Open day questions: biological sciences students
Studying one of the biological sciences – from botany to zoology – will involve some lab work, but how much? Use our list of open day questions to get the answers you’re looking for.
About the course
- Who will be teaching me? Do my lecturers still practice in the field of medical research?
- What modules are optional on this course? Is it better to specialise early on?
- Can I choose modules outside this course?
- What skills will I learn on this course?
Equipment and facilities
- What books and equipment should I buy?
- How much time contact time do we have per week and how is this structured?
- How much time do we get in the labs?
- Are the labs modern / state-of-the-art? What areas does the department specialise in?
Placements and field trips
- Are there any research trips I can go on, or vacation projects I can get involved with?
- Will I need to do an industrial placement? Do I organise this, or will the university arrange it?
- Do I need to do some work experience before I start this course?
Assessments
- What is the split between individual exams and group work?
- Do I need to complete a dissertation or research-based project?
- Can I choose the subject of my research?
- If I do a placement, will I be marked on it?
My prospects
- How does this course help me get a job? What sort of jobs have previous graduates gone on to do?
- What percentage of graduates continue into PhD-level study? Can I get funding from the university if this is what I want to do?
- Does the uni have links with industry so I can look for jobs?
