Essential Information for Biological Science Students 2021/2022 - Produced by The Biology Teaching Organisation
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Essential Information for
Biological Science Students
2021/2022
Produced by
The Biology Teaching Organisation
bto@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/current-students/undergraduateIf you require this document in an alternative format, such as large
print or a coloured background, please contact: bto@ed.ac.uk
This guide contains important information for all students taking courses run by the School
of Biological Sciences. Please read this guide in conjunction with the course-specific
information on Learn.
You should regularly check the BTO website:
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/current-students/undergraduate
To contact BTO Reception:
The BTO Reception is located in the James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB 2105).
Our normal opening hours are 09:00 to 17:00 (Monday – Friday).
Depending on advice from the University and the Scottish Government on restrictions
relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, BTO administrative staff may sometimes work from
home. If we are unable to open the office to visitors, we can always be contacted by
email.
By phone: 0131 650 8649
By email: bto@ed.ac.uk
To request a change to a tutorial/practical/workshop group:
www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/timetabling/personalised-
timetables
Ensure that you select the School that delivers the course and the correct course name.
To update your contact details:
Students are required to update their contact details on the student record system via
the MyEd Student Self-Service channel:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance/students
2Biology Teaching Organisation (BTO)
bto@ed.ac.uk
0131 650 8649
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/current-students/undergraduate
JCMB Room 2105 or Ashworth Room 52, Kings Buildings
BTO Reception bto@ed.ac.uk 0131 650 8649
Teaching Administrators Ms Zofia Bekas (JCMB) 0131 650 5513
Dr Edward Dewhirst (JCMB) 0131 651 7376
Ms Janna James (JCMB) 0131 650 8649
Ms Rachel Law (Ashworth) 0131 651 3689
Mr Tim MacDonald (Ashworth) 0131 651 7296
Ms Louise Robertson (JCMB) 0131 650 5988
Ms Karen Sutherland (JCMB) 0131 651 3404
Mrs Carolyn Wilson (JCMB) 0131 650 8651
Miss Donna Wright (JCMB) 0131 651 7051
Director of Teaching Dr Patrick Walsh 0131 650 5520
Academic Administrator Dr Ann Haley 0131 650 5538
Senior Academic Tutor Dr Nadia Tuzi 0131 650 8652
Student Support Tutor Dr Abigail Cabrelli 0131 650 5887
Student Support Tutor Dr Hazel Cruickshanks 0131 650 5887
Student Support Tutor Dr John Curtis 0131 650 8654
Student Support Tutor Dr David Radford 0131 650 5723
Senior Tutor Prof Justin Goodrich 0131 650 7032
UG Manager Dr Caroline Aspinwall (JCMB) 0131 650 5521
UG Recruitment Officer Ms Rona Lindsay (JCMB) 0131 650 5528
Student Experience Admin Ms Gillian MacDonald (JCMB) 0131 650 5510
Project Enhancement Officer Mrs Louise Hann (JCMB) 0131 650 7481
PGT Manager Mrs Claire Black (JCMB) 0131 650 8637
Taught Prog Marketing Officer Ms Andrea Nichol (JCMB) 0131 650 8643
Technical Support Manager Dr David Hills (JCMB) 0131 650 7196
E-Learning Support Mr David Barrass 0131 651 7090
Dr Linda Hu 0131 651 7090
Biomedical Teaching Organisation (BMTO)
bmto@ed.ac.uk
0131 650 3160
www.ed.ac.uk/biomedical-sciences/bmto/contact
Geosciences Teaching Organisation (GTO)
info@geos.ed.ac.uk
0131 651 7068
www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/about/contact-us
3Contents
BTO Course Email Addresses ............................................................................................. 6
Assessment ......................................................................................................................... 7
Engagement with your studies ......................................................................................... 7
Passing your courses ....................................................................................................... 7
Examinations .................................................................................................................... 7
Calculators and dictionaries ............................................................................................. 8
Feedback ......................................................................................................................... 8
Submission of assessed work .......................................................................................... 8
Late penalties ................................................................................................................... 9
Coursework extensions .................................................................................................... 9
Special Circumstances ................................................................................................... 10
Provisional and ratified examination marks .................................................................... 11
Assessment regulations and the Common Marking Scheme ......................................... 11
Progression........................................................................................................................ 15
Academic Progression in Year 1 and Year 2.................................................................. 15
Course choices .............................................................................................................. 15
Progression into Junior Honours .................................................................................... 15
Failure to pass Junior Honours (Year 3)......................................................................... 15
Progression into Senior Honours ................................................................................... 16
Degree Classification ..................................................................................................... 16
Student Conduct ................................................................................................................ 17
Academic Misconduct .................................................................................................... 17
Data Protection .............................................................................................................. 17
Academic Life and the Student Contract ........................................................................ 18
Social Media guidance for students................................................................................ 18
Student Support ................................................................................................................. 20
Your Personal Tutor ....................................................................................................... 20
BTO Student Support Team ........................................................................................... 21
Senior Tutor ................................................................................................................... 21
Peer support................................................................................................................... 21
Careers Service ............................................................................................................. 22
