Programme structure: Palaeontology and Evolution (MSci) - what's running in 2016/17

This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.

All mandatory units in this year are must pass. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

Unit name	Unit code	Credit points	Status	Teaching Block
Palaeobiology Analytical Project	EASC30048	30	Mandatory	TB-4
Evolution of the Biosphere	EASC30008	10	Mandatory	TB-1A
Field Course or Laboratory Workshop	BIOL30001	10	Mandatory	AYEAR
The Cambrian Explosion - the origin of animal body plans	EASC30052	10	Mandatory	TB-2D
60 credit points from the below list of optional units
Tree of Life	BIOL30004	10	Optional	TB-4
Mammalian Ecology and Sociobiology	BIOL31117	10	Optional	TB-4
Neuroethology: neural mechanisms underlying behaviour	BIOL31127	10	Optional	TB-4
Flowering Plants	BIOL31131	10	Optional	TB-4
Sensory Ecology	BIOL31132	10	Optional	TB-4
Optimisation, Behaviour and Life Histories	BIOL31134	10	Optional	TB-4
Evolutionary Ecology	BIOL31136	10	Optional	TB-4
Oceanography	EASC30017	10	Optional	TB-1B
Petroleum Sedimentology	EASC30024	10	Optional	TB-1B
Geomicrobiology	EASC30051	10	Optional	TB-2C
Climates and Ecosystems	EASC30058	10	Optional	TB-1A
BSc		120

Progression/award requirements

Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:

• 40 out of 100 – for level C/4, I/5 & H/6 units
• 50 out of 100 – for level M/7 units

For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.

For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.

Exit awards

All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.

• To be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education, a student must have successfully completed 240 credit points, of which at least 90 must be at level 5.
• To be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education, a student must have successfully completed 120 credit points at level 4.

Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.

The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).