Four Year Integrated Foundation Degrees in Bioscience, Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics

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1 College of Science, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, UK, SA2 8PP Tel: +44 (0) Four Year Integrated Foundation Degrees in Bioscience, Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics College of Science Coleg Gwyddoniaeth

2 Welcome to the College of Science Science foundation degrees are an excellent higher education option for students who are interested in completing a degree in science but who don t have the necessary qualifications to enter a three year scheme, and they are suitable for students from a range of academic and non-traditional backgrounds. Swansea s College of Science foundation programmes combine a foundation year followed by standard BSc modules in Biosciences, Computer Sciences, Geography, Mathematics and Physics. Students graduate with a BSc in one of the five subjects. Your choice of course and university is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make in life, and these pages will tell you about life as a science student at Swansea. We aim to bring science to life through globally excellent and impactful research, and passionate hands-on teaching in state-of-the-art laboratories. Our foundation degrees allow students to build up the scientific and numerical understanding essential for successful completion of a science degree. Foundation year class sizes are small and a tutorial system is used to mentor students, helping with their academic progression and the transition to university life. Foundation scheme teaching places an emphasis on the practical application of numerical, geographical and scientific skills and students develop the critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills required to open the door to numerous career opportunities and further study options. As Head of the College of Science, I look forward to welcoming you onto one of our foundation programmes. I hope you find the information in this brochure of use; however, there is no substitute for visiting our beach-side campus! All UK-based applicants to whom we are considering making an offer will be invited to attend our Applicant Visit Days and I would strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to come and meet our staff and students and to visit the friendliest city in Wales! Professor Steve Wilks Head of the College of Science 3

3 Swansea University Founded in 1920, Swansea is a research-led university that offers a combination of excellent teaching and research in a wonderful coastal campus location. Swansea was the first campus university in the UK and offers a friendly and supportive community for students. Studying in a research-led university means that you benefit from the knowledge and skills of internationally renowned academics at the top of their game; 92% of our graduates are in employment and/or further studies within six months of graduating. Our campus nestles beside Singleton Park and the wide, sandy sweep of Swansea Bay. The University was recognised for providing an excellent student experience when it was awarded the inaugural Times Higher Education Award for the UK s Best Student Experience. The Guardian University Guide 2008 dubbed it a hot contender for any best campus award going. If you could create the ideal location for a university, how about this you walk across the road and you re on a beach, you walk out the campus in the other direction and you re in a beautiful park, and the campus is on the edge of an exciting and booming city. Adeline Brobbey, BSc Bioscience 2011 TO Book your place at one of our open days please visit: Top-rated Physics Dept in Wales (Guardian University Guide and Complete University Guide, 2013) Highest % of top-class researchers of any Computer Science department in Wales Highlighted internationally for mathematics research in stochastic analysis (International Review of Mathematics 2010) Why choose a College of Science foundation degree at Swansea University? 4.2m investment in teaching facilities 5th best Geography degrees in the UK (NSS 2012) No.1 Bioscience Zoology degrees at Swansea rated Number One in the UK Is a Swansea Science foundation programme right for me? We offer four year integrated science foundation degrees in: Bioscience, Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics and Physics. Geography students can choose to study either Physical or Human Geography, or a mixture of both. We seek applications from students who do not have the necessary qualifications to enter a three year degree scheme. The programmes are suitable for students from a range of academic or non-traditional backgrounds. Entry requirements are normally 220 UCAS points or equivalent. However, we are keen to receive applications from students with non-traditional qualifications. Our programmes will enhance transferable skills and employability. You will receive additional contact time with staff during your first year, to support your transition into university study. You will benefit from the College of Science s new teaching spaces, which include state-of-the-art IT and laboratory facilities. Teaching places an emphasis on the practical application of numerical, geographical and scientific skills and students will develop the critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills required for a wide variety of career choices. 4 5

