there.

Our students have gone on to study for PhDs or Mastersdegrees in specialist areas such as archaeology, environmentalmanagement and environmental law, and have foundemployment as environmental planners, teachers,environmental consultants and field scientists, among otherroles.

Focus on conservationThe NorthYork MoorsThe North York Moors National Park is an internationallyrecognised area of cultural, historical and conservationinterest. Planning legislation within the park can sometimes beat odds with the desires of some that work and live within itsboundaries.While the attractive tapestry of areas of scientificinterest, agricultural land and historic buildings brings intourist revenue, the restrictions that maintain this can havenegative economic consequences for residents such asfarmers and property owners.

The ethical interplay between the need for a thriving ruraleconomy, active conservation and what some perceive asstultifying planning regulations is of interest to our staff andstudents.What is conservation?When does the environmentbecome more important than its populace? Are economicsand conservation compatible?

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Kathryn KnowlesPhD student

I studied for my BA in

Business Management and

Sustainable Business at the

Scarborough Campus and

enjoyed my time here so

much that I decided to stay

for my PhD studies. My

research is an

interdisciplinary project

within the Business School

and the Centre for

Environmental and Marine

Sciences. Both departments

have excellent tutors who

are always friendly and

willing to help. My work

focuses on environmental

management systems and

merges cybernetics with

social behavior to form a

new framework for

organisational change.

The four-year BSc degree courses are designed for studentswho do not meet the normal entry requirements of ourthree-year degrees.The first year provides a firm foundationand is taught at the Hull Campus by staff from the BiologicalSciences Department and the University’s Institute forLearning. From the very start you will be a full member of theUniversity, with access to all our facilities.

The areas covered by the foundation year include mathematics,chemistry, IT and study skills.You may then stay at the HullCampus or transfer to Scarborough (according to which courseyou have chosen) to begin your degree studies. For a list ofavailable courses, see the inner front cover.

The first students taking the four-year route graduated in 1997,and we are confident that over the following years we haveimproved and refined its structure and content until it perfectlymatches the requirements of applicants unsuited for direct entryto the three-year degrees.This route is ideal for

• overseas students who may require time to adjust to study inthe UK (in some circumstances modules in English languagecan be included in the course)

• mature students without recent formal qualifications (atinterview we will be looking for evidence of a continuinginterest in learning)

• applicants who may have made a choice of A levelsinappropriate for the three-year route

• applicants with predicted performance just below thatrequired for direct entry to the three-year degree

The four-year route

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Mark McMullanBSc Biology (with afoundation year)

Having under-performed at

A level, I chose the four-

year programme that

includes a foundation year.

This was an excellent

choice. It increased my

confidence in my academic

ability, and the diversity of

courses and the guidance

and knowledge of lecturers

really inspired my interest in

biology – so much so that

I’m now doing a PhD.

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www.hull.ac.uk24

To find out which modules make up whichdegree courses, go to the undergraduatepages at www.hull.ac.uk/biosci and follow thelink ‘Module Outlines’.We cannot guaranteethat a particular module will be available, butyou can rest assured that our courses willalways provide diversity and stimulation andwill always be current.Assessment methodsvary, but for most modules will comprise 50%coursework and 50% written examination.

Key* free elective module** Biomedical Science onlyE module taught wholly or in

part on the web1, 2, 3 level (year) of study

Hull Campus modules

Focus on teaching innovationWe pride ourselves on our groundbreakingapproach to the provision of new and excitinginitiatives for our students, not previously offeredby other departments of biological sciences.

We were the first biological sciences departmentin the UK to offer Dive Training as a Year 1 freeelective module. It is taught in collaboration withAbove and Below, a 5* PADI Dive TrainingFacility, and students are trained up to PADIAdvanced OpenWater.While a fee is payable toattend the module, this is heavily subsidised bythe department.Training includes lectures, self-study periods, pool training and your first open-water dives.Whether for future careerdevelopment, or simply because individuals wantto immerse themselves in marine biology, thismodule has proved extremely popular.