Equality and Diversity ..................................................................................................... 22
Bullying and Harassment ............................................................................................... 22
Representation and the Students’ Association .................................................................. 23
4Programme Representatives.......................................................................................... 23
Edinburgh University Students’ Association ................................................................... 23
The Advice Place ........................................................................................................... 23
Student Disability Service............................................................................................... 24
Help in the teaching laboratories .................................................................................... 24
Safety in the laboratory ...................................................................................................... 25
Safety Notes – for Biological Sciences Teaching Laboratories (King’s Buildings).......... 25
Safety Notes – for Biomedical Sciences Teaching Laboratories (Teviot) ....................... 28
Use of animals in teaching ............................................................................................. 31
Lab coats and lockers .................................................................................................... 32
Learn.................................................................................................................................. 32
Contacting you ................................................................................................................... 32
Courses in English and other resources ............................................................................ 33
Student Administration ....................................................................................................... 33
Student Information Points ............................................................................................. 33
Fees and Student Support Team ................................................................................... 33
Scholarships and Financial Support Team ..................................................................... 34
Timetabling ........................................................................................................................ 34
Personalised timetables ................................................................................................. 34
Requesting a group change ........................................................................................... 35
Students with a visa ........................................................................................................... 35
The University complaint procedure .................................................................................. 35
Useful contacts .................................................................................................................. 36
University contacts ......................................................................................................... 36
External contacts ............................................................................................................ 38
Directory ............................................................................................................................ 39
Biological Sciences Personal Tutors .............................................................................. 39
Undergraduate Course Organisers (Years 1-3) ............................................................. 49
Undergraduate Honours Programme Organisers (Year 4) ............................................. 50
MSc Programme Organisers .......................................................................................... 50
5BTO Course Email Addresses
Year 1
Biology, Ecology and Environment 1 bee@ed.ac.uk
Molecules, Genes & Cells 1 mgc@ed.ac.uk
Origin & Diversity of Life 1 odl@ed.ac.uk
Quantitative Skills for Biologists 1 qsb@ed.ac.uk
Year 2
Animal Biology 2 anbi@ed.ac.uk
Evolution in Action 2 eia@ed.ac.uk
Genes & Gene Action 2 gga@ed.ac.uk
The Dynamic Cell 2 tdc@ed.ac.uk
The Microbial World 2 tmw@ed.ac.uk
The Green Planet 2 tgp@ed.ac.uk
Year 3 (Junior Honours)
Animal Diversity and Evolution 3 ade@ed.ac.uk
Behavioural Ecology 3 beec@ed.ac.uk
Biotechnology 3 biotech@ed.ac.uk
Developmental Biology 3 debi@ed.ac.uk
Evolution & Ecological Genetics 3 eeg@ed.ac.uk
Evolution & Ecology of Plants 3 eeplants@ed.ac.uk
Field Zoology 3 fzoo@ed.ac.uk
Genomes & Genomics 3 gen@ed.ac.uk
Immunology 3 imm@ed.ac.uk
Molecular and Synthetic Plant Biology 3 mspb@ed.ac.uk
Molecular Cell Biology 3 mcb@ed.ac.uk
Molecular Genetics 3 mog@ed.ac.uk
Molecular Micobiology 3 MolMic@ed.ac.uk
Parasite Biology 3 PaBi@ed.ac.uk
Population & Community Ecology 3 pce@ed.ac.uk
Structures & Functions of Proteins 3 sfp@ed.ac.uk
Year 4 (Senior Honours)
Biochemistry biochem.hons@ed.ac.uk
Biotechnology biotech.hons@ed.ac.uk
Cell Biology & Molecular Biology molbhons@ed.ac.uk
Developmental Regeneration & Stem Cells devbiol.hons@ed.ac.uk
Ecology bioecology.hons@ed.ac.uk
Evolutionary Biology evo.hons@ed.ac.uk
Genetics & Molecular Genetics genetics.hons@ed.ac.uk
Immunology imm.hons@ed.ac.uk
Plant Science Plantsci.hons@ed.ac.uk
Zoology Zoo.hons@ed.ac.uk
6Assessment
Engagement with your studies
We record participation during many course activities, e.g. practicals, tutorials and
workshops. Some courses will record engagement with other activities. It is your
responsibility to ensure that you ‘sign in’ as required.
Passing your courses
The requirements for passing each course will be specified in the course guide, which you
can find on Learn.
For some courses in Biological Sciences you will be required to pass both in-course
assessment and a degree exam to pass the course overall. This means that you need to
obtain a mark of 40% for in-course assessments and a mark of 40% for the exam. Please
look at your individual course guides for details of assessment structures.
Examinations
Exams take place at the end of each semester. Not all courses use an end-of-semester
exam – some may use continuous assessment through the course instead. The
assessment arrangements for each course can be found on Learn. For courses that use
an exam, Semester 1 courses will be examined in December and Semester 2 courses in
April/May.
Exam timetables and venues are arranged by the central Examinations Unit:
www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/exams
They will make every effort to achieve a satisfactory distribution of exam times across the
exam period but it is possible that you will sometimes have examinations on consecutive
days. It is very important to plan your revision well in advance of the exams.
You are strongly advised to prepare for examinations as you go along rather than leaving
your revision to the end of semester.
Resits: In Years 1 and 2, if you fail a course on your first attempt, you will be allowed
further attempts (resits take place in the summer). You can also take a resit if, for
legitimate reason, you were absent from the first sit. If you need to resit, a fee will be
charged. This fee covers all resit assessments – it is payable if you fail an exam, in-
course assessment, or both.
