2017
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undergraduate p ro sp ec t us
S E E
T H I N G S
D I F F E R E N T L Y
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I thought I might introduce this Prospectus by telling you about what I feel is really special about the University – what attracted me to join as Principal, and what I hope might also appeal to you. Firstly, we are a small university, on a compact city-centre campus. Most classes are small, and your teachers are accessible. Our award-winning Bernard King Library and Student Centre, with its social and cultural facilities, are right next to the teaching buildings. There is a real ‘Abertay family’ feel to the campus. Secondly, we have a particular focus on preparing our students for the world of work and for the life of learning that you can expect after graduating – university is just the beginning. We do this through our unique approach to studio-based learning in which our students tackle real-world challenges alongside experienced practitioners and researchers. This Prospectus is designed to give you a feel for life at Abertay and what we have to offer you. However, the best way to find out more about us is to talk to our students and staff. I warmly invite you to visit us at any time and see for yourself the qualities that drew me to Abertay and which I hope will make Abertay your choice.
Professor Nigel Seaton Principal and Vice-Chancellor
WELCOME
It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to write a few words to you, as you consider your choice of university. You will, I’m sure, be looking at several universities, differing in important ways – size, location, style of teaching, and so on. It’s a big decision. Of course, I hope you will decide that Abertay is the best university for you!
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ABERTAY UNIVERSITY
We are a small, successful specialist university located in the heart of the city of Dundee, the sunniest city in Scotland. Enrol with us and you’ll learn with leading academics who know you by name. At Abertay every student matters. Since 1888 we have been involved in educating people with a focus on the world of work and having an impact on both the local and global economy. Our courses are designed specifically with your career in mind. We work with industry and leading professionals to design our courses, and build in work and international study placement opportunities, business game challenges and other worthwhile experiences. We pride ourselves on our long list of accreditations from professional bodies, such as Creative Skillset, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the British Psychological Society and many others, helping you to get a head start in your future career whichever course you choose. Choosing to study with us offers you the opportunity to excel. We want you to be successful because that makes us successful. Your commitment and motivation coupled with our close-knit community and supportive learning environment mean you’ll have every opportunity to achieve your potential.
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92% 89%
Graduates in work or further study Students studying full-time
4000 47%
Total number of students Female students
91% 38%
Undergraduate student population Of all undergraduate students aged under 21
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SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY CHOOSE ABERTAY
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INDUSTRY RECOGNISED HANDS-ON LEARNING
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Professionally Relevant
Sought After by Employers
Abertay's courses are designed specifically with your career in mind. We work with industry professionals to design our curriculum, offer built-in work placement opportunities, business game challenges and other interactions.
Our alumni work for Apple, Google, BBC, Microsoft, Pixar, Rockstar Games, IBM, Coca Cola, Adidas, Nestle, PayPal, Nissan, PwC, Sky, NCR, NHS, GSK, BP, Shell, Chevron, TOTAL, Sony and many others. They did it and so can you!
Linked with Industry
Distinctive Curriculum
We pride ourselves on our long list of accreditations from professional bodies such as Creative Skillset, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the British Psychological Society and many others.
At Abertay we like to follow our own path and do things differently if it means we can serve our students, staff and the local community better. We offer a broad, flexible, responsive and relevant curriculum to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in the world beyond Abertay. Our programmes offer greater student choice and flexible degree pathways, as well as more breadth and depth. All stage one and stage two students take one interdisciplinary elective per year, which cover a range of contemporary issues facing society today.
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THERE WHEN YOU NEED A HELPING HAND At Abertay we will support you every step of the way – from making your application, submitting your first essay, through to referencing your dissertation, graduating and beyond. Student Funding Advice
Support Enquiry Zone (SEZ)
Counselling and Mental Health
We understand it can be tough to make your funds last until the end of term. Four in ten first-year students said they’d found managing money trickier than expected. To help ensure budgeting becomes second nature to you, our Advisory Service is on hand and can suggest strategies and/or recommend alternative sources of support.
