Download Admissions Policy for Biological Sciences Courses at the University of Leeds and more Lecture notes Biological Sciences in PDF only on Docsity!
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
Faculty of Biological Sciences UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS POLICY 2020 This document outlines the Faculty of Biological Sciences Admissions Policy for 2020 entry. It supports the admissions principles and policies of the University of Leeds, as outlined in the University of Leeds Undergraduate Admissions Policy and should be considered alongside this document. This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis. The Faculty of Biological Sciences Admissions Policy applies to the following courses: BSc/MBiol Biochemistry (C700/C709) BSc/MBiol Biological Sciences (C701/C719) BSc/MBiol Biology (C100/C109) BSc/MBiol Biotechnology with Enterprise (C910/C911) BSc/MBiol Ecology and Conservation Biology (C180/C189) BSc/MBiol Genetics (C400/C409) BSc/MBiol Human Physiology (B120/B129) BSc/MBiol Medical Biochemistry (C741/C749) BSc Medical Microbiology (C521) BSc/MBiol Medical Sciences (B100/B109) BSc/MBiol Microbiology (C500/C509) BSc/MBiol Neuroscience (B140/B149) BSc/MBiol Pharmacology (B210/B219) BSc/MSci Sports and Exercise Sciences (C601/C609) BSc/MSci Sports Science and Physiology (BC16/BC19) BSc/MBiol Zoology (C300/C309)
1. Principles The Faculty of Biological Sciences ensures that the selection process provides due consideration for applicants who apply by the relevant closing date. All selection decisions are made on the basis of merit and the ability of each applicant to meet the academic and non-academic criteria for admission to the relevant programme of study. Applications will be considered holistically and contextual factors, such as educational or socio-economic background, may be considered in this process. 2. Selection principles The Faculty of Biological Sciences will treat all applicants fairly and not discriminate unlawfully on grounds of their age; disability; sex; gender reassignment; pregnancy or maternity status; race; religion or belief; or sexual orientation. The Faculty of Biological Sciences is committed to developing a socially and culturally diverse student community and therefore encourages applications from all backgrounds, and utilises contextual data within the decision-making process. The University operates a policy of Dignity and Mutual Respect, which all staff, students and third parties, including prospective students, are expected to abide by. The University reserves the right to withdraw an application if behaviours are deemed to have contravened this policy. This policy can be found within the Equality Policy Unit’s webpages.
3. Application process 3.1 How to apply All full-time undergraduate applications must be made through the online Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (www.ucas.com) by 15th^ January. The Faculty of Biological Sciences might accept applications after the initial UCAS closing date, however it is recommended that an application is made before the 15th January deadline where possible as we cannot guarantee late applications will be accepted/considered. The Faculty of Biological Sciences usually participates in the UCAS Extra scheme. 3.2 Widening Participation The Faculty is committed to developing a diverse student community and our admissions processes are implemented in line with both University policy and the Access and Participation Plan, which sets out our strategy and objectives in relation to widening participation. 3.2.1 Access to Leeds and Realising Opportunities scheme We are committed to identifying all applicants who have the potential to succeed at the University of Leeds. Applicants who meet two or more of the following criteria are eligible to apply for the Access to Leeds scheme: From a household with an annual income of £25,000 or below OR in receipt of 16-19 Bursary Fund or Discretionary Learner Support with income threshold of £25,000, OR in receipt of free school meals during their GCSE studies In the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education Attends, or has attended, a school which achieved less than the national average Attainment 8 score at GCSE Studies disrupted by circumstances in their personal, social or domestic lives Live in a geographical area with low levels of progression onto higher education Living or grew up in public care. Access to Leeds applicants receive special consideration from admissions tutors and those who receive an offer are given an alternative offer alongside their standard offer. The alternative offer will be conditional upon successfully completing the Access to Leeds module and making the University of Leeds their firm choice as well as: a reduction of two A Level grades (across two of three A levels, if taken), OR an equivalent reduction where alternative qualifications are offered. (any specific subjects required for a course will still be included in any offer made and may not receive a reduction)
3.5 Early examinations The Faculty of Biological Sciences recognises that some applicants may have studied a more flexible curriculum, where they have been able to progress through their educational development at an appropriate rate according to their ability, this may be as early GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent) across three years. Typically we would expect applicants to have completed three A-levels (or equivalent) in one sitting. If this has not been the case, then we advise the school provides further information as to reasons for this within the academic reference section of the application form. 3.6 Listing qualifications Applicants should ensure that all qualifications and grades are listed clearly on the relevant section of the application form. This allows admissions staff to gain an understanding of the applicant’s full profile and make a holistic decision on the application. We recognise that many A-level students will no longer sit AS levels. This group will not be disadvantaged in the decision making process at Leeds. 3.7 Internal transfers The Faculty of Biological Sciences will accept applications from applicants who wish to transfer internally from other programmes at the University of Leeds, providing places are available. Applicants are expected to meet the standard academic entry requirements and may be required to achieve a specified mark at level 1. 3.8 External transfers The Faculty of Biological Sciences will accept applications from applicants who wish to transfer onto one of our courses from other institutions, providing places are available. Applicants are expected to meet the standard academic entry requirements and may be required to achieve a specified mark at level 1.
