International Foundation Year - Biosciences 2021/22 entry

This International Foundation Year will be delivered by CU, part of the Coventry University Group, for and on behalf of Coventry University. You will be taught using various approaches, which may include lessons and individual and group tutorials. You will also have self-study materials to follow outside of the classroom.

Each one of the modules requires the equivalent of between 225 and 300 study hours. They run over a six-week period and are taught consecutively, with a combination of assessments in each six-week block.

You will receive approximately 18 hours of teaching contact hours per week. This will be a combination of lectures (which may take place in person on-campus or live online). There will also be regular small group or individual tutorials. The remaining study hours required for the module will be self-guided.*

The university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

*We set out the typical teaching contact hours that you will receive on this course. Teaching contact hours will vary in different semesters/blocks and years of study and may vary due to module selection (if applicable). In addition to the contact hours detailed, we offer the opportunity to attend additional optional sessions or to meet with staff during their advice and feedback hours.

You will be assessed on the first three academic language and skills modules of the International Foundation Year through a combination of continuous, formative and final assessments. Formative assessments will be delivered at the end of module one and two, and there will be continuous assessment of your performance and output throughout each module.

The modules will be assessed as follows:

• 50% Coursework (Assessment methods vary and include class and course work performance, oral presentations and individual and group tasks)
• 50% Phase Tests (these tests for all three academic language and skills modules will follow the end of your final Academic Language and Skills module)

The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and will be given a score, and your final feedback will refer to each outcome and provide an overall score.

For your subject-specialist modules the learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.

The final assessments at the end of your final subject-specialist modules are assessed in the following ways:

• 60% Coursework

(Assessment methods vary and may include practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which take place at the end of each six-week block)

• 40% Phase Tests

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

On successful completion of your modules, including the subject-specific modules, you will have had the opportunity to:

• Understand approaches to learning in UK universities and expectations in your chosen subject area.
• Write an extended piece of academic writing that requires elements of research and follows standard academic conventions
• Express facts, information and ideas with effective grammatical accuracy and accuracy, using an appropriate range of academic and subject specific vocabulary
• Communicate effectively in everyday situations within the university environment and more generally in English-speaking contexts
• Deliver a well-structured presentation on an academic topic
• Participate in seminar discussions on academic topics
• Access academic texts in order to select relevant information
• Differentiate between different academic genres of writing
• Comprehend extended academic listening texts and record relevant information
• Access online materials and demonstrate increased digital literacy
• Organise academic study and manage your time
• Reflect on learning
• Understand, engage with and critically evaluate knowledge relating to global issues
• Apply your knowledge and language skills to a realistic learning opportunity and assessment, at an appropriate academic level.

On successful completion of the International Foundation Year (Biosciences), you will be eligible to progress onto the following Coventry University degrees (subject to meeting the specified entry criteria):

• Biological and Forensic Sciences BSc (Hons)
• Biomedical Science BSc (Hons)
• Human Biosciences BSc (Hons)
• Pharmacology BSc (Hons)

Additional Degree Entry Criteria

Progression onto some degrees requires achievement of a specific score(s) in your International Foundation Year, as outlined:

The subject-specific modules and the academic language and skills modules are all non-credit bearing. A progression meeting is held at the end of your modules to determine whether you can progress to the degree course.