We are also justifiably proud of being the firstbiological sciences department in the country topioneer the Undergraduate AmbassadorsScheme. Under this scheme (a national initiative)we offer an undergraduate module called Biologyin Education.This gives participating students thechance to visit a school, help in classes and trysome teaching, in addition to devising anddeveloping a biology-based project with theirclass.

Life sciences

ModulesChemistry for Biologists 1Dive Training* 1Diversity of Aquatic Organisms 1Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 1Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with Marine FieldWork 1Field Studies in Marine Biology* 1Genetics and Molecular Biology 1Human Physiology* 1Human Physiology and Metabolism A 1Human Physiology and Metabolism B 1Introductory Biochemistry and Microbiology E 1Laboratory Based Skills 1 1Laboratory Based Skills 2 1Plant and Animal Diversity 1Skills for Biologists 1Animal Behaviour* 2Biological Basis of Disease 2Clinical Disciplines I** 2Clinical Disciplines II** 2Conservation Biology 2Contemporary Issues in Biology 2Ecophysiology of Aquatic Plants and Animals 2Evolutionary Biology 2Fish Ecology 2Human Pathology 2Immunology and Proteomics 2Laboratory Based Skills 3 2Molecular Genetics 2Molecular Cell Biology 2People, Biology and Their Environment 2Physical, Chemical and Biological Oceanography 2Vertebrate Zoology 2Applied Molecular Biology and Regulation of Gene Expression 3Behavioural Ecology and Physiology of Aquatic Animals 3Biology in Education 3Biomedical Science Research Project** 3Cellular Pathology 3Clinical Chemistry 3Coastal Fisheries Management 3Current Ornithology 3Field Studies 3Fisheries Resource Management 3Freshwater Fisheries and Conservation 3Haematology 3Human Evolution and Genomics 3Infection Control 3Introduction to Drug Discovery 3Laboratory Based Skills 4 3Marine Eco-mechanics 3Medical Microbiology 3Molecular and Medical Parasitology 3Placement 1** 3Placement 2** 3Pre-Placement Studies** 3Professional Studies** 3Research Project 3Reviews in Biology and Biomedical Science 3Sociobiology 3Threats and Remedies in Aquatic Environments 3Whales, Dolphins and Sharks 3

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ModulesDiversity of Life 1Dive Training* 1Earth and Environmental Systems 1Global Environmental Issues* 1Practical Ecology 1Aquatic Zoology 2Canopy Science 2Chemical Ecology 2Conservation Biology* 2Environmental Ecology 2Environmental Pollution and Toxicology 2Environmental Resource Management 2Integrated Coastal Management 2Marine Botany 2Oceanography 2Remote Sensing and GIS 2Animal Behaviour 3Ecological monitoring 3Environmental Impact Assessment 3Environmental Law 3Environmental Monitoring and Analysis 3Evolutionary Ecology 3Fish and Fisheries 3Independent Library Project 3Independent Research Project 3Tropical Ecology 3Upland Ecology 3

Scarborough Campus modules

Teaching innovations at ScarboroughAs at the Hull Campus, we pride ourselves oninnovative approaches to teaching and are alwayslooking for new ways of getting studentsenthused about their chosen topic. One of thelatest is a collaboration between the Centre forEnvironmental and Marine Sciences and theDepartment of Computer Science. Eco-Suballows students to experience a virtual marineworld where they can explore the ecology ofdeep-sea organisms by piloting a scientificsubmarine. Doing this exercise gives students arealistic feel for the difficulties involved inexploring the ocean depths.

For many students the virtual marine world isnot enough. Fortunately, dive training is alsoavailable at Scarborough. For some students, thisis actually essential preparation for the final-yearfield trip to Egypt. During the first year you cantrain to OpenWater standard, and if you wishyou can go on to achieve a professional standard(Divemaster or Scientific Diver).

If the deep sea doesn’t offer enough of achallenge, then you can always try your hand atteaching. As in Hull, there are opportunities toget practically involved with local schools throughthe Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme, andeven have a go at teaching a class.

All staff are active in research areas which complement ourdegree courses. Postgraduate training is also given, leading tothe degrees of MSc and PhD by thesis; and we offer one-yearMSc taught courses.There is considerable overlap andinteraction between the various research groups, but theresearch interests of the individual members of staff will giveyou an idea of the range of projects available in the final year.