Overseas resits: Students who live outside the UK may apply to take August resit
examinations in their home country. There is a deadline to apply for this service and an
additional fee. Please be aware that due to logistical constraints, overseas sittings are
rarely granted. Further information can be found here: www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-
examinations/exams/oes
7Calculators and dictionaries
The College of Science and Engineering has a policy on the use of calculators in
examinations. The policy is intended to prevent the unauthorised access to any material in
examinations that could give an advantage to any student. Calculators and watches that
can store text are not permitted.
Dictionaries are not permitted in class tests or exams for undergraduate courses
administered by the School of Biological Sciences or the Deanery of Biomedical Sciences.
Feedback
Feedback comes in different forms and from different sources, but can be considered to be
any comment from another person that may result in improving your learning and
understanding.
A common misconception is to think that feedback is only provided in writing on a marked
piece of work. Whilst feedback can take this form, the vast majority of feedback you will
receive during your university career is not associated with a mark. It is important to
recognise that feedback is not only provided by your lecturers, but also other teaching staff
including, but not restricted to, tutors, demonstrators, floor-leaders, course organisers and
personal tutors. Importantly, feedback also comes from your peers. For example, during
tutorials or workshops you may discuss topics with your peers and tutor, and get feedback
from both. In laboratory practicals, you may get feedback from your peers, demonstrators
and the floor-leader. You will also receive feedback from your peers when you discuss the
course content with them. This is why we encourage you to form study groups and not to
only work in isolation.
It is your responsibility to review your marked work. When marked work is returned to
you, you should think about any feedback given and not just look at the mark. Feedback
will give you an indication of what you did well, what you misunderstood and what you did
not address correctly. This will help your future studies.
‘Formative’ work is not assessed/marked. ‘Summative’ work is assessed.
Submission of assessed work
In each course you will be required to complete a number of coursework assignments,
which are designed to develop your knowledge and skills. Assessed coursework is a
means of providing you with feedback on your progress, and it enables you to develop
skills that are not easily assessed in examination conditions. Coursework contributes to
your final course mark.
For most courses you will be asked to submit work via Learn or an alternative electronic
system. Occasionally you may be asked for a printed copy. Instructions for submitting
each assignment will be provided in the course guide or sent to you by the course
administrator.
8Be aware that for courses in Years 1-3, in order to access your assessments you will first
need to complete a task on Learn. You will see a declaration that your coursework is your
own work. You will need to read several statements within the declaration, then indicate
your acceptance by clicking to confirm. After this, the assessment folders for the course
will become accessible to you on the course Learn site.
Late penalties
For each assignment, you will be given a deadline for submission. It is important that
you submit your coursework on time. We adhere to deadlines, because we are
committed to returning your work (and marks) to you in a timely manner.
If you submit an assignment late, you are advised to discuss the circumstances with your
Personal Tutor.
There will be a penalty applied for late work, which is a reduction of the mark by 5% of the
maximum obtainable mark per calendar day (for example, a mark of 65% on the common
marking scale would be reduced to 60% up to 24 hours later). Note that this includes
weekends. This applies for up to seven calendar days (or until feedback has been
given, if this is sooner), after which a mark of zero will be given. Once work has been
returned to the class, late submissions will not be accepted.
We advise you to try hard to submit on time – this not only avoids reduction of marks
through late penalties, but also ensures that your assignments are better spaced out
through the semester. Be aware that not all items can be submitted late (for example,
many Learn quizzes are set to reveal answers as soon as they close – so no late
submissions are accepted).
Coursework extensions
An extension to a deadline for coursework may be requested before the deadline. The
maximum extension would be for seven calendar days but may be shorter. Extensions are
not always available – check!
Valid reasons for coursework extensions would include unexpected short-term
circumstances that are exceptional for the individual and are beyond the student’s control.
They should reasonably be expected to have had an adverse impact on the student’s
ability to complete the assessment on time.
Requests for coursework extensions can also be requested in relation to:
• A student’s Schedule of Adjustments if this includes relevant provisions.
• Representation in performance sport at an international or national championship
level, in line with the University’s Performance Sport Policy:
www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/performance_sport_policy.pdf
Extensions are requested via the online ESC system:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/extensions-special-circumstances
9Special Circumstances
At its best, University life is rich and rewarding, but all of us go through difficult times and
sometimes must work under pressure. If you find yourself struggling due to illness, an
accident, or bereavement, the BTO Student Support Team (SST) and your Personal Tutor
(PT) are available for help and support. Your SST or PT is able primarily to offer academic
advice but is also part of a network of student support, including the Student Counselling
Service, the University Health Centre and the Advice Place. Part of our commitment to you
– as a member of our University community – is that we will try to help you if you are
unfortunate enough to experience circumstances beyond your own control. However, we
also must treat our students as adults and we expect you to take full responsibility for your
own education and to let us know if issues arise that affect your study.
Extensions and Special Circumstances Service (ESC)
Special Circumstances applications are submitted via the online ESC system:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/extensions-special-circumstances
For help, you can contact either your PT or BTOStudentSupport@ed.ac.uk.
The decision to apply for Special Circumstances (SC) should not be taken lightly. If you
apply, your case must be backed up with evidence indicating the impact on your study.