With so many services and forms of support available to you at university, it could be difficult to remember who does what and where they are located. With this in mind, we have created SEZ. It provides you with a single point of initial contact for information, help and advice about any aspect of university life. If SEZ don’t know the answer, they will know someone who does!
Counselling gives you an opportunity to discuss issues in a safe and confidential environment. It could help you to see things in a different light when you need it. At Abertay we take your wellbeing seriously and offer free confidential sessions with counsellors who are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Student Academic Support
Peer Mentoring (P2P)
Disabled Student Support
This particular team will ease you into university life with summer and college transition programmes. Once the academic year starts, they will help you to become a more effective learner, and to produce the best work you’re capable of. They can help you with strategies for studying, specific assignments, or just give you reassurance that you’re doing the right things!
There is nobody else who can understand better what you are going through than a fellow student. Since 2011 when we trained a group of students to be mentors to help new students as they settle into starting university, the scheme has grown to a group of around 40 mentors. They have enthusiasm, passion and a willingness to help, combined with training from our counselling team. They are a perfect helping hand when you need one.
Abertay is pleased to welcome disabled students. Should you have a disability or medical condition that means you may require help or assistance in practical or academic matters, it is advisable to contact the team at your earliest convenience. They will do their best to help with special exam arrangements, Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) and anything else you might need support with.
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MAKING YOU EMPLOYMENTREADY At Abertay we want you to achieve more than just academic excellence – we want you to gain real-world skills that lead to better employment opportunities, better wages and ultimately a better life. We understand that employers in a competitive marketplace are looking for market-ready graduates with work experience. At Abertay, we have a range of support services to help you add those important ingredients to your CV. With 92% of our alumni in employment or further education within six months of graduation, it’s not just words that we say but the rules by which we live.
Career Development Centre (CDC) With employers spending less than 90 seconds reading your CV, our CDC team of professionals can help you make yours shine. Our help doesn't end there. We offer mock interviews so you can rock the real one, career advice and, most importantly, help with getting invaluable experience during summer placements and part-time jobs. It is all under one roof with a team of specialists who will help you land that perfect job.
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Abertay Language Centre
Study/Work Abroad Opportunities
Abertay Attributes
Learning a new language should be an obvious choice. With 48 applications for each graduate job vacancy, multilingualism listed as one of the most desirable abilities for employers and with a 10-15% increase in wages for multilingual employees, there are plenty of reasons to learn a second language. At Abertay we’ve made it even easier by offering FREE modern language classes to all of our students so that there are no excuses for (not getting a job – for those not fluent in Mandarin just yet).
We all love to travel, but have you ever considered studying abroad? Did you know that 64% of employers think that international experience is important? Not only is it true but internationally-mobile students are much less likely to experience long-term unemployment, making it another exciting thing to tick off your university to do list! Our International Office can help you find exchange opportunities.
We pride ourselves on ensuring that our graduates not only gain academic excellence, but are prepared to cope and thrive in modern society where issues and challenges are complex and cross disciplinary boundaries. Abertay is the place to grow as a person and gain achievements to put into your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), which will impress employers in the future.
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ABERTAY CAMPUS TOUR
with Shreyasi Desai (Cece) Student Ambassador
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Abertay is a compact and caring university. With only 4000 students, even our biggest lecture theatres are small enough for you to feel the personal connection.
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This is Old College where Dundee Business School is based. It is the oldest part of our campus and has an amazing staircase that looks like it belongs in Hogwarts. Here you will find our chaplaincy, chillout room and our secret garden called the quadrangle.
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This is Whitespace – the unique Abertay environment where our Game, Sound and Arts students work together in an environment mimicking their future workplace.
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The Bernard King Library is home to over 100,000 books, 32,000 electronic journals, 300 PCs and fully equipped group study rooms. With its extensive opening hours, it is a great place to get on with your course work and meet others.
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With so many specialist courses, we have a range of labs where you can get the kind of hands-on experience that will help you land that dream job at the end of your studies.