4 Swansea Science foundation programmes BSc Biology (with Integrated Foundation) C101 BSc Computer Science (with Integrated Foundation) G401 BSc Geography (with Integrated Foundation) FL87 BSc Mathematics (with Integrated Foundation) G101 BSc Physics (with Integrated Foundation) F301 Key features Integrated four year BSc Degree Schemes in Biosciences, Computer Sciences, Geography, Mathematics and Physics. The degree schemes combine a foundation year followed by the standard BSc Degrees. The foundation year offers students an opportunity to build up the scientific and numerical understanding essential for successful completion of a science degree. Additional support through the foundation year is suitable for those students who may have underperformed at A-Level but have an interest in science and the potential to complete a degree. The integrated scheme targets the achievement of better degree results and enhanced employability through rigorous training in numerical and transferable skills. 30 minutes AWAY IS THE GOWER PENINSULA, the uk s first area of oustanding natural beauty BSc Biology (with Integrated Foundation) C101 The diverse habitats available locally set Swansea apart for studying Biosciences. The national treasure that is the Gower Peninsula, the UK s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is just a stone s throw away, acting as a giant natural laboratory for our students. Our department is made up of a diverse, international group of research leaders and we consistently receive excellent ratings for our teaching. The College of Science has invested 4.2m on a suite of state-of-the-art Science laboratories which has resulted in significantly upgraded facilities to teach a higher level of transferable laboratory techniques and skills. In the first semester of the scheme, students complete modules in environmental science and key skills training. In the second semester, students study Foundation Biology and their transferable skills training progresses to include data analysis and presentation skills. At the end of the Biosciences foundation year, students progress to one of our three Single Honours degree schemes: BSc Biology, BSc Marine Biology or BSc Zoology. Having achieved a First Class Honours in Biology, I now work as a Research Assistant. It is a challenging position which I was well prepared for because my dissertation involved culturing maggots and testing their medical importance. Mark, BSc Biology Going to University is about more than getting a job, it s a chance to grow as a person through the acquisition of knowledge. I truly believe that the Zoology course has enabled me to do so. Beth, BSc Zoology 6 7

5 The department has a very good quality of teaching. All the modules are well structured and taught by professionals in the area. The content of each module is a combination of theories and their application, allowing students to have a full picture of the relationship between the underlying concepts and their industrial applications. Wai Leung, BSc Computer Science BSc Computer Science (with Integrated Foundation) G401 Excellent Human and Physical Geography teaching, and superb facilities, in a friendly atmosphere Computer Science is at the cutting edge of modern technology, and is developing rapidly. Computer Science now plays a part in almost every aspect of our lives. Our department has been rated Excellent for its teaching quality and we have the highest percentage of topclass researchers of any Computer Science department in Wales. Our friendly staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching. The foundation year includes a wide range of relevant content that prepares students for the BSc in Computer Science, as well as enabling them to experience other subjects in Science at Swansea. The foundation year will enable you to learn the key scientific and mathematical concepts that are essential for a future career in Computer Science. In your first semester, you will learn how to program. You will also study the mathematics relevant to Computer Science, key skills, as well as topics from environmental science and physics. In your second semester, you will study more advanced concepts in Computer Science that will give you a broad overview of different aspects of the subject. You will also learn how to analyze and present data. Highest % BSc Geography (with Integrated Foundation) Fl87 Swansea has been successfully training Geography graduates since the 1930s. We are one of the most well established Geography departments in the UK and, with over 30 academic staff, we are amongst the largest. Our well established reputation is noted by our excellent ratings for teaching, student experience and research. We take in more than 150 students each year, and we offer a lively, friendly and thriving environment in which to pursue a Geography degree. In the first semester of the Foundation programme, students complete modules in environmental science and key skills training, as well as enhancing their computing and mathematical skills, which are so valuable in a scientific degree. In the second semester students study Foundation Geography and natural sciences modules and transferable skills training, including data analysis and presentation skills. Students will experience a variety of learning environments, including lectures, practical classes, seminars, field excursions and small group tutorials. Our aim is to provide the highest quality education in Geography, and to equip our students with a wide range of skills to prepare them for their chosen career. We seek to provide these within a stimulating, supportive, and friendly department. top-class researchers of any Computer Science department in Wales When I came to visit on an open day I made my mind up straight away. I was won over by the fact that the campus is so close to the sea, the choice of modules available on my course and the atmosphere of happiness amongst the other students. The field trips were great and we got to decide where to go which offered us a lot of freedom in choosing our own direction and areas of expertise. Clara Palmer BSc Geography,