Concessions are usually granted only if there is clear evidence of underperformance on a
specific piece of assessment. You must write a statement of your situation and take
responsibility for gathering unambiguous evidence. The Student Support Team or your PT
can help you complete the form and advise you on suitable evidence.
We strongly encourage you to ask your PT or Student Support team for help with
any SC application.
The SC process is intended to deal with short-term difficulties – if you have a longer-term
disability then you should contact the Student Disability Service for guidance and to see
whether you instead need a Schedule of Adjustments to help you to study:
www.ed.ac.uk/student-disability-service
Special Circumstances are circumstances that are exceptional for the individual student,
are beyond that student’s control and for which there is sufficient evidence to show that
they had a significant adverse impact on the student’s performance in an assessment, or
resulted in non-attendance or non-submission of an assessment. The University policy can
be found here: www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/special_circumstances.pdf
The Exam Boards will consider instructions from the SC Committee. The SCC may, for
example, recommend waiving late penalties or permitting an exam to be taken in August
(waiving the resit fee). Students still have to satisfy all learning outcomes in order to pass a
course.
10Provisional and ratified examination marks
It is essential that you are aware of the following:
• Results of all assessments are provisional until ratified by a Board of Examiners.
• Provisional marks can be increased or decreased by a Board of Examiners.
• Ratified final course results will be released electronically through MyEd.
Assessment regulations and the Common Marking Scheme
The assessment regulations can be found on the University’s website:
www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/policies-regulations/regulations/assessment
Assessed work is graded according to the University’s Common Marking Scheme:
Honours
Mark (%) Grade Non-honours Description
classification
1st 90-100 A1 Excellent
1st 80-89 A2 Excellent
1st 70-79 A3 Excellent
2.1 60-69 B Very Good
2.2 50-59 C Pass
3rd 40-49 D Pass
Fail 30-39 E Marginal Fail
Fail 20-29 F Clear Fail
Fail 10-19 G Bad Fail
Fail 0-9 H Bad Fail
Guidance on what constitutes these grades follows:
A1 (90-100%) An answer that fulfils all of the criteria for ‘A2’ and ‘A3’ (see below) and
in addition:
• Shows an exceptional degree of insight and independent thought.
• Demonstrates true flair in tackling issues.
• Is of outstanding quality, in terms of scholarship and originality.
• Often faultless.
• The work is well beyond that expected at the appropriate level of study.
A2 (80-89%) An answer that provides a fully effective response to the question. It
should:
11• Show excellent scholarship, with substantial knowledge of the field and an ability
to integrate evidence from this in a critical way and go beyond it.
• Achieve a high quality of analysis early on and sustain it through to the
conclusion.
• Use information and examples accurately and concisely to inform the answer.
• Demonstrate a critical and committed argument, showing insightful scientific
judgement and a balanced awareness of other interpretations but not afraid to
question them.
• Exhibit creativity or originality and academic maturity.
• Be very well-written and presented - its use of English and presentation should be
commensurate with the quality of the content.
A3 (70-79%) A sharply-focused answer of high intellectual quality. An essay in this
band should have major elements of the following:
• Adopt a comprehensive approach to the question and maintain a sophisticated
level of critical analysis and discussion throughout.
• Provide a clear and coherent structure, showing logical, ordered thought.
• Show knowledge of a comprehensive range of up-to-date material, handled in a
professional way.
• Contain appropriate diagrammatic information, incorporated in a manner which
enhances the answer.
• Deal confidently with the complexities and subtleties of the arguments, using
information and examples creatively to arrive at independent conclusions.
• Shows elements of personal insight / creativity / originality.
• Contain few or relatively minor flaws.
• Be well-written and presented, with a good command of English and grammar.
B (60-69%) A very good answer that shows qualities beyond the merely routine or
acceptable. An essay in this band should contain many of the following features:
• Address the question directly and fully, showing clear focus on the subject with
only trivial deviation.
• Exhibit a clear and coherent structure, showing logical, ordered thought and clear
presentation.
• Exhibit knowledge of a very good range of up-to-date material, perhaps with some
gaps, but handled in a professional way.
• Display understanding and handling of key concepts: shows a firm grasp of the
subject and current theory (but there may be gaps).
• Show initiative, the ability to think clearly, to critically evaluate ideas, to bring
different ideas together, and to draw sound conclusions.
• Display evidence of further reading and appropriate use of examples and
diagrams.
• Contain no significant errors of fact or interpretation.
• Develop a coherent analysis/argument proceeding to a convincing conclusion.
• Be without major blemish in the quality of the writing and presentation.
C (50-59%) A good answer with elements of the routine and predictable. An essay in
this band should:
Show sound knowledge, although limited.
12• May contain occasional factual errors and misunderstandings of concepts but this
should not be a dominant impression.
• Be generally accurate - inaccuracies, if any, should be moderate.
• Show understanding and handling of key concepts. There may not be a firm grasp
and depth of understanding of all the key concepts.
• Be focused on the subject, with relatively little irrelevant material.
• Exhibit a limited degree of critical analysis and evaluation.
• Be structured in a reasonably clear and coherent manner, generally presenting
ideas and information in a logical way and often with some examples.
• Generally be well-presented but there may be minor flaws in information, figures
and standard of English.
• Generally show a good quality of writing and presentation.
