Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 7 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

Visiting Speakers

There are a number of opportunities for students on this course to engage with visiting speakers and potential employers. Such events include the Annual Series of RSC speakers, the engagement of people from industry to teach specific topics in some specialised modules, and engagement with the Science Futures event.

Volunteering

The School organises a number of events throughout the year such as course taster days, spectroscopy days, A2 chemistry taster days, Chemistry and Christmas etc for local school children. Students on this course are able to assist at such events and engage in a wide range of outreach activities.

Work Placements

Those students who undertake a formal work placement as part of their project module will be hosted and work in a company. Placements secured by the university are offered to students through a competitive process whereby the students need apply formally and are interviewed by the company, adding to the learning experience. Employers actively engage in assessments and routinely attend student presentations on campus allowing the fostering of greater relationships with the university and providing networking opportunities for students.

Work-based Learning

For many of those students who undertake a period of work-based learning as part of their project module in-house they will either work with an industry specialist or their project will have been industry instigated through engagement with companies.

Employer Forums

The ASM for Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science is a member of the Pharma and Medical Cluster.

Other

Industry specialists are actively employed to deliver many parts of this course, such as Qualified Persons. Areas of current delivery include the quality control modules, formulation modules, and projects.

Means of Assessment

Learning Support

Induction

The school plans and runs a programme of induction activities during the first week of attendance. Early enrolling students have immediate access to their modules and introductory course material on Unilearn.

USW’s ICIS system also provides access to course information and modules definitions.

Personal tutor

Being Level 7 these students are not formally part of the USW PAC system, however it is expected that their course leader will act as their personal tutor and will meet with the students on a regular basis in emulation of USW’s PAC system at other levels. The internal project supervisor will also act as a personal coach and point of contact for these students.

Office hours

The school of Applied Sciences operates the PASS system. Staff in the school are expected to acknowledge all student emails within 48 hours between 8 am and 6 pm.

Tutorials and Seminars

These sessions allow students to more practically engage with a topic and apply/develop/practise their learning through group and class discussions, problem solving, undertaking short exercises, working through set tasks, demonstrating their work, all with the support of a lecturer. The more personal nature of these sessions facilitate personal and tailored student academic support.

Formative Assessment

Lectures/tutorials/seminars all contain formative exercises to encourage students to apply their knowledge and gain feedback. Where this is independent, material is provide on-line or in scheduled session to be attempted independently.

Progress meetings

As per the PAC system, each student will meet individually with their personal tutor twice a year to discuss progress.

Research Supervision

A full time MSc student would normally receive 24 hours of project supervision within the School. Over the 10 week period of the project this equates to approx. 2-3 hours per week.

Online Resources

Course booklets, module booklets, teaching materials and coursework assessment materials are made available on-line through USW’s virtual learning environment (Unilearn)

The modern computing laboratories on the Upper Glyntaff campus provides access to specialist software. Students are also able utilise the open access computer laboratories throughout the Pontypridd campus for more general work. Each student has an academic email account and is encouraged to use this to keep abreast of notices and for communication with their lecturers.

Advice Centres

The University operates an Advice Zone located in the Library.

DDS Service

The University runs a DDS Service that can agree an Individual Support Plan. The Plan summarises the support that has been agreed.

IT/Library

The University has a modern Library that provides access to textbooks, journals, on-line materials and equipment. There are open-access computer laboratories in the Library.

Course Exit Points

Progression Route

Upon completion of this course it is expected that most students will enter the workforce, primarily in the pharmaceutical or related chemistry based sector. The course will also enable students to pursue a higher degree by research such as a PhD.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

The School of Applied Science seeks actively to promote University policies on equal opportunities and widening access and will seek to recruit as wide a range of students as the current mode of attendance and admission requirements permit.

The procedures, criteria and regulations for admission, including promotion of wider access and equal opportunities will follow those established for the existing post-graduate provision offered by the School.

Normally, candidates will possess a 2:2 BSc (Hons) degree in either pharmaceutical science, chemistry, or a degree which includes a substantial amount of chemistry and, where appropriate, a minimum average IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5.

Candidates applying to the course with non-standard qualifications will be judged on an individual basis using Recognition of Prior Learning procedures as defined in the University’s Regulations. For example, the University may admit students on the basis of their prior experiential learning, provided that it is identifiable, relevant to the programme of study for which they are applying and provides sufficient evidence of their ability.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A