Biological Sciences Department, Hull CampusAlistair Anderson, Lecturer Production of biodegradableplastics using microorganisms.

Aziz Asghar, Lecturer Use of electrophysiological andimmunocytochemical methods to investigate spinal cordfunction; spinal neuronal networks in chronic pain; comparison ofdorsal horn neurotransmission in normal and arthritic states.

Thomas Breithaupt, Lecturer Sensory ecology of aquaticanimals (crustaceans and fish) – mechanism of chemical signallingand odour orientation; behavioural strategies in dominance andmate choice; the nature of chemical signals.

Ian Cowx, Professor and Director of HIFI, Director ofResearch Impact of man’s activities on freshwater fisheries,particularly with reference to river regulation, land drainageengineering works and stock manipulation; freshwater fisheriesstock assessment; tropical fisheries.

Mike Elliott, Professor, Director of Institute of Estuarine andCoastal Studies Biology of estuarine and coastal fish andbenthic organisms; ecotoxicology at the individual-organism,population and community level.

Klaus Ersfeld, Senior Lecturer Molecular cell biology of thehuman parasite Trypanosoma brucei; mitotic mechanisms andtheir exploitation as drug targets; cell division and thecytoskeleton.

Camille Ettelaie, Lecturer Blood coagulation, thrombosis andhaemostasis, mainly concerning cardiovascular disease.

Africa Gómez, NERC Advanced Research Fellow Ecologicalgenetics of rotifers; phylogeography; cryptic species; evolutionarygenetics of asexual reproduction.

Ray Goulder, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Head of DepartmentMicrobial ecology of natural waters; bacteria and pollution;relations between epiphytic bacteria and aquatic plants;microbiology of fish farming and its effluents.

John Greenman, Senior Lecturer Tumour immunology; cancergenetics; prognostic and diagnostic factors.

Rob Hammond, Lecturer Evolutionary biology; the evolution ofsocial behaviour; conflict and cooperation in animal societies;behavioural genetics.

Bernd Hänfling, Research Fellow Ecology and evolution ofaquatic organisms. Specific areas of interest: phylogeography;gene flow in riverine ecosystems; use of molecular markers andadaptive traits in conservation genetics; evolutionaryconsequences of biological invasions.

Jörg Hardege, Reader Reproductive biology and chemicalecology of marine invertebrates; ecology of invasive species,animal behaviour and evolution.

Jon Harvey, Lecturer,Admissions Tutor Electric fishing and fishstock assessment; impact of fish-eating birds; recruitment in fishpopulations; conservation of freshwater species; impacts ofhydropower schemes; impacts of flow regulation on fisheries.

Rebecca Hill, Lecturer Connective tissue changes in diabeticnerves; barrier function within the peripheral nerve; the effect ofgrowth hormone on skeletal muscle mitochondrial function ingrowth hormone deficient adults.

Stuart Humphries, NERC Fellow and Lecturer Biological fluiddynamics; the biology of suspension feeders; coral reef biology;comparative biomechanics of marine organisms.

Bill Hutchinson, Lecturer Genetic analysis of ecological andbehavioural processes; environmental/anthropogenic influenceson population dynamics and genetic structure; geneticapproaches to fishery management; non-invasive geneticapplications in conservation.

Sandra Jones, Lecturer Changes in ion channel expression, theregulation of cell signaling and the intervention of exercise in theageing heart.

Domino Joyce, Nuffield Research Fellow Sexual selection andbehaviour of African cichlid fish; speciation; biodiversity.

Lori Lawson Handley, Lecturer Evolutionary biology of invasivespecies (particularly the harlequin ladybird); human migrationand settlement history; evolutionary causes and consequences ofdispersal; sex chromosome evolution.

David Lunt, Lecturer Evolutionary genetics; phylogeography;molecular systematics of invertebrates.

Leandro R Monteiro, Lecturer Morphometrics; morphologicaland functional evolution of vertebrates.