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For future engineers we have a stimulating environment with an indoor crane, concrete testing machine and many more bits of kit to make sure the world will be safe in your hands when you graduate.
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If you are looking for a place to hang out with your friends, grab a coffee on the way to class or maybe munch a yummy lunch – look no further. Our Student Centre is just across the street from the main buildings, and it has all you might need. On the ground floor, there is the campus shop with sandwiches, snacks, stationery and, of course, Abertay hoodies. The ground floor is also home to Aroma, our coffee shop, where you can get great chocolate chip cookies and a mean cup of coffee.
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On the first floor of our Student Centre we have Bar One, offering tasty food like finger-licking good burgers, and lots of entertainment with pub quizzes, karaoke nights, and pool competitions. If you’re the sporty type, you will be a frequent guest in our Sports Bar on the second floor where you can watch sporting events on a big screen with your mates. If none of this is your cup of tea, worry not – there is one more floor with the Hannah Maclure Centre, which not only has a 72-seat cinema and performance space but produces annual art happenings, exhibitions, community and digital events.
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Finally, the most important part of Abertay – my friends. Abertay is not just a set of walls – it is a network of people, lecturers and students like me and, hopefully, soon you! Make sure you make the most of your university life and don't just get a career but enjoy the social side, too. This tour has only scratched the surface and if you would like to find out more visit abertay.ac.uk/ SRO to book a place on an open day or take a campus tour with a student like me. See you soon.
CeCe
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STUDENT RESIDENCES
Your home away from home Abertay Halls offer so much more than just a bedroom. We understand that for most of you, it will be your first time living independently. With this at heart, we offer a welcoming, safe and sociable start to your university experience. With a variety of self-catered halls to choose from and many room types available to meet your requirements, we believe everybody can find a home away from home with us. Our great value rooms have utility bills, internet access and content insurance included, so all you need to worry about are your studies and making friends with people around you. You will save on travel costs too, as all of our residences are within walking distance. Finally, with many new students starting with us you will quickly bond over morning breakfasts and halls will instantly feel like home. With around 700 bed spaces available across the various separate sites, from single bedsits to multioccupancy flats, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. Our accommodation is self-catering and, as standard, students have their own secure bedroom (containing a bed, desk, desk chair, drawers and wardrobe) offering the perfect place to study or relax in the privacy of your own bedroom. In each flat you will also typically find a communal living/kitchen area and, depending on your choice of hall, either shared toilet/shower or en-suite facilities (available in around half of the rooms). Students with partners and/or families We have a limited number of double rooms that are ideal for couples who wish to live in university accommodation for the duration of their studies. The Residences Officers are happy to give advice on finding suitable accommodation in the private sector or in local authority housing for students planning on coming to Dundee with their families. Students looking for private accommodation can find helpful information on our website.
Allocation policy Priority is given to first entrants and to overseas students new to the University. We also reserve a number of bedspaces for students studying with the University for one semester. Please email residences@abertay.ac.uk if you would like to find out more. How to apply for a room in a residence Applications for accommodation can be made through our website, and our webpages contain all the information you need on when and how to do this. As well as taking you through the residence application process step by step,
our webpage www.abertay.ac.uk/studentlife/ accommodation/ contains everything you need to make an informed choice about which hall is best suited to you including costs, FAQs, location maps and photos. Regular updates are also available on our Facebook and Twitter pages and, of course, the Residences Office staff are always happy to give advice or answer any questions.
AbertayUniResidences @AbertayAccom
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UNIVERSITY VIA COLLEGE
e CT 3. A ramm g Pro
E LEG
OL
1. C
y ppl 2. A CAS U via
tay ber 4. A ersity v i Un
Did you know you can progress to year 2 of a university degree course with an HNC or year 3 with an HND? Our articulation agreements with colleges allow you to make a smooth transfer to undergraduate degree courses at Abertay.
Articulation Jargon Buster Articulation or direct entry allows you to progress directly from