D (40-49%) A passable answer which understands the question to a degree and
displays some academic learning. An essay in this band is likely to exhibit a
number of the following features:
• Should display basic knowledge but may have significant factual inaccuracies
and omissions. It may lack clarity of structure and show poor logical development
of arguments.
• Should be intelligible but may well have significant deficiencies, such as poor
expression, irrelevancies to the question asked, deviation from the core issues,
and limited conceptual components.
• May show superficial understanding and handling of key concepts and there may
be gaps in understanding, lack of detail, or explanation of key concepts and
ideas; some may have been omitted.
• Show limited critical analysis and discussion. The arguments and conclusions
may be weak or lack clarity. The emphasis is likely to be more on description than
analysis.
• The presentation may show flaws in the overall standard of presentation or in
specific areas such as figures and standard of English (e.g. repeated minor
spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors).
• May give a general impression of a rather poor effort, with weaknesses in
conception or execution. It might also be the right mark for a short answer that at
least referred to the main points of the issue.
E (30-39%) An answer with evident and substantial weaknesses or inaccuracies of
understanding but conveying the sense that with a fuller argument or factual basis it
might have achieved a pass. An essay in this band is likely to:
• Display limited knowledge, with inaccuracies.
• Show insufficient understanding, with significant concepts omitted or poorly
expressed.
• Inadequately address the subject, with poor discussion and no real attempt to
critically evaluate the work.
• Lack a coherent structure.
• Show a poor overall standard of presentation, with problems in writing style and
expression (making it hard to follow the content), and a poor standard of English.
• Show only a few number of clear and relevant sentences on the topic which are
essentially correct and contain information appropriate to the specific question,
possibly with a relevant diagram.
13F (20-29%) An answer showing seriously inadequate knowledge of the subject, with
little awareness of the relevant issues. An essay in this band may contain:
• Largely irrelevant or erroneous material and be very limited in scope consisting,
for example, of just a 2-3 clear and relevant and essentially correct sentences on
the topic but not necessarily centrally addressing the question.
• Significant confusion.
• Very limited, incorrect or no critical analysis and discussion.
• Little or no attempt to order the material in a systematic way.
G (10-19%) An answer that falls far short of a passable level by some combination of
short length, irrelevance, lack of intelligibility, factual inaccuracy and lack of
acquaintance with relevant academic concepts. An essay in this band may exhibit:
• Very little knowledge of relevance to the question and irrelevant or erroneous
material.
• Minor evidence of understanding.
• No coherent discussion.
• No attempt to order the material in a systematic way.
• Some relevant words, not explained very clearly, but going beyond simple
paraphrasing of the question.
H (0-9%) An answer without any academic merit which usually conveys little sense
that the course has been followed or of the basic skills of essay-writing.
The presented work is of very little relevance to the subject in question or does not
go beyond paraphrasing of the question. Some attempt to use some relevant
words.
A blank answer or an answer with no text of relevance to the question should be
awarded zero.
FF Overall the mark is greater than 40% but the student has failed a component which
must be passed to pass the course (for example, an exam mark ofProgression
Academic Progression in Year 1 and Year 2
It is a requirement that all full-time students obtain 120 credits in each year of study.
Core courses MUST be passed to enable progression.
If a student is 20 credits short of the required total (that is, has achieved 100 credits at the
end of Year 1 or 220 credits at the end of Year 2), we recommend that they seek guidance
from their Personal Tutor. In many cases the student will be permitted to progress into the
next year of study and either carry the failed course as ‘assessment/exam only’ or be
enrolled in a new course to make up for the credit shortfall. Specific programme
requirements must also be met.
If a student has failed a core course and/or obtained less than 100 credits at the end
of Year 1 or less than 220 credits at the end of Year 2, they are required to attend a
meeting with the Senior Tutor to discuss their academic progress. A student may be
allowed to return in the following year to retake their failed courses or to enrol in additional
new courses to make up for the credit shortfall. However, the Senior Tutor may decide,
after considering the academic position of the student, that the student should be
excluded from further study.
Course choices
The BTO will provide Year 1 and Year 2 students with a ‘Programme Guide for Years 2
and 3’, which details the required/recommended courses for each honours programme.
We will ask students to register their course choices for the following year. At the end of
Year 2, students will also provide their choices of honours programme, ranking their
choices 1 to 4. The Progression Board (which meets in June and in September) will place
students in the highest ranked programmes for which they are qualified. We will provide
full details of the procedure for registering course choices at the appropriate time.
Progression into Junior Honours
For progression into Junior Honours (Year 3) all students must have a minimum of 220
credits but will have to make up any missing credits. In addition, a student must pass all
the required Year 2 courses to qualify for admission into an honours programme.
Failure to pass Junior Honours (Year 3)
Students who fail to obtain 80 credits and to average at least 40% will have failed to pass
Junior Honours (Year 3). It is not permitted to retake courses that contribute to the degree
classification. Therefore, students who fail Junior Honours at the first attempt will not be
able to graduate with an Honours Degree. Such students will be entitled to resit in the
August diet to allow them to gain 360 credits and to graduate with an Ordinary Degree.
15Progression into Senior Honours
The Year 3 Examination Board meets to ratify and confirm the marks in all assessments
for the Year 3 courses for which it is responsible. When you pass a course, the credits for
that course are awarded.