3. 9 Advanced Entry The Faculty of Biological Sciences will accept applications from applicants who are seeking entry to the second year. All applications must be made through UCAS. To be eligible the applicant must demonstrate: Meet first year requirements Learning outcomes of year 1 of the relevant programme against which advanced standing is sought have been met Achieve a minimum 65 % average in the first year study Judgements on equivalence are made by the Admissions Tutor. Entry onto Level 3 in the Faculty of Biological Sciences is not permitted. Further details of the University’s policy can be found on our webpage.
3.10 Former students of the University The University of Leeds welcomes applications from candidates who have previously studied at this institution. Where appropriate, such candidates may be able to apply for Advanced Entry (see 3.9 above). Candidates who have been withdrawn from their earlier studies due to academic failure may apply for re-entry to the University, but not to the same or a closely related programme of study, i.e. where over half of the compulsory modules are identical. Candidates who previously left the University due to non-academic reasons e.g. ill health, financial reasons, will not be subject to this condition. When assessing applications from former students all relevant factors will be considered, including previous study, and applications will be considered on a case by case basis. Applications from candidates who have been permanently excluded (expelled) from the University for disciplinary reasons, those who have been excluded under the Referred Student Procedure or for reasons of misconduct or fitness to train in a professionally-regulated discipline will be rejected. Applicants should contact the school for further information. Applicants who require a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa and have previously studied at the University under Tier 4 sponsorship will be subject to academic progression checks to ensure UKVI compliance. Please see section 3.1 4 for further information.
3. 11 Joint Honours applications The University of Leeds offers the most varied selection of two-subject degrees in the country. The Faculty of Biological Sciences does not currently offer any, but for the current range of Joint Honours courses offered by the University of Leeds please refer to our Coursefinder webpage 3. 12 Extended degrees Where applicants do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to a degree course, progression may be possible through one of the University’s extended degrees with foundation year. Please see the Lifelong Learning Centre website for details. 3. 13 English language requirements Teaching, assessment and student support will take place in English, unless otherwise stated. For this reason the University and the academic school must be confident that candidates have the proficiency in English language necessary to succeed on the chosen course and that, where relevant, they meet the UKVI minimum requirements to obtain a Tier 4 visa. Proof of English Language proficiency will be required and minimum levels and approved tests for the Faculty of Biological Sciences are detailed below: GCSE English grade 4 (C) IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) of 87 (with no less than 20 in listening, 20 in reading, 22 in speaking and 21 in writing)
For further details, contact lifelonglearning@leeds.ac.uk, phone 0113 343 3212 or see www.llc.leeds.ac.uk.
3. 16 Part-time applicants The Faculty of Biological Sciences does not offer courses on a part-time basis. Overseas applicants and applicants from non-EU countries who require sponsorship to study in the UK should note that the University does not sponsor
candidates for part-time courses as standard practice.