6 I really enjoyed my course. I loved the varied nature of the work that we did and the expertise of the staff; you can tell they are passionate about what they teach. My course definitely set me up for my career as I can apply my degree directly to some of the work I do. Vicky Stockley, BSc in Mathematics for Finance, 2008 BSc Mathematics (with Integrated Foundation) G101 The BSc Mathematics (with Integrated Foundation) degree scheme combines a foundation year (Level 0) followed by the standard BSc modules (Levels 1, 2 and 3). In the first semester students complete modules in general science and key skills training as well as foundation and further Mathematics modules. In the second semester, the focus is predominantly on Mathematics modules with students having the possibility to choose an optional module with either a statistics or computing flavour. The Mathematics followed at Level 0 shares its look and feel with that of a typical A-Level (pure) Mathematics syllabus. However, teaching is focused on motivating and developing the key mathematical skills and principles needed to complete a degree in Mathematics. At the end of the foundation year, students will progress to one of our Single Honours degree schemes in Mathematics. We teach through a combination of lectures, tutor-led tutorials and regular coursework. The final year modules are student-centred, to reflect a progression in teaching methods appropriate to the subjects taught. Throughout the scheme, the learner is encouraged to undertake independent reading both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught and to broaden knowledge and understanding of the subject. We are a compact and supportive department and students are closely mentored through our tutorial system. The ability to think rationally and to process data clearly and accurately are highly valued by employers. Mathematics graduates earn on average 50% more than most other graduates. The most popular areas are the actuarial profession, the financial sector, IT, computer programming and systems administration, and opportunities within business and industry where employers need mathematicians for research and development, statistical analysis, marketing and sales. Our students have gone on to employment with AXA, BA, Deutsche Bank, Shell Research, Health Authorities and Local Government. BSc Physics (with Integrated Foundation) F m Teaching benefits from the College of Science s recently refurbished laboratory facilities. The Department of Physics offers a four year Physics (with Integrated Foundation) degree scheme, which is appropriate for students not having the necessary qualifications to enter the three year BSc scheme. Students undertake this scheme for a variety of reasons. Students who lack the appropriate A-levels either due to underperforming at A-Level, or inappropriate choice of A-level subjects, can apply for this scheme. Applications from students with non-traditional backgrounds, with an interest in Physics and the potential to complete a degree are also encouraged to apply. Although students enter into this degree scheme for a wide variety of reasons we are constantly and pleasantly surprised by the performance of students taking this course. We have had many examples of foundation students graduating with first class degrees and going onto complete postgraduate degrees in Physics. Core knowledge and understanding of science is acquired in the foundation year. In the first semester students complete modules in mechanics and hydrodynamics, mathematics, computing and environmental science. Key skills are developed through a tutorial and lecture programme. In the second semester students concentrate on physical and mathematical understanding and we introduce modules on specific physical science topics such as: electricity and magnetism, atoms and nuclei and thermal physics. Teaching benefits from the College of Science s recently refurbished 4.2m state-of-the-art Science laboratories, IT suite and teaching rooms. 50% OF Mathematics graduates earn on average more than most other graduates After receiving offers to study physics at numerous universities I decided that Swansea was definitely the place for me. The campus is a wonderful, friendly place. A fantastic location close to the sea, and a great place if you are interested in pursuing sporting interests alongside your studies. For me the close proximity of the athletics track and the fantastic gym facilities were a massive positive. I credit the staff of the physics department, the course structure, and the University as a whole for enabling me to get a job offer from the first company which I interviewed with. Peter Watkeys, BSc Physics,