The Progression Board considers the overall performance of the students on the Biological
Sciences Degree Programme. It receives marks for all courses taken and confirms which
students qualify to progress into the final Senior Honours year (Year 4). The Progression
Board decides whether credits are to be awarded for any courses that have been failed.
Progression into the final year is largely a matter of satisfying the criteria laid down by a
particular programme and by the University Regulations. All students must have 360
credits (and 120 credits at level 9/10) before they can enter Year 4. No one can carry a
course from an earlier year into the final year. In addition, a student must pass all the
required courses to qualify for admission into a programme. Failure to meet programme-
specific requirements will mean that admission into Senior Honours is at the discretion of
the Progression Board.
However, the regulations allow the Progression Board to award credits for a course that
has not been passed, providing:
• The student has attained at least 80 credits in level 9/10 courses in the year.
• The average mark for the 120 credits at level 9/10 courses is at least 40.
• For progression into Senior Honours in Biological Sciences, you must obtain at least
80 credits in Biological Sciences.
• A significant attempt has been made to pass the course.
A student who attends nothing and submits no assessment material will obtain a mark of
zero.
The procedure of awarding credits, as described above, can only be followed to allow a
student to progress into the final year.
Degree Classification
To graduate with an honours degree you must pass Junior Honours (Year 3) at the first
attempt and then pass Senior Honours (Year 4). It is important to note that honours
degrees are classified according to marks in both honours years (except where students
take part in the Exchange Programme). Year 3 and Year 4 will count in a 1:2 ratio.
16Student Conduct
Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct includes: plagiarism, collusion, falsification of data or evidence,
cheating during an examination or assessment, and personation. These terms, and the
procedure that is triggered if academic misconduct is suspected, are explained here:
www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/students/conduct/academic-misconduct
Plagiarism can be defined as the deliberate use of another person's work in your own
work, as if it were your own, without adequate acknowledgement of the original source. If
you do this in work that you submit for assessment, then you are attempting to mislead the
examiners. Plagiarism is cheating – trying to claim the credit for something that is not your
work. It is essential that you understand how to avoid plagiarism and take care how you
present your work. Any contribution from other sources (such as published works, fellow
students' work, items downloaded from the internet) must be properly acknowledged.
Self-plagiarism, which is the submission of your own work that was previously submitted
for a different assessment, is also an offence. You should not copy into a new essay text
from any previously submitted essay. This would still count as plagiarism, even though you
are effectively plagiarising yourself. However, you may reuse facts, examples or
references, as long as you rewrite the text describing them.
Plagiarism is a serious offence, because it threatens to undermine the value of a
University degree. We take it seriously, and will impose penalties on students who are
found guilty of plagiarism.
In the Biological Sciences programmes, we use a wide range of methods to detect
possible plagiarism, including software that detect similarities and frequencies of words or
phrases. Your work is also compared with the work of students in previous years, to
ensure that work is not copied from earlier years.
You should look at the University web pages on Academic Misconduct and ensure
that you understand what constitutes misconduct so that you can avoid it:
www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/students/conduct/academic-misconduct
Data Protection
The General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 regulate the
use of personal data. Personal data includes all recorded information about a living,
identifiable individual. Students using personal data as part of their studies must comply
with the regulations. Before using personal data as part of their studies, students must
become familiar with the guidance, discuss implications with their supervisor and seek
appropriate written approval. Failure to comply with these responsibilities is an offence
against University discipline, and could lead to a breach of the Data Protection Laws. A
17data protection breach can cause distress to the people the information is about, and can
harm relationships with research partners, stakeholders, and funding organisations. In
severe circumstances the University could be sued for compensation, fined up to 20
million Euros, and experience reputational damage.
Academic Life and the Student Contract
The University’s Academic Life portal contains many useful links to services you may
require: www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life
The Student Contract is described via the Academic Life portal. The Student Contract
comprises the terms and conditions associated with your admission to the University,
along with the regulations, policies and procedures of the University that apply to current
students. These include the regulations that govern your examinations and other
assessments, privacy statements that explain how we will use/share your personal data,
as well as policies that govern student behaviour (Code of Student Conduct).
Students are advised to familiarise themselves with the Code of Student Conduct in order
to understand the University’s expectations for their behaviour:
https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/codeofstudentconduct.pdf
Social Media guidance for students
Social media – including blogs, Facebook, Twitter – can be a good way for you to share
your thoughts. Some courses have a social media space such as a Facebook group,
normally set up and administered by student representatives. However, within these
groups/spaces it is important to bear a number of things in mind.
(1) Inclusivity. If you are a Programme Rep, it is a good idea to use Learn to invite the
entire class to join the group/be part of the discussion. It can be convenient to invite
people based on your existing contacts, but this can lead to persistent exclusion of
some students. Not everyone may want to take part, but all students should have the
opportunity to join. If you are not a member of a group and wish to join, you should
contact your Programme Rep.
(2) Conduct. Online social spaces are only useful if they feel welcoming and safe to
engage in, so you should always be mindful of maintaining dignity and respect. The
University’s code of student conduct applies at all times, including when using social
media. If you are concerned at behaviour you encounter or witness then please raise
the issue with the Programme Rep or with your Personal Tutor as appropriate.