3. 17 Age and Safeguarding The University recognises that someone’s age (if under 18) or safeguarding position may need to be taken into account. For full details of the University policy please see the University Safeguarding Policy. UKVI guidance states that under Tier 4 (General), students must be 16 or over. Accordingly, the University cannot assign a CAS for anyone under 16, and those reliant on a Tier 4 (General) visa must be aged 16 or over in order to be considered for sponsorship. The Faculty of Biological Sciences does not currently have any additional age restrictions attached to any of its courses. 3. 18 Disabled applicants The Faculty of Biological Sciences welcomes applications from disabled people^1. The University will make reasonable adjustments, with the aim of ensuring that disabled applicants have full and equal access to our admissions procedures and courses. Information about disability is not used when considering an applicant’s academic eligibility for their chosen course. It is reviewed in order to identify any potential study-related support requirements, and the eligibility for disability-related support funding, so that the University can ensure the applicant is supported effectively on the course. Applicants are invited to indicate their disability status on their application form and we strongly encourage applicants to declare any disability so that reasonable adjustments and/or other support requirements can be made/considered. The University will always aim to make appropriate adjustments for disabled applicants. However, applicants who choose not to declare their disability should be aware that, without the knowledge it may be more difficult, or in rare cases impossible, for the University to provide support and/or make the reasonable adjustments. Disabled applicants are also advised to contact the University’s Disability Services team (part of the University’s Student Education Service) once an application has been submitted, to discuss any support requirements they may have in relation to the course for which they have applied. Disability Services can be contacted at disability@leeds.ac.uk. (^1) The University is committed to the social model of disability and in line with the definition under the Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as someone with a physical or mental impairment which is long-term (lasting 12 months or more) and which has a substantial impact on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The definition of disability includes long-term medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and MS (in each case from the point of diagnosis) and may include epilepsy, diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME amongst others.
If any applicant feels that their disability has meant that they have faced exceptional circumstances which should be taken into account by the University when considering their application, they should refer to section 4. 15 of the University’s Undergraduate admissions policy. The admissions process is covered by the University’s Policy on Equality and Inclusion which is available from the University’s Equality Policy Unit.
3. 19 Applicants with a health-related issue or other mitigating circumstances The University of Leeds Undergraduate Admissions Policy details our policy concerning applicants with a health related issue or additional support needs. The School sees health-related issues^2 as being distinct from disability-related issues, although, of course, in some cases, a disabled applicant may also have a health- related issue. If a candidate feels that any disability, prior ill-health – or personal circumstances other than ill-health (for example, bereavement or other difficult home or family circumstances) – may have affected their previous education, or may have affected the grades they received in past examinations, then they are welcome to contact the Faculty to discuss this further. All formal requests for mitigating circumstances to be taken into account in the admissions process should be supported by a full declaration about the nature of the circumstances. Where these circumstances are affecting or have affected current studies the correct course of action would be to notify the relevant exam board of the circumstances. Whilst the applicant is welcome to notify (via a verified statement) the relevant admissions office of the circumstances, the University will assume that the relevant exam board will take the circumstances into consideration and any mitigating circumstances have been taken into account in the final grades. These final grades are what will be used when making a decision. 3. 20 Guidance for trans applicants Applicants who do not wish to disclose their trans status to the faculty/school admissions team for a course of study but require their status to be changed should contact study@leeds.ac.uk and the team will be able to support the applicant through the process. The University will be required to carry out identity checks as part of the registration process, and/or taught admissions staff may be required to advise the relevant Faculty Admissions Manager of a status change in order to facilitate removal of any previous documentation. This process will be undertaken confidentially and with sensitivity. Full guidance to support trans staff and students can be found on Equality Policy Unit website. 3. 21 Support of applicants who are pregnant In line with the University policy on support for students who are pregnant or have young children (available from the Equality Policy Unit website), applicants who are pregnant are advised to inform their Admissions Tutor/Officer at an early stage. This is so that consideration can be given to appropriate support being available from the start of their course. (^2) Which are not classed as a disability.
