Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 3 Modules

Level 4 Modules

Level 5 Modules

Level 6 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

Employer Engagement will be achieved by:

Visiting Speakers - There are a number of opportunities for students on this course to engage with visiting speakers and potential employers.
At level 5 and 6 students will benefit from contacts arising from the engagement of people from industry to teach specific topics in some specialised modules.

Work Placements - While we encourage students to seek work placements throughout their course the work placement module in their third year is the main vehicle for employability experience.

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 work with either an industry specialist, or their project will have been industry instigated through engagement with companies.

Means of Assessment

Learning Support

The learning support available through the course:

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 module definitions and the course handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the course.

Personal tutor - Each incumbent student (Level 3 or 4) are assigned a personal academic coach and are expected to take part in the USW PAC system. This initial coach will remain with the same students up to level 5 of their studies. At level 6 a more informal approach will be adopted, still following the PAC principle, but whereby the internal project supervisor will act as the new personal academic 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 - 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 facilitates 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 provided on-line or in scheduled sessions to be attempted independently.

Progress meetings - As facilitated by the PAC system, each student at Level 3 to 5 will meet individually with their personal tutor twice a year to discuss progress. At Level 6, where the PAC supervision is undertaken by the project supervisor a more informal, but much more regular contact and review will be achieved.

Research Supervision - An undergraduate student undertaking project worth 40 credits would normally receive 24 hours of formal project supervision within the School. Over the 15-20-week period of the project this equates to approx. 1-2 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).
Many supporting text books and other reading material is available electronically via the LRC.
The modern computing laboratories on the Upper Glyntaff campus provide 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

The following progression routes are available:It is expected that most students graduating from this award will go on to gain graduate employment in the ecological science and media industry. Graduates from this award are well placed to go on to further postgraduate study and/or research in related disciplines.Although these modules are listed as Optional in systems for operational reasons, their profile within the course is ES1S206W/ES1S207W/ES1S209W and should be treated as such for the purposes of considering student profiles and when considering award and progression decisions.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

Typical A-Level Offer
BCC - (104 points) (excludes General Studies).
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level (excludes General Studies).
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass.
Typical IB Offer
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points.
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass an Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics and English/Welsh at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

Foundation Year - DD (48 points)

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