(3) Privacy. It is essential that you consider your own privacy and the privacy of others
when engaging with social media. Additionally, you need to consider privacy of data
and intellectual property, a crucial element of presenting yourself in an appropriate
and professional way during your studies and as you prepare for the professional
world. You may well work within a research group during your time at University,
particularly when carrying out your final year research project. This will give you
privileged access to intellectual property (the ideas and results of the group) that is of
18scientific value and should not be made freely available. Unpublished results,
research plans and other confidential information must not be posted or discussed on
social media without full consent. You must also make sure that you have copyright
permission before you upload, share or re-share any file (image, video, podcast etc),
even on a closed facebook group or “private” social media space. This applies to
course materials including lecture podcasts, slides and videos, as copyright and
intellectual property rights reside with the University and performance rights reside
with the individual lecturer.
(4) Academic Integrity. Do not share assessed work. That includes not sharing your
own assessed work on social media, nor asking others to share their work. This
would include ‘checking’ your answer to a calculation, for example, even when this is
done without showing your working. Any sharing of work for assessment constitutes
academic misconduct and could have serious consequences.
(5) Authenticity. It can be very useful to discuss course content with your classmates,
and social media can be a useful tool to do that, but you always need to treat
anything you learn from others with caution. Cross-check the accuracy of what others
say using reliable sources or by talking to academic staff. There have been cases of
incorrect information ‘spreading’ through social media and appearing in assignments
and answers in exams! This also applies to information about your courses. Your first
ports of call should always be your course guide and Learn. If you are unsure of a
last minute change you can always contact academic or administrative staff directly.
Some courses will use a discussion board on Learn. You may wish to use this facility to
talk to your fellow students about the course – that way, everyone in the class can
participate if they wish. You may even find that lecturers respond to questions on Learn
discussions.
Further information about managing your digital footprint can be found at:
www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/about-us/projects/digital-footprint
19Student Support
To support you throughout your time at Edinburgh you have been assigned a Personal
Tutor (PT) who is a member of academic staff within the School of Biological Sciences. As
well as your PT, the BTO Student Support Team (SST) is available to provide you with
guidance and support. The information below outlines how these systems can support you
through your Biology degree.
Your Personal Tutor
The BTO will allocate a PT to you. Your PT will be a member of staff familiar with your
general area of study and the expectations of academic work in your discipline. They will
support your studies both academically and pastorally, and direct you to any other support
you might need. General information: www.ed.ac.uk/students/academic-life/personal-tutor
The main responsibilities of your PT:
• Provide academic guidance and support, including guiding you in your choice of
courses.
• Advise and support your studies and follow your progress.
• Liaise with the BTO Student Support Team and refer you to central services and
other specialist sources of information and guidance.
• Respond promptly to a request for a meeting or, where this is not feasible, arrange
for another PT to be contacted in their place (this information may be contained in an
‘out of office’ email). Note that PTs are normally expected to reply to students within
three working days.
• Advise and support you in, for example, special circumstances, disciplinary or appeal
matters (in conjunction with the Student Support Team).
Your Personal Tutor will help you:
• Review your academic progress and performance regularly.
• Think about your learning, how it contributes to your development, prepares you for
your time at university and your future career.
• Become a confident, active member of a community of learners.
• Deal with any concerns or problems that might affect your studies and refer you to
other staff in the School and support services as appropriate.
Meeting your PT:
During your early years at the University you will have several scheduled meetings with
your PT to enable you to settle in and build a rapport with them. You are encouraged to
schedule meetings with your PT throughout your time at the University.
You can request a meeting with your PT at any time through your university email or
through your MyEd channel. Records of meetings will be made on the student record
system and you may also make your own notes on MyEd.
20BTO Student Support Team
The School of Biological Sciences has a Student Support Team (SST) that provides
additional academic and pastoral (personal) support to students in conjunction with PTs.
The SST is coordinated by the Senior Academic Tutor, Dr Nadia Tuzi.
There are four Student Support Tutors in the School of Biological Sciences.
Student Support Tutors
Dr John Curtis
Dr Hazel Cruickshanks (part-time)
Dr David Radford
Dr Abigail Cabrelli (part-time)
The SST can support you if your PT is unavailable or if you prefer to speak to one of the
SST. The SST holds drop-in sessions, for which no appointment is necessary, or you can
book a specific appointment. Details can be obtained by emailing the SST.
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/current-students/undergraduate/bto-student-support/student-
support-team
The Student Support Team can be contacted by email: btostudentsupport@ed.ac.uk.
Senior Tutor
The Senior Tutor is in charge of the PT system – any comments on the PT system should
be brought to his attention. The Senior Tutor can also provide support on special academic
and pastoral situations (for example, an Interruption of Studies or Progression problems).
Senior Tutor for the School of Biological Sciences
Prof Justin Goodrich 0131 650 7032
Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences Justin.Goodrich@ed.ac.uk
Daniel Rutherford Building
Change of Personal Tutor:
Any requests to change PT should be made to the BTO Academic Administrator, Dr Ann
Haley (ann.haley@ed.ac.uk) who will send you a form to fill in. This will be handled in the
strictest confidence.