their chosen course. Contextual factors, such as educational or socio-economic background, may be considered in this process. The selection criteria will be applied ensuring that we treat all students fairly and not discriminate unlawfully on grounds of their age; disability; sex; gender reassignment; pregnancy or maternity status; race; religion or belief; or sexual orientation. The admissions process is covered by the University’s Policy on Equality and Inclusion which is available from the Equality Policy Unit website. 4 .4 Academic entrance requirements The Faculty of Biological Sciences welcomes applications from applicants studying a range of Level 3 equivalent qualifications where students have the potential to succeed on their chosen degree course. Please https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduate for the course list, typical entry requirements, and accepted qualifications. The Faculty of Biological Sciences formulates offers based on the profile presented and holistic consideration of the individual. Requirements may vary from the minimum/guideline qualification equivalencies set out in Appendix A of the University Admissions Policy to ensure candidates are suitably prepared for study on their chosen course. Entrance requirements may be reviewed and amended at the end of an admissions cycle based on the performance of the previous year’s cohort. The Faculty of Biological Sciences will accept Level 2 Functional Skills English in lieu of GCSE English however it is recommended that the applicant contact the School before applying. Information for international applicants can be found on the University of Leeds International Students webpages and our international admissions qualifications webpage. 4 .5 Personal statement advice The personal statement of the application form helps us to assess the nature of the applicant’s interest in the academic subject and is an important part of the selection process. Accurate spelling and grammar are of paramount importance. It is essential that applicants take this opportunity to demonstrate their enthusiasm and aptitude for the academic subject. We wish to hear about why the course interests you; evidence of interest in the subject that is external to school or college such as attendance at summer school or reading books or journals; work experience and, if known, any career aspirations. Additional information relating to hobbies and extracurricular activities can be used when it serves to illustrate applicants’ transferable skills, achievement outside of study, or is relevant to the course the student is applying for. 4 .6 Interviews All applicants for the programmes below will be asked to attend an interview. BSc/MBiol Biochemistry (C700/C709) BSc/MBiol Biological Sciences (C701/C719)
BSc/MBiol Biology (C100/C109) BSc/MBiol Biology with Enterprise (C1N1/C1N2) BSc/MBiol Biotechnology with Enterprise (C910/C911) BSc/MBiol Ecology and Conservation Biology (C180/C189) BSc/MBiol Genetics (C400/C409) BSc/MBiol Medical Biochemistry (C741/C749) BSc Medical Microbiology (C521) BSc/MBiol Microbiology (C500/C509) BSc/MSci Sports and Exercise Sciences (C601/C609) BSc/MSci Sports Science and Physiology (BC16/BC19) BSc/MBiol Zoology (C300/C309) The interview forms part of the applicant visit day where applicants attend an interview with a member of academic staff. Some applicants, such as those who are disabled or those who are pregnant may require adjustments to their interview (for example, a sign-language interpreter or an adjustment to an audition process) to provide them with full and equal access to the process. The Faculty is responsible for making reasonable adjustments where possible. The University’s Disability Services team should be consulted for further advice or information regarding disability related adjustments (email disability@leeds.ac.uk) and the Equality Policy Unit for advice on other adjustments (email equality@leeds.ac.uk).
4. 7 References The reference section of the application is carefully considered by the Faculty of Biological Sciences and is an important part of the selection process. Details of any extenuating circumstances should be highlighted in the reference. There is more information on writing the reference available via UCAS. Section 5 : Offers Offers are made on the basis of merit and the ability of each applicant to meet the academic and non-academic criteria for admission to the relevant course. Offers are made based on the information supplied on the application form and performance at interview where applicable (see section above). The University of Leeds Undergraduate Admissions Policy gives further detail on the type of offers that are made. 5.1 Confirmation Each offer is specific to an applicant’s individual qualifications and circumstances. Applicants must typically meet the conditions set by the University by 31 August of the application year unless otherwise stated in the prescribed course or professional body requirements, even if the offer is deferred for entry to the following application year. Applicants whose results will not be sent to the University via UCAS are encouraged to send evidence of their results to the school admissions office as soon as possible. 5. 2 Course start date and arrival University teaching periods can be found on the University’s Almanac, however students may be expected to arrive prior to this date in order to undertake key
those who have already been made an offer. Details can be found on our open day webpage. 6 .2 Applicant visit days All applicants to whom we are considering making offers are invited to attend a Faculty of Biological Sciences, course specific, applicant visit day. If an interview is required for the course applied to, attendance is compulsory and forms part of the selection process, unless an alternative method of interviewing can be organised. The purpose of the applicant visit day is to enable applicants to familiarise themselves with the department and the programme of study in order that they are able to make an informed choice about whether or not to accept their offer. Applicants to the courses outlined in section 4.6 will be required to undertake an interview as part of this visit. Section 7 : Scholarships & funding The University of Leeds currently offers a wide range of scholarships and bursaries that provide funding for students to undertake undergraduate study at the University. Further details can be found on our webpages. The Faculty of Biological Sciences also offer specific scholarships, details of which can be found here. Section 8 : Contact details 8 .1 General pre-application enquiries For general enquiries and information relating to courses and admission to the University of Leeds, applicants should contact the Admissions Enquiries Team Admissions Enquiries Telephone - +44 (0) 113 343 2336 Email - study@leeds.ac.uk Web – www.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduate 8 .2 Post-application enquiries Admissions enquiries specific to the Faculty of Biological Sciences should be directed to: Admissions Team Student Education Office Faculty of Biological Sciences Irene Manton Building University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT Tel: +44(0) 113 343 1418 Email: fbsadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Updated by Paul Matthews, 16 th^ May 2019. Last updated by Anya Wright, October 2019 Date of amendment Change detail Section 01/10/2019 Update to Access to Leeds eligibility criteria 3.2.
