GETTING STARTED IN BIOSCIENCES
FAQs
What is a lecture, and what am I supposed to do in one?
Lectures at University are usually 45 minute-long presentations on-site given by lecturers on material within your course. They are just like being taught in Sixth Form or College but with hundreds more classmates in some cases. They focus on delivering content but are often very interactive, involving mini-quizzes, dividing up into small groups for discussion, Q&A elements, and lots of opportunities to ask questions. Every lecturer has a different style, so you might naturally most enjoy the ones that best fit your learning style. Everyone has a different way of approaching lectures; some prefer to type notes throughout the lecture whilst others just listen and absorb information, then write up notes later. Lecturers will usually make Power Points or PDFs used in lectures available to students.
How do I use lecture recordings the best?
Lectures are almost always recorded so if you can't join live, you can watch it back later. Lectures aren't compulsory to attend, but it is usually more beneficial to join live so you can interact and ask questions. Often, more interactive parts of lectures, Q&As and quizzes aren't included when the recording is uploaded. Again, like taking notes, there are many ways to use these recordings and students who use them as a substitute for lectures often miss out, because they will only hear the lecture once instead of twice. Listening to a recording still can't replace a person standing up in front of you teaching, and does not offer you the opportunity to ask any questions. Some students find it useful to listen in the lectures, noting down any concepts they feel unsure of and then listening back to the recordings. If they are still unsure they will seek further help by asking other students or the lecturer directly. Other people might just use the recordings as refreshers near exam time. Bear in mind that most lecturers receive hundreds of emails every day, so it might take a while for them to get back to you. It is always best to ask lecturers questions directly at the end of lectures, or alternatively to ask other people on your course.
What is the Student Intranet?
The Student Intranet is a platform that contains all news, resources, and support available to Cardiff University students. You can log into the Intranet using your Cardiff University email and password. Lots of information can be found on the Intranet, which is why it can be hard to navigate at first. It is usually easiest to use the search tool or the Chat Bot to find what you’re looking for. On the homepage, you can find links to other useful applications such as Learning Central - where you can access module contents and lecture materials, SIMS - where you can find your transcripts and update your contact details, MyTimetable - where you’ll find your timetable, MyPrint - for using printers located around campus, etc. If there's anything you're ever not sure about, it's always a good idea to use the search bar on the intranet or use the Chat Bot as there's bound to be something about the topic on the Intranet!
Learning Central is the official online platform for the University academic programmes. It is where you receive and submit all your assessments, as well as find lecture materials and recordings. Sometimes announcements relevant to each module will also be posted on Learning Central. It is very straightforward to use, and can be accessed through the Student Intranet. Before starting University it can be helpful to make sure you can access Learning Central through the Student Intranet and then save it as a favourite on your computer (for later use). Your timetable can also be found on Learning Central, so it is important that by the end of the Enrolment Week (usually the last week of September) you can access both. If not, notify the Education Office in the school of Biosciences - they will direct you to IT support and provide an alternative until it is fixed.
What is Learning Central?
How do I submit coursework?
All coursework is completed online and submitted through Learning Central, unless it is specifically mentioned not to be the case. It is usually very clear and well organised, so that the same folder that contains the assignment will also contain the portal you submit the work through. Once it’s been released, you will also be able to access feedback through the portal. If you ever have questions about this, the Education Office are wizards!
What is a Personal Tutor for?
Your personal tutor is your first point of contact for both personal and academic issues during University. They are usually researchers or lecturers within Biosciences if not both. They also set up tutorials within their tutor group to cover additional skills such as referencing. Each tutor group can have 4 - 7 members and meetings can be made in a group or individually. In general tutors are very helpful as long as you are proactive when seeking their assistance for any given matter. Their job is to support you academically (and to help signpost to all other advice and support) during your time at University.They will also write your reference for future employers once you graduate.
Who is a Student Mentor?
Student mentors are students from higher years who are volunteering to help their mentees navigate their first year and settle into University life. You will automatically be assigned a student mentor from the same academic School as you at the beginning of your first year. Your mentor will organise regular meetings, during which you can ask questions about the University and your Academic School, IT platforms, your course, exams and study tips. The first meeting is online (usually over Zoom), but future meetings can be online or face-to-face. Mentors can also provide advice on other aspects of uni life such as social life, health and wellbeing, sports and societies, and general guidance about making the most of your time at uni.
I got 65% in my assignment - is this a good mark?
