BSc/MSci Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience Programme Specification 2023-24

	B	C	D	E	G	I	J	K	L
1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2023-24
3	Revised February 2023
4
5
6	Programme Title			BSc/MSci Natural Sciences specialising in Neuroscience.
7
8	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2023		Award type			BSc/MSci
9
10	What level is this qualification?			6/7		Length of programme			3/4 years
11
12	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full-time
13
14	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			yes		For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
15
16	Awarding institution			University of York		Board of Studies for the programme			Natural Sciences
17
18	Lead department			Natural Sciences		Other contributing departments			Biology, Philosophy & Psychology.
19
20	Language of study and assessment			English		Language(s) of assessment			English
21
22	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus-based
23
24	Partner organisations
25	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
26	N/A
27	N/A
28
29	Reference points
30	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
31	All programmes and pathways for Natural Sciences have been designed according to the University’s Framework for Programme design for undergraduates. The Academic Quality team have been consulted about any queries that have arisen. The modules are taken from contributing departments and therefore the programmes and pathways will consist of modules that conform to specific benchmark statements. All Natural Sciences programmes and pathways are accredited by the Society for Natural Sciences. The Society has been consulted about the proposed changes and will reassess the programmes once they are finalised. Key to accreditation is the ethos within the programmes of interdisciplinarity and this has been maintained.
32
33
34	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
35	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
36	No
37	No
38
39	Exceptions to Regulations
40	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
41	N/A
42	N/A
43
44	Internal Transfers
45	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
46
47		Transfers in:	No			Transfers out:	yes
48			No				yes
49
50	Statement of Purpose
51	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
52	All Natural Science programmes at the University of York aim to produce leaders in science, technology and industry who will have the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to succeed in complex research and business environments. You will learn how science is conducted in different disciplines, how to operate within different methodological communities, and how to apply techniques and ideas across multiple disciplines. As a Neuroscience student at York, you will study the nervous system, which allows organisms to sense their environments, evaluate new information, learn and remember relationships between stimuli and respond to events. You will take modules in Biology, Philosophy and Psychology highlighting the rich interdisciplinary nature of the subject. As you move in-between these disciplines and learn to understand and exploit the synergies that exist between them, you develop a skill set that will equip you to work in one of York’s world leading research centres , the York Neuroimaging Centre (YNiC). You will therefore have access to advanced neuroscience labs, imaging technologies and research teams that are constantly pushing back scientific boundaries. You will be taught by world-leading researchers who are at the forefront of their fields. The course is unique in its scope and breadth. It covers all types of neuroscience, from high-level cognitive and sensory processing in humans, through animal and cellular neuroscience down to the design and testing of new molecules for use in neuroimaging systems. A key component of the course is a foundation in philosophy that will introduce you to issues surrounding cognition and consciousness. Therefore a successful York Neuroscience graduate will be equipped with a uniquely broad range of practical, numerical and qualitative skills to prepare you for a range of careers including research, healthcare, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. As a student on the MSci programme you will achieve all the above, but your skills will be developed even further and to a deeper level as you undertake an extended final year research project that will move you towards the research frontier in Neuroscience, giving you the expertise, skills and experience necessary to pursue graduate level research in Neuroscience both within and outside academia.
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
64	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?			Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
65	BSc(Hons)			Yes				360 credits
66	MSci(Hons)			Yes				480 credits
67
68	Programme Learning Outcomes
69	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
70	1 - BSc	Problem solving:Formulate, as well as tackle, open-ended problems in neuroscience by calling upon a variety of techniques, methodologies and approaches to reasoning
71	2 - BSc	Interdisciplinary:Work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and/or environment, drawing on concepts from biology, psychology and philosophy.
72	3 - BSc	Subject knowledge: Explain and illustrate concepts in neuroscience and experimental psychology by drawing on knowledge of human neurophysiology, behaviour, perception and cognition.
73	4 - BSc	Research project: Plan, execute and report on the results of experiments, projects or investigations across the neuroscience discipline, including the use of appropriate data analytical methods and knowledge of the requirements needed for formal ethical approval.
74	5 - BSc	Experiment/simulation: Use findings from empirical studies to generate hypotheses and models; incorporate these within further potential experiments and simulations.
75	6 - BSc	Communication: Present complex neuroscience principles in a clear and precise manner, demonstrating a breadth of knowledge of the fundamentals of neuroscience.
76
77	1 - MSci	Problem solving: Formulate, as well as tackle, complex open-ended problems in neuroscience by calling upon a variety of techniques, methodologies and approaches to reasoning
78	2 - MSci	Interdisciplinary: Work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and/or environment, drawing on advanced concepts from biology, psychology and philosophy.
79	3 - MSci	Subject knowledge: Explain and illustrate sophisticated concepts in neuroscience and experimental psychology by drawing on in-depth knowledge of human neurophysiology, behaviour, perception and cognition
80	4 - MSci	Research project: Plan, execute and report on the results of extended experiments, projects or investigations across the neuroscience discipline, including the use of appropriate data analytical methods and knowledge of the requirements needed for formal ethical approval. When appropriate, incorporate state-of-the-art experimental and analysis techniques into their experimental programme
81	5 - MSci	Experiment/simulation: Use findings from empirical studies to generate hypotheses and models; incorporate these as further potential experiments and simulations. Where appropriate, be able to generate numerical simulations or advanced statistical tests using appropriate software packages.
82	6 - MSci	Communication: Present complex neuroscience principles in a clear and precise manner, demonstrating a breadth of knowledge of the fundamentals of neuroscience and of the most recent literature. Where appropriate, present results of recent studies at levels suitable for dissemination at scientific conferences to audiences of neuroscience researchers
83
84
85	Diverse entry routes
86	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
87	Students who need support will generally self identify at admission or early in the Stage 1 and standard University protocols will then be followed. If this isn't the case and a student is identified as needing extra support later in the programme then the student will discuss the matter with their personal supervisor who will advise in accordance with University guidance. Students are assigned a supervisor in one of the contributing departments and have access to a subject facilitator in contributing departments. The student can approach their supervisor for advice in accordance with University guidelines and seek more specialist advice on a particular discipline from the subject facilitator. Module level issues are handled with the department to which the module belongs and a student can avail themselves off all feedback and quality control mechanisms that the department offers.
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96	Inclusion
97
98	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.
99
100	Employability