Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning

How will I spend my time?

As a Life Sciences student you will have plenty of contact with the staff who teach you. Independent learning, reading, group work and preparing assessments will occupy the rest of your study time.

Taught sessions

Normally you will study one module at a time for two weeks (there are some exceptions). This approach allows you to focus on gaining an in-depth knowledge of the subject area by concentrating on one topic at a time. Module leaders and lecturers adopt different teaching styles in order to provide you with the knowledge and understanding required to be successful in your chosen area of study. Teaching is by interactive lectures, small group workshops or tutorials. Read more about key teaching staff.

According to the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (2024):

    • 94% agree staff are enthusiastic about what they are teachin
    • 92% agree I am encouraged to ask questions or make contributions in taught sessions

     

    Field trips and lab work

    Biotechnology and Business Management
    Biotechnology and business management courses are focused on commercialisation of biosciences concepts, and do not involve lab work. Students have previously had the opportunity to visit a brewery and an anaerobic digestor plant processing commercial food waste to produce electricity and bio-fertiliser.

    Environmental Bioscience, Food Security and Sustainable Crop Production
    Modules may include lab sessions and data analysis workshops to develop your learning. During some modules students visit Warwick Crop Centre, an internationally recognised centre for translational research in sustainable agriculture, horticulture and food security. Students have previously had the opportunity to visit the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors at Heathrow Airport.

    Students studying Sustainable Crop Production will learn from field visits over the course of the year, covering stages of field preparation, crop establishment, phases of growth and maturation and harvesting.

    Assessments

    Most modules have an in-module assessment and an end of module assessment.

    • In-module assessments may be group presentations or case studies, or for some modules may be a short-answer test.
    • End of module assessments are normally a task for you to complete individually, such as an essay or report, with a deadline a few weeks after the end of the module.

    Project dissertations

    All Masters degrees include a project. During your project you are closely supported by a member of staff. Most students will complete desk-based dissertations, but some complete lab-based or placement-based projects.