The first thing to remember is that in University every single percent is earned, so 65% is in no way a bad mark. Some people find it disheartening to get 65% on an assignment when you're used to 90% on A-level assignments! The grading system for University is as follows: 70% equates to a 1st, 60% equates to a 2:1, 50% equates to a 2:2, and 40% is needed to pass. 65% is therefore a 2:1 which is much higher than the equivalent grade in school or college. It is often much easier to accept if you ask yourself would I be happy with a 2:1 as my final degree class? For most students, the answer would be yes. It is also important to remember that there is always room for improvement, so when you receive a piece of coursework back the first thing you should do is look at your feedback. If after looking at the feedback you still don't understand why you obtained a certain mark, you should contact your personal tutor and see if they can provide you with more of an insight. Naturally, if you understand the feedback correctly and apply your corrections to the next piece of coursework the quality of your work will improve - and so should your mark. It is good to have high expectations, but don't unnecessarily beat yourself up if you don't meet them as soon as you start University.​
What are practicals like?
At the beginning of the year you will be given a practical manual for the first term. (this and loads of other key documents will also be on Learning Central).This contains an explanation of the theory behind each practical and detailed instructions. You can prepare for each practical by looking through the protocol. Once you enter the lab you will usually have to choose a partner to work with. In each practical there will also be a lecturer in charge of the lab, supported by demonstrators and other members of staff. The main lecturer will run through the practical and the key dos and don'ts. The demonstrators are usually PhD students, who are there to provide support when students struggle. Have a look at the ‘how to approach’ section of this website for more information on how to tackle practicals.
One invaluable piece of advice is to be careful picking your lab partner. It is very tempting to choose a friend, but make sure your partner doesn't distract you from the work at hand. If you work with the same person each week you can build a working relationship that allows you delve into each practical quickly and efficiently. Your partner should not be afraid to question you and vice versa - this will help prevent mistakes. As a result, you will both learn as much as you can from each practical.
Due to Covid restrictions, the format of practicals might change, with some being potentially moved online. This will be announced at the beginning of the academic year.
What is the format of exams?
Exams happen at the end of the year in May/June. The exams for most modules are 90 minutes long and have 75 multiple choice questions covering topics from the whole module. In one module (Skills For Science), you instead have 90 minutes to write one essay on a choice of 12 titles.​ More information on the format of each exam will be released during the academic year. There will also be several Q&A sessions, which can help clarify any doubts or concerns on the format of the exams.
The largest piece of coursework for each module in the first year is called the skills based assignment (SBA). It is usually based on an experiment of some kind that is module specific, but the format varies based on each module. The students don't actually have to do the experiment but often you have to analyse and manipulate the results, to answer the questions that follow the explanatory paragraphs. Students are given plenty of time to do each piece of coursework but they still require organisation and diligence to complete. Extra research using textbooks and papers is encouraged but all the answers should be logically explained in the students’ own words to avoid plagiarism. There are also short practical-based assignments for each of the main modules, which check that students have understood the theory behind several of the practicals. For the Skills For Science module there are a few other pieces of coursework including a group presentation, an essay relating to your chosen degree scheme, a numeracy assessment, and a full write-up (like a scientific report) from one practical.
What is the format of coursework?
What are SSPs and why you should be interested in them?
SSPs stand for student staff panels and only a few students get a chance to attend them. SSP is a mode of communication between students and staff and is held once every term. Keep an eye out for an email that states anything about being a ‘student rep’. Being a student rep is your ticket to attend SSPs and have a chat with staff about any feedback you gather from your cohort. As a student rep, it will be your duty to look out for any feedback that a student has to offer and feed it back to the staff at SSPs so any problems faced by students can be taken care of.
What is the Top 5?
The Top 5 is an email sent out every Friday by the Year 1 Coordinator which essentially explains the five most important things that are happening that week. The Top 5 usually covers any changes to the timetable, information on deadlines, things you need to prepare for practicals etc. alongside links and signposts to lots of useful things. If there's one email I can't recommend more highly you read through each week, it's the Top 5!
Apart from freshers, the Student Union offers a ton of other roles that Year 1s can watch out for and societies that they can get involved in - there is literally something for everyone, from Rugby to Chess, Harry Potter Appreciation to Wild Swimming!Volunteering opportunities can be a good way to meet new people and socialize; the SU website has a separate section on volunteering that you can look at. They also have loads of information on topics relevant to Uni life including employment, health, finances etc. which is worth checking out.
What opportunities does SU offer to Year 1 students?
These are often not compatible with university software and can cause lots of problems with accessing online learning and completing coursework. Best to stick to a Windows or Mac laptop!
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Unfortunately due to data protection reasons we are unable to provide a contact email address for the website at the moment. Please write down any questions you have, as the Year 1 Coordinator, (Helen Woodfield this year!) will be running Q&A sessions during the first week, and there will be a chance to meet your Year 2 mentors and ask them questions too!