Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English and Creative Writing

at University of Plymouth United Kingdom

Zoology is the science of animals and you will study the whole diversity of animal life, from tardigrades to elephants. You'll gain in-depth knowledge of how animals work, develop key lab skills in molecular biology, physiology, and cell biology that are sought after by employers and build fieldwork skills on two residential field trips.You'll also gain the expertise and skills to be a professional zoologist and work across a diverse range of professions or go on to further study.

Key Features

• Study the biology of animals in marine, terrestrial and freshwater aquatic habitats. A spectacular range of these habitats are right on our doorstep.
• Gain a strong foundation in theoretical aspects of ecology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, evolution and genetics.
• Develop high-level laboratory skills across animal biology in a wide range of taxa and habitats and gain key transferrable skills that are sought after by employers.
• Undertake in-depth field studies of animals, including residential courses in the UK and abroad that develop field techniques and familiarity with a wide range of ecosystems and fauna.
• Undertake self-study throughout your course, using our well-equipped library and range of online scientific journals, as well as LABPlus, our unique laboratory and resource centre designed for science and engineering students.
• Have the opportunity to boost your employability by taking a placement year between your second and final years of study, working in the industry, anywhere in the world - you can read more about this in the 'course details' section of this page.
• Take an extended personal research project on a range of topics, often linked to ongoing staff research, in your final year.
• Benefit from our strong links with external organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts, the Natural History Museums in London and Plymouth, the National Marine Aquarium, the Field Studies Council, Whitley Wildlife Trust, the Donkey Sanctuary, Dartmoor National Park.
• Explore a range of contemporary issues in zoology.

Do you want to protect coastal communities from the threat of flooding? Are you interested in how engineers think about the sustainability of our coastlines and the consequences of climate change? Would you like to design large structures that withstand the strength of storms and the sea? Our Coastal Engineers graduate with the skills and knowledge of a Civil Engineer combined with specialist skills for designing and creating infrastructure that functions in the coastal environment.
This professionally accredited course allows you the flexibility to change to other civil engineering programmes. We offer a mentoring scheme that puts you in touch with our professional network of alumni. You can also enhance your professional competence by choosing to take a year in industry. You will receive support and inspiration from enthusiastic academic staff from the day you arrive through to your joining our exciting profession as a graduate Plymouth Engineer.

Key Features

Gain advanced theoretical and practical knowledge from our world-leading experts in intelligent and autonomous systems. Graduate ready to pursue an exciting career in the robotics industry and academic research. Help resolve real-world problems in areas such as home automation, robotic assistance, agriculture, medicine, transportation, art and entertainment, deep-sea or space exploration.

On this programme you’ll gain a solid and broad understanding of the latest developments and issues in robotics. You’ll build theoretical and practical knowledge of control and design as well as covering the interface between real-world devices, autonomous processing and evaluation of acquired information. You’ll investigate user interaction and intelligent decision-making and immerse yourself in an innovative project inspired by the latest developments in technology and society. You’ll have access to a robotics club and to a seminar series so that you can keep up-to-date with advances in the industry and academia

Key Features

From shipbroking, and the transport of goods, to salvage rights and piracy, 90% of world trade is carried by sea. On the BSc (Hons) Maritime Business course you’ll learn about the commercial, economic and operational aspects of the maritime industry, while gaining a grounding in the varied and fascinating legal issues that arise in the sector.

Our course has established a strong reputation within the industry and is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. We have an exciting active alumni network through the Plymouth Nautical Degree Association (PYNDA), where you’ll meet other students and graduates in the maritime field and make useful contacts.

Key Features

• Deepen your knowledge of the industry with field trips to ports and the City of London.
• Benefit from teaching by academic staff with relevant industrial and academic backgrounds including sea- and shore-based experience.
• Take advantage of our programme of visiting speakers to gain insider knowledge and important networking contacts.
• Join our active alumni association, the Plymouth Nautical Degree Association (PYNDA).
• Benefit from the strong reputation our course has around the world for the quality of our students. When you graduate you'll be sought after and ready for work or further study in your chosen maritime area.
• Get ahead with a course that’s accredited by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. The University also has links with many other professional bodies including the Nautical Institute, the Institute of Export, the International Association of Maritime Economists, Sea Vision UK and the International Association of Maritime Universities.
• Increase your employability with an optional one year industrial placement.
• Study maritime business and law in a city with a rich maritime history. The University has a tradition of maritime education stretching back to the mid-nineteenth century.
• See things from different perspectives - the wide ranging experience of the international shipping and logistics staff and the nature of the subject attracts a high number of international students. This creates plenty of opportunity for knowledge sharing.

Discover why art from the past still matters to our modern society in the city that spawned Joshua Reynolds, the first president of the Royal Society. Learn what art can teach us about the past and how it can help us shape a better future. Build links with art historians and archivists and prepare for a career in the art world through our connections with high profile, international institutions like the National Gallery and Tate Britain, and benefit from the contacts of our published academics.

Key Features

• Art throughout history. Art history at Plymouth enables you to explore our complex past and navigate visual culture. Let our immersive modules take you across the world, from the Renaissance period to the present, from 14th-century fresco painting in Italy to artistic responses to the atomic bomb.

Statisticians play a vital and increasing part in all areas of society, business and industry. We have recently seen the importance of statistical analysis and thinking in understanding and managing the Covid-19 pandemic as an example.

You will gain key statistical knowledge and skills to build data fluency that is very much valued by employers. You will have the opportunity to work on a statistics project that provides innovative solutions to real-world problems driven by business, information technology, engineering, finance, medicine, biology and psychology.

Key Features

• This programme provides a deeper knowledge of statistical techniques and a broader experience of data analysis than our BSc (Hons) Mathematics programme. It also covers all the mathematics necessary for a career as a professional mathematician.
• Your experience of studying Statistics at Plymouth will be different from school, because you will learn with experts who design clinical trials, collaborate with national and international health organisations, and provide consultancy to medical practitioners and financial institutions. You will solve problems of contemporary importance using real-world data. For example, you will meet techniques for monitoring and understanding the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Your lectures are also highly qualified and renowned practitioners of mathematics and statistics education. They include authors of text books used worldwide, winners of prestigious research prizes for statistical education, and Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. They are dedicated to enabling students from different educational backgrounds to reach their full potential and maintain it long-term.
• You will have the opportunity to collaborate with lecturers on a mathematics or statistics research project, one output of which is a report which also provides material for discussion in job interviews. The Plymouth Mathematics and Statistics programme is designed to enable you to become a creative, analytical and persevering problem solver and to discuss technical results with non-specialist collaborators clearly and in-depth.
• You will gain knowledge of techniques relevant to business, education, engineering, health and wellbeing, psychology, science, social media analytics and sport, which will make you highly valuable to an extremely broad range of employers.
• You will be equipped with subject-specific knowledge needed by mathematicians and statisticians throughout their working lives. You will learn how to master state-of-the-art analytical software in such a way that you can quickly become familiar with programs that you will use in the workplace.
• You will be part of the close-knit, collaborative and supportive family that is Mathematical Sciences at Plymouth and that is based in the naturally beautiful South West. We are highly committed to interactive student engagement and personalized learning, as this enables us to check regularly your knowledge and skills consolidation together with your general development. This means that studying with us will provide you with the strongest possible foundations for life-long professional success.

Prepare yourself for a management role within the international procurement and supply chain sectors with this flexible qualification. Take advantage of opportunities to study abroad and stand out to employers with a qualification accredited by the accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and recognised by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and The Nautical Institute. You’ll also benefit from a high profile visiting speakers programme.

Smart urban futures is a unique and innovative new MA programme that will equip you to address design challenges at the boundaries between smart technologies and urban design and planning. You will gain skills in IoT, smart technologies, open data, 3D fabrication, augmented reality and virtual reality complimented by core teaching in urban design, planning and placemaking.

Through a design lab approach, you will develop digital prototyping and place-making projects that respond to the opportunities and needs of digital living, transport, health, mobility, governance and sustainability in a holistic approach to smart urban futures

Key Features

Are you ready to make the difference? Discover the formula to teaching mathematics with our expert staff and world leading researchers. You’ll gain a solid foundation in mathematical and statistical modules, while the final year combines educational theory and school experience. Time spent in the classroom will give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to progress to a teacher training course such as a PGCE, or move into one of many careers where high-level mathematical skills are essential.

Key Features

• Gain classroom experience in a placement module, supporting mathematics teaching in a secondary or primary school for one morning a week throughout your final year. This will help you become an effective communicator.
• Dr Jenny Sharp who leads the Education modules has worked with schools in many different capacities, and is regularly invited to run workshops and masterclasses all around the country, including at the Royal Institution, other universities and in schools.
• An in-depth individual project gives you an introduction to mathematical educational theory, an ideal preparation for teacher training courses.
• Help others and gain hands on expertise by taking part in our Mathematics Enrichment Programme activities. You can gradually develop a workshop for a Mathematics masterclass.
• Gain high level understanding of modern pure and applied mathematics, and statistics; this knowledge base opens up many mathematical careers to you.

In this hands-on degree, one of the best in the UK and with an international reputation, you’ll explore the diversity of marine life from coastal margins to the deep sea and gain an in-depth understanding of the biology of marine organisms. Teaching takes advantage of the South Devon coast as well as some of Europe’s best marine facilities – so you’ll have the opportunity to not just experience marine biology but to practice it at the highest levels in both the laboratory and out in the field.

You'll gain an understanding of marine life at the level of the biology of organisms – ranging from microbes found on coral reefs, the physiology and behaviour of marine vertebrates, to the biology of the marine algae that underpin the vast majority of other marine life. The aim of the degree is not only to teach you about marine biology, but to equip you with the practical, intellectual and scientific skills to be a practising marine biologist.

Key Features