Peer support
Peer Support activities are also available and we encourage you to get involved with
these, as they can be a great way to engage with other students:
• Information about Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA) Peer Support
activities across the University can be found at the following link: www.eusa.ed.ac.uk
21• BioPALS: this is a Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme set up by students for
students in the School of Biological Sciences. It aims to help students make the most
of their degree by creating a friendly and informal environment for cross-year
interaction and support. Structured group meetings, based around a theme relevant
to the course and university experience are led by trained student facilitators at least
every two weeks. See www.facebook.com/uoebiopals/
Careers Service
There is a dedicated Careers Service that you can access as a student of the University
and continue to use for two years after you graduate. They can help you to produce a CV
or application, as well as help to prepare you to attend interviews.
www.ed.ac.uk/careers
The Careers Service offer information and advice, along with drop-in sessions and specific
appointments. Their MyCareerHub portal will enable you to search for jobs, work
experience or internships.
Information specifically for Biological Sciences students is also available and can provide
an excellent starting point for understanding how the Careers Service can support you:
www.ed.ac.uk/biology/current-students/undergraduate/opportunities-careers
Equality and Diversity
There are many sources of support for students looking for advice on equality/diversity
issues. The Advice Place run by Edinburgh University Students’ Association, the Student
Counselling service, and the Chaplaincy can all offer assistance.
https://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/adviceplace
Bullying and Harassment
Bullying and harassment can involve interactions between people face-to-face or in written
form including via social media. Any action or behaviour that could reasonably be
expected to cause offence may be classed as bullying or harassment.
We sincerely hope that students will not experience bullying or harassment during their
time studying with us. However, there are resources available to support students in such
circumstances to cope with and report unacceptable behaviour, including specific
guidance for cases of sexual assault/harassment: www.ed.ac.uk/equality-
diversity/respect/guidance/further-guidance
22Representation and the Students’ Association
Programme Representatives
Programme Reps are the link between students and staff at course and departmental
level. They play a crucial role in ensuring that the University listens to, and learns from,
students’ academic experiences so that the quality of teaching can be continually
monitored and improved.
Through various methods (such as face-to-face meetings, emails and Student-Staff
Liaison Committees) Programme Reps feed back to the teaching team any issues being
raised by their peers. Being a Programme Rep should be a very rewarding experience for
students, with plenty of scope to gain and develop a whole host of skills.
Edinburgh University Students’ Association
The University and the government make decisions that hugely impact on your life while
you are a student, and it is important that you are represented so that those decisions are
made in ways that benefit you and your fellow students.
You are automatically a member of Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA),
and can vote (and stand) in their elections. The Students’ Association campaigns to
improve the student experience at the University of Edinburgh, to represent your views
and to make sure that the voices of students are heard.
The Students’ Association has Councils which work to improve your University:
• The Academic Council campaigns to improve feedback, ensure you get excellent
teaching, resources and academic support.
• The Welfare Council works to improve student welfare, campaigns for better support
services and on student welfare issues such as mental health and exam stress.
• The External Affairs Council campaigns on student fees, improving student-
community relations, student transport and accommodation – things that may be
external to the University but can have a huge impact on student life.
Any student can get involved. Go along to any of the Councils and help with campaigns –
or propose your own campaign!
You can find more information at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/home
The Advice Place
The Advice Place is the free advice and information centre for all students at the University
of Edinburgh. The service is run by The Student’s Association and offers independent and
confidential advice. The professional advisers are available throughout the year, including
the summer vacation period.
23Get in touch if you have questions about anything related to university life, from finance
and funding to accommodation and tenancy. There are specialist Academic Advisers, who
can offer guidance on issues related to your studies. The Advice Place can offer support in
relation to harassment or complaints.
https://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/adviceplace
Student Disability Service
Any student with a disability is strongly advised to contact the Student Disability Service.
You can book an appointment via their website.
Student Disability Service
The University of Edinburgh
Health & Wellbeing Centre
7 Bristo Square
Edinburgh EH8 9AL
Phone: 0131 650 6828
Email: disability.service@ed.ac.uk
Website: www.ed.ac.uk/student-disability-service
An Advisor will be happy to discuss possible adjustments and specific examination
arrangements, assist you with an application for Disabled Students' Allowance, or give you
information about available technology and personal assistance (such as note-takers,
proof-readers or dyslexia tutors). They can prepare a Schedule of Adjustments for your
courses, which outlines recommended adjustments so that academic and administrative
staff can put these in place for your teaching. You will be expected to provide the Student
Disability Service with evidence of disability – a letter from your GP or specialist, or
evidence of specific learning difficulty. For dyslexia or dyspraxia, this evidence must be
from a recent Chartered Educational Psychologist's assessment. If you do not have this,
the Student Disability Service will make the necessary arrangements.
Help in the teaching laboratories
The Teaching Laboratories in the School of Biological Sciences have procedures for
looking after disabled individuals when, for example, the building has to be evacuated in
an emergency. If you are disabled (for example, in a wheel chair or with a hearing
impairment), you should as a matter of urgency contact Dr David Hills
(David.Hills@ed.ac.uk).
Remember to let him know immediately if you become disabled during the course: for
example, by breaking your leg in a sporting accident. This may restrict your ability to use
particular laboratories. Temporary arrangements may be needed.
We welcome disabled students (including those with specific learning difficulties such as
dyslexia). We are working to make all our courses as accessible as possible. If you wish to
talk to a member of staff about the course requirements and your particular needs, please
contact Dr David Hills for advice.
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