The BSc in Evolutionary Biology is a four-year course run by the School of Biology. Evolutionary Biology at St Andrews provides students with high-tech equipment, laboratories and expertise to facilitate learning and to develop the skill set of a modern evolutionary biologist.
In first year and second year, modules introduce you to core subject material relevant to all degree programmes in areas such as animal and plant biology, molecular biology, cell biology and genetics.
Alongside biology, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
In third year, there is a shift from core, broad-themed modules to more specialised modules which allow students to prepare for their Honours degree. In fourth year, students continue specific research in their chosen area through student-led, enquiry-based learning.
Centres of research within the School of Biology offer students the experience of working alongside experts and the opportunity to develop their own research in Honours years.
These facilities include:
- The Scottish Oceans Institute houses a modern aquarium and laboratories for molecular, developmental and physiological studies of marine systems. The institute is ideally placed on the seashore near grey and common seal colonies and bottlenose dolphin feeding areas.
- The Centre for Biological Diversity has excellent facilities for ecological and evolutionary research on small animals (including birds, insects and fish) and on plants.
- The Biomedical Sciences Research Complex offers large multi-group laboratories that are focused on structural biology, molecular microbiology, virology, chemical biology and molecular medicine.
Field trips
From first year to Honours, students studying Evolutionary Biology will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to gather data. Those who have a particular interest in ecology or marine biology will be perfectly located in St Andrews on the shores of the east coast. In Honours years, students can explore further afield where recent courses have visited places such as Indonesia and Antarctica.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
The BSc (Hons) in Evolutionary Biology deals with the theory of evolution, evolutionary genetics, environmental physiology, terrestrial and aquatic ecology, evolution of behaviour, biodiversity and conservation, computational genomics, human evolution, and evolutionary ecology.
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in biology alongside modules in at least one other subject.
Typically, you will take core modules in your first two years, and advanced modules in your final two years (known as Honours).
- First year
- Second year
- Third year
- Fourth year
Students take the following compulsory first-year modules:
- Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, cellular structures and fundamental processes.
- Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal and ecological aspects of life.
In second year, modules are chosen which will best prepare you for your intended degree (or group of possible degrees), and new topics are introduced in some second-year modules such as evolutionary biology and ecology. Students must take the following compulsory modules:
- Evolutionary Biology: gives an overview of the history and major principles of modern evolutionary biology.
- Research Methods in Biology: develops essential academic and transferable skills, with major emphasis on problem solving. This is achieved through a combination of interactive lectures, independent data-handling workshops and group work on a mini research project.
Students must also take two of the following modules:
- Ecology: introduces essential concepts in population and community ecology and how they relate to biodiversity.
- Invertebrate Zoology: surveys the major invertebrate groups, emphasising the diversity of body plans while demonstrating how the common functional requirements such as feeding, reproduction, respiration and excretion are achieved.
- Vertebrate Zoology: explores the diversity of vertebrate animals, beginning with the closest relatives of vertebrates and the evolutionary origins of the group.
In third year, you will continue to specialise in Evolutionary Biology via a wide range of modules covering core topics. Modules that have been offered in previous years include:
- Ecosystems and Conservation
- Evolution
- Genes, Cells and Development
- Infection and Disease
- Methods in Aquatic Biology.
In fourth year, you will study your chosen subject area at a deeper scientific level and will also have the opportunity to select from an extremely wide range of small, group-specialised modules. These modules are taught by academics at the forefront of their discipline who are teaching to their research strengths.
A research project is also undertaken throughout the year.
The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.
Teaching
- Teaching format
- Assessment
- Support
The BSc in Evolutionary Biology is taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- practical classes
- field work
- research projects.
Typical class sizes:
- First year: lectures 250 to 300 students, practicals 80 to 100 students
- Second year: lectures 80 to 175 students, practicals 40 to 60 students
- Third year: lectures 20 to 140 students, practicals 20 to 60 students
- Fourth year: 5 to 25 students per module.
The practical elements of the course, which are taught in the laboratory and in the field, enable you to learn the wide range of skills required of a modern molecular biologist. Students are provided with teaching microscopes and are taught in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories. Alongside the development of practical biological skills, students are also given the opportunity to expand on their presentation and IT skills.
Fourth-year teaching differs from the typical lecture, seminar and tutorial format which students will experience from years one to three. Fourth year allows you to focus on a major project which occupies between a third and half of the year. Working on this project will enable you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees. The project can also lead to your first publication in a scientific journal.
When not attending lectures, tutorials and practical classes you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
During first and second year, all modules are assessed by an equal weighting of coursework and written examinations.
In third year, most modules give a higher weighting to examinations, and in fourth year some modules are entirely assessed by coursework, while others still include written examinations in addition to coursework.
Most examinations are held at the end of the semester during a dedicated exam diet and revision time is provided beforehand.
Group activities may also be assessed, and in this case marking methods will be communicated to you in advance.
The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of biology. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of laboratory classes and seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
You can find contact information for all biology staff on the School of Biology’s website.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
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