7 Life outside the lab As a Bioscience student at Swansea you will have many opportunities to gain fieldwork experience. Our Marine Ecology fieldtrip comprises practical work based both on ship and on shore. Our Terrestrial Ecology field module provides a complementary range of vocational skills that are commonly used to study and monitor plants and animals. The module is highly practical and covers a wide range of subject areas in a diverse number of locations in South Wales. In addition to our core field modules, we offer a number of unique overseas field opportunities on a competitive basis. Our Computer Science students benefit from carrying out a work placement with IT Wales. Established in 1993 as the industrial liaison unit of the Department of Computer Science, IT Wales run the Department s placement programme, placing students within businesses throughout the country. Our students have the chance to gain paid, project-based IT work experience through this important scheme. Our placements are proven to make our graduates more employable and 65% of placements result in permanent or extended employment with the host company (Go Wales statistics 2011). Fieldwork is an essential part of completing a Geography degree. In the third year of the degree, students take part in an international field course. Students are currently able to choose from 5 destinations: Austrian Alps (with a particular focus on Physical Geography), Vancouver and Mallorca (students may specialise in either Human or Physical Geography) and New York City (our dedicated Human Geography fieldtrip). We offer a specialised field course to Sikkim in the Indian Himalayas, and places are awarded on a competitive basis for this highly interdisciplinary field module. We also support student internship applications and run a dedicated Work Placement module at Level 3 (the fourth year of the Foundation programme). Studying Physics at Swansea University will give you detailed insight into the fundamental laws underlying all of nature, and along the way you will learn a number of indispensable skills which will make you well prepared for pursuing your career choice after graduation. Our degrees are accredited by the Institute of Physics and we have numerous links with Physics research institutes and industrial partners, including the world famous European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Physics students who go on to pursue a Master s level degree can have the opportunity to undertake their research project at CERN. The importance of gaining valuable core skills and life experience whilst at University has never been so critical. Our undergraduate degrees will provide you with a wide range of mathematical skills and knowledge to prepare you for a rewarding career in a wide range of areas such as the actuarial profession, the financial sector, IT, teaching, computer programming and systems administration, and opportunities within business and industry where employers need mathematicians for research and development, statistical analysis, marketing and sales. Our students benefit from the opportunity to carry out a work placement under the auspices of the Go Wales programme and recent graduates have obtained roles at Deutsche Bank, the Office of National Statistics, AXA, BA, Shell Research, BMW, KPMG, Tesco, Procter and Gamble and Zurich Financial Services. 65% of placements result in permanent or extended employment with the host company (Go Wales statistics 2011) 12 13

8 Further information Fees and scholarships For information about the cost of your course and what you ll have to pay, please visit For information about income-related bursaries please visit: Entry requirements Our typical offer is CCD in 3 A-Levels, or equivalent. Relevant subject qualifications are preferred for each programme. We also welcome applications from those with non-traditional educational backgrounds, or who can demonstrate relevant work experience, who have an interest in pursuing a science degree. All applications will be considered on an individual basis, and we will look at the whole application when deciding whether to make an offer, including: the balance, nature and quality of A-level, AS and GCSE subjects (or equivalent); personal statement and referee s comments. How to apply All applications for full-time undergraduate degrees must be made through UCAS. For UK applicants, please apply online at For international inquiries please see Contact Us: College of Science, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, UK, SA2 8PP Head of College s Office Tel: +44 (0) Admissions and Recruitment Teams: biosci-admissions@swansea.ac.uk compsci-admissions@swansea.ac.uk geog-admissions@swansea.ac.uk maths-admissions@swansea.ac.uk physics-admissions@swansea.ac.uk Tel: or Designed by The information published in this brochure is intended as a guide for prospective students thinking about studying at Swansea University. It does not form part of any contract, and we have made every effort to ensure that everything we have included in it is accurate and up-to-date at the time of going to print. Swansea University reserves the right to change its fees, regulations, services, and to modify, withdraw, or add new courses and degree programmes at any time, and without notice. When you have finished with this brochure, please pass it on or recycle it. 15