Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biological Sciences (Optional Placement)

at University of Plymouth United Kingdom

 Why should we conserve biodiversity? How can we manage and restore habitats? With a hands-on approach, we’ll give you the scientific tools to address these issues, developing your understanding of plant and animal biodiversity in the UK and abroad. Develop your knowledge of key areas such as population ecology, evolutionary processes, behavioural ecology, conservation genetics and habitat management, and prime yourself for a career in ecology, conservation or environmental monitoring.

This course focuses on conservation in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments. You will experience two compulsory overseas residential field courses in years one (Spain) and two (Mexico), giving you first-hand experience of a range of ecosystems in other parts of the world. There’s no extra to pay: it’s all included within your tuition fees. You’ll participate in an optional work placement year, giving you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a real world context.

Key Features

Take your skills to the next level with MA Game Design. Refine 3D modelling, 2D art and animation skills, level design and gameplay coding. Games industry experts will guide you through aspects of game design and development, game theory, and industrial contexts. You will develop your portfolio, and in the final module, work as a team to produce and ship a fully-fledged game

MA Game Design provides an explorative insight into creating videogames. Not only will students hone the craft of developing their own videogames, but also learn more about the dynamic medium itself. Combining practice and theory to result in a balanced approach to foster imaginative and creative experiences.

Key Features

Do you dream of building a suspension bridge or designing earthquake-proof buildings that save lives? Civil engineers imagine, design and create structures and the technical approaches necessary for realising large-scale projects that provide shelter, clean water, sanitation, transportation, energy security and safety from natural hazards. Our engineering students are taught by enthusiastic academic staff who use live site visits and laboratory work to reinforce your academic learning.

Our accredited BEng Civil Engineering is designed to set you on a path to becoming a qualified professional civil engineer. You can choose to take a paid year in industry with a civil engineering employer. We also offer a mentoring scheme that puts you in touch with our network of graduate engineers working in industry. Our academic staff are keen to support and educate you with the skills and knowledge highly sought after by employers of our Plymouth Civil Engineering graduates.

Have you Considered

• MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Civil and Coastal Engineering
• MEng (Hons) Civil and Coastal Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering with Foundation Year

Key Features

• Start your professional career from day one with a course accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) and The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation. Our BEng (Hons) is accredited by our professional institutions on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). You'll qualify for graduate membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Institution of Structural Engineers.
• Immerse yourself in the real world of civil engineering through site visits, field trips and visiting lectures from leading Chartered Civil Engineers working on major projects.
• Benefit from our £19 million Marine Building, which offers you opportunities to learn water engineering and coastal engineering. We offer major options in structural engineering and water management to equip you to specialise in design and flood risk management. 
• Learn from our teaching staff of professionally qualified experts with relevant experience from the civil engineering industry and researchers with national and international reputations. 
• Get ahead in your career by spending an optional placement year working as a paid student engineer, a great opportunity to further your knowledge and make important industry contacts.
• Learn a host of design skills from problem solving to sustainable development, as well as developing the critical thinking that plays a key role in the work of a civil engineer, including interpreting and analysing data.
• Develop your professional skills including communication, self-management, team working and leadership, all vital in pursuing a rewarding career.
• Increase your employability by taking an extra-curricular HSE-recognised diving qualification (subject to availability).
• Study core subjects include engineering surveying, geotechnics, hydraulics, management, materials, and structural analysis.
• Join our extensive network of Chartered Civil Engineer graduates from the University of Plymouth who now work at all levels in the industry both nationally and internationally.
• Progress onto the MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering at the end of the second year, subject to achieving the required level of academic performance on the BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering.

Exploring the beauty of mathematics trains you to think systematically and creatively, so you're valuable in today’s economy. Choose the direction you want on our highly flexible course, culminating in a final-year project of your choice.

Employers want graduates with work experience, so when you arrive here, ask about our placements programme. Science, engineering, finance, government and medicine – as a mathematics graduate you stand to enter a rewarding career in a sector that interests you.

Key Features

• This course offers modules in all key areas of mathematics, statistics and theoretical physics, including a wide choice of final year options. This allows you to follow your interests and shape your future career.
• You will acquire skills which are highly sought after by employers: problem solving skills, knowledge of computing languages and mathematical software packages as well as presentation and communication skills.
• You have a great deal of available support including: a study space next to staff offices; our lecturers’ open door policy; a mathematics drop-in centre in the library; and additional peer learning sessions led by second and third year students.
• An optional but recommended paid placement year primes you for the career you want. Students who have taken a placement tend to attract multiple job offers.
• You have an opportunity in the final year to carry out an in-depth research project on a mathematical topic of your choice, supervised by an expert in that field. This involves producing a 50 page report and presenting your work at a poster session.

This one year MA Architectural Design program explores architecture, design and urbanism, with an emphasis on the critical investigation of space through practical, theoretical research interests and creative activities. Design is the crucial agency for exploring spatial creativity, coupled with an experimental design practice that operates from a core architectural discipline, yet celebrates the blurring of disciplinary boundaries to forge innovation and new disciplines in spatial enquiry.