Chris Murphy, Senior Teaching Fellow

Graham Scott, Lecturer and Head of Department Animalbehaviour; intertidal ecology; biological education.

Heather Sealy-Lewis, Lecturer Regulation of gene expression inAspergillus nidulans with special interest in the ethanol utilisationregulon, and carbon catabolite repression.

Staff and their research interests

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Anne-Marie Seymour, Reader and Director of BiomedicalScience Biochemical adaptation in heart failure; the relationshipbetween heart metabolism and abnormal physiological functionand dietary therapeutic treatments; biochemical changes in theageing heart.

Cock van Oosterhout, Lecturer Conservation biology andgenetics using guppies and cichlids as model organisms. Leadingfield experiments in Trinidad and a tropical marine field coursefor third-year students in Tobago.

Frank Voncken, Lecturer Host–pathogen interactions intrypanosomes.

University of Hull International Fisheries InstituteHIFI, as it is known, was incorporated into the department in2001. It is a specialist unit which undertakes a wide range ofeducation, training, consultancy and research work both withinthe UK and internationally. HIFI staff are widely experienced infisheries planning and management, fish marketing, fisherieseconomics, post-harvest operations, fishing-systems technology,fish biology and aquaculture.

Institute for Estuarine and Coastal StudiesThe IECS is a multidisciplinary research and consultancyorganisation employing the facilities and expertise in coastalscience and management within the University.The IECS covers awide range of specialisms within the coastal environment, rangingfrom the biological and physical environments (topography,vegetation, ornithology, benthic and pelagic fauna) to coastalplanning, marine law and environmental impact assessment. ItsDirector, Professor Mike Elliott, is based on the Hull Campus.

Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences,Scarborough Campus

Ralph Bublitz, Diving Instructor and Lecturer Chemical ecology;crustacean biology.

Linda Hockley, Head of Centre

Sue Hull, Lecturer, Deputy Head of Centre The evolutionaryecology and population genetics of intertidal invertebrates(especially ostracods and littorinid snails) and fucoid algae; thecomposition and dynamics of intertidal communities.

Alex Ibhadon, Senior Lecturer Environmental chemistry; heavymetal analysis; speciation of metals; effluent and waste treatment;advanced materials and polymer processing and application;process engineering and environmental applications.

Magnus Johnson, Lecturer The ecophysiology of crustaceans;fisheries bioanthropology; mimicry; diving.

Gilbert Morrey, Honorary Fellow Statistics; environmentalissues.

Jane Pottas, Lecturer Marine biology and ecology; algalmorphology; field studies.

Pete Rawson, Honorary Professor Biodiversity andbiogeography of ammonites.

Sunil Shastri, Lecturer,Admissions Tutor Ocean governance;marine and environmental law and policy.

Michelle Tobin, Lecturer, Algal functional group ecology;techniques in monitoring algal communities and conservationbiology.

Phil Wheeler, Lecturer Ecology and conservation of mammalsand birds in British uplands and tropical rainforests.

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The Deep

Life sciences

Strong linksThe Department of Biological Sciences has very close links withthis world-class facility. As a visitor centre, describing itself as theworld’s only submarium,The Deep offers a unique insight intothe oceans – their structure as well as their inhabitants.This £45million investment has provided Hull with a major touristattraction (there have been more than two million visitors sinceits opening in 2002) and the department with a valuableteaching resource.

Research project opportunitiesSeveral undergraduate students are currently completing theirfinal-year research projects at The Deep.These studies rangefrom attempts to propagate and grow soft and hard coral, forpotential display and for coral reef restoration projects, toobservational analyses of the behaviour of sand tiger sharks,particularly their inter- and intra-specific interactions.

Shark conservation researchThe Deep is strongly supportive of research which assists in theconservation of endangered marine species.This has led to theparticipation of undergraduate volunteers and final-year projectstudents in shark health and behavioural studies. Dr ThomasBreithaupt’s students investigate whether sharks use acousticcommunication by exposing sharks to noise and usinghydrophones to detect their responses.

Focus on researchCichlidsThe cichlid fishes of the African Rift Lakes are of great interestto biologists. Each lake contains hundreds of species of fishwhich are found nowhere else in the world. Dr Domino Joyceand her co-workers have been studying the fascinatingbehaviour and ecology of cichlid fishes from Lake Malawi, in aneffort to understand the mechanisms by which so many closelyrelated species coexist. In the clear shallow waters of the lake, itis possible to use scuba equipment to observe these fishes intheir natural environment; we have also brought some back tothe purpose-built tropical aquarium facility at the University forfurther study.

One of the main questions we hope to address is ‘How did somany species evolve?’We therefore use DNA sequence analysisto try to reconstruct the evolutionary history of species andtheir ancestors. In one particular group of cichlid species that westudy, the males build large sand structures (bowers) underwater which they use to attract females. Different species builddifferent-shaped bowers, and it may be that female preferencefor different bowers has been the driving force behind increasingvariation in the population, eventually leading to the evolution ofnew species. It is possible to test this theory experimentally inlarge tanks and pools, by giving males artificial bowers of variousshapes to defend and letting the females choose which male andbower they prefer.We then use DNA paternity testing in theGenome Analysis Suite to identify which male has fathered afemale’s offspring. Understanding mate choice and femalepreference in this way aids the identification of species, whichmay look very similar in all other aspects but bower shape.

Understanding how species evolve will enable us to conservethe processes which lead to the generation of biodiversity andto help design strategies for the management of the lakes inAfrica, where the needs of an impoverished and rapidlyexpanding human population may be in conflict with theconservation of the unique fish species.

What sort of subjects can I take?You can take almost any free electivemodule from outside your main course ofstudy, usually at your home campus.You caneven take a module from another faculty.The catalogue of free electives mightinclude

Hull• Human Physiology• Field Studies in Marine Biology• Chemical Methods and Ideas• Animal Behaviour

Scarborough• Outdoor Recreation and Education

Management• Passport languages• Introduction to Poetry• Event Management

Or you might choose to take a module inone of a wide range of other subjects fromacross the University. Guidance about yourchoice of free electives will be available inyour department.

What are the main reasons forparticipating?• The scheme gives you the opportunity

to study a subject without having tocommit yourself to taking furthermodules in that subject area.

• By taking a free elective you are able tofollow up your interests as part of yourdegree.

• With a broader education you mayacquire extra skills that will help youwhen you enter the employment market.

SEMESTER 2

20 credits

20 credits

20credits

20 credits

20 credits

SEMESTER 1

Here you take modules fromyour main course of study.

Here you have the option to takea free elective or another modulefrom your main course of study.

20credits

Studying for a degree at the University of Hull is a uniqueexperience.We aim to provide you with an education that offersboth depth and breadth of knowledge.To meet these ends theUniversity has developed an optional Free Elective Scheme.Thisscheme enables the majority of undergraduate students to takeone module a year from outside their main course of study.

So, how does it work?Each year you take 120 credits’ worth of modules.

Free Elective Scheme

Admissions policyAdmissions information provided in thispamphlet is intended as a general guideand cannot cover all possibilities. Entryrequirements are generally stated interms of A level grades and/or UCASpoints, but we encourage applicationsfrom people with a wide range of otherqualifications and/or experience. Somefurther details of the various entryroutes are included in our generalprospectus. Please contact theAdmissions Service (see below) with anyspecific queries about admissions.

DisclaimerThis pamphlet is intended principally as aguide for applicants.The matters coveredby it – academic and otherwise – aresubject to change from time to time bothbefore and after students are admitted.While every reasonable precaution wastaken in the production of this pamphlet,the University does not accept liabilityfor any inaccuracies or changes.Information relating to study programmesis issued for the general guidance ofstudents entering the University and doesnot form part of any contract.TheUniversity hopes to provide the coursesand facilities described, but reserves theright to withdraw or to make alterationsto courses and facilities if necessary.

AddressFor general enquiries, please write to

Admissions ServiceThe University of HullHull, HU6 7RXT 01482 466100F 01482 442290E admissions@hull.ac.uk

Dates of semestersFor the current semester dates pleasevisit our website at www.hull.ac.uk/hulluniversity/semesterdates.