You will undertake architectural design studio projects that immerse you within spatial debates and cross-disciplinary activities, including working on live projects, community engagement and public events. Supporting your work in the design studio, you will engage with emerging research in architecture, connecting sustainable practices and integrated technology. You will generate a dissertation through detailed design development of a selected aspect of your design studio work. Support is provided in the design studio through weekly tutorials, workshops and seminars. All students will be encouraged to develop a personal and critical path of design discovery. The studio culture fosters a unique design-led research practice, converging theory, design and technology.

Key features

• Encouraging discovery and critical development in a studio-based culture that fosters a unique research-led practice, converging theory, practice and technology.
• Co-taught with the RIBA-validated Part II programme, sharing coursework, projects and studio space.
• Advances the understanding of the role architectural design plays in today’s most pressing societal, environmental and cultural challenges.
• Encompasses a wide range of skills, theory and practice from urban situation to building performance.
• Develops the capacity to conceptualise spatial thought in relation to architectural design and production at all levels of design, fabrication and use.
• Framed by issues of place, people, tectonics and environmental concerns

This degree is strongly interdisciplinary and practical, providing you with the knowledge and skills to help build and manage solutions to environmental challenges on land and in our oceans. It draws on a wide range of modules from environmental science, geography and marine disciplines. Our teaching team are leaders in their research fields and offer excellent links with environmental consultancies, industry, national and local government.

Key Features

• Access to a wide choice of modules taught by a core of environmental science staff and sustainability champions from across the University.
• Work with scientists, business, educators and engineers to help build a more sustainable future by exploring environmental challenges and proposing management solutions.
• Learn about the latest actions and renewable energy developments in the struggle against climate change.
• Take part in overseas expeditions to Malaysia or Malta to experience challenges and solutions to sustainable development.
• The opportunity to develop your employability via a placement year, leading to the University’s Certificate of Professional Practice, and opportunities to study abroad, through exchange programmes.
• Teaching and learning that focuses on fun interactive, experiential and participatory learning and authentic tasks that mimic professional practice.
• Be a part of a University with an international reputation for sustainability education, recognition as outstanding in the People and Planet Green League and Green Gown Awards.

Hydrography is crucial to the sustainable management of marine environments. Yet there is an international shortage of hydrographic surveyors, data processors and analysts, during a period when technology is rapidly advancing. Seize this opportunity to gain a thorough knowledge of the science and technology of hydrography, experiencing the practical application of modern methods and equipment involved in exploring and managing the seabed whilst preparing for a career in this growth area.

Key Features

Aquaculture is recognised as the fastest growth sector of agribusiness. Today, 50% of the fish we eat are farmed and by 2030 it will be 60%. Our multidisciplinary approach places emphasis on the sustainable use of aquatic and marine resources for commercial exploitation of food and products. Discover the scientific rationale for improving aquatic animal health and production, reducing environmental impact, and addressing the socio-economic factors

Key Features

Podiatrists are experts in foot and ankle health keeping people of all ages active. Choosing to become a podiatrist will give you a broad scope of practice with a scientific approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of people with foot problems. A podiatry degree can launch a dynamic career and is a springboard to specialising in other areas of the profession such as sports medicine, injection therapy, independent prescribing, clinical research and podiatric surgery.

As a podiatry graduate you will be a highly skilled health professional who can work confidently with a variety of different patients in a range of settings. Six months after finishing the course 95 per cent of our graduates were in work or further study with an average salary of £22,000 according to the 2019 Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey (DLHE)

Key Features

• Employability rates are high within the podiatry profession with potential to work in the NHS, but also as an independent practitioner. 95 per cent of our students go on to work or study, with an average starting salary of £22,000 a year (2019 Discover Uni*).
• The course has been designed, and continues to be developed, by expert educationalists, service-users and carers.
• Work-based learning is an integral part of the course and you spend 1,000 hours in clinical practice during your three years.
• Opportunities to attend vascular ward rounds at Derriford Hospital.
• Observe an independent practitioner working in the private sector.
• A Ministry of Defence placement is available for high achievers.
• Practitioners with specialist roles are invited to lecture regularly in years 2 and 3.

It’s often said that the best way to see the future is to understand the past. History at Plymouth will help you do just that, giving you the tools to make a difference to tomorrow. Explore five centuries of history, from the Tudors to contemporary history. Study in 'Britain's Ocean City', one of the UK's most historic ports, and chart your course to the future with our partnerships with organisations like The Box and National Trust.

Key Features

We’re very proud of our National Student Survey (NSS) 2019 return showing 87% expressed overall satisfaction with the course.

92% agreed the course is intellectually stimulating and staff are good at explaining things.
98% expressed that they have been able to contact staff when they needed to.

• Enhance your career options with a degree that helps you develop highly sought-after analytical and communication skills while you home in on your passion.
• Participate in local/day, national and international field trips which are free or subsidised for all students
• Gain workplace experience with local public history and heritage sites so you can kick-start your career as soon as you graduate.
• Plot your own course through the centuries as you take the lead in your research projects and choose areas of study from our flexible range of modules, creating a tailor-made degree.
• Our international exchange programme gives you the opportunity to travel and spend either a semester or an entire year exploring history with one of our partner institutions in the US or Europe
• Explore history with your friends and course mates by joining the History Society, a lively and supportive community hosting educational and social events.
• Discover the most up-to-date ways of studying history through our online history resources including a vast eBook library, and array of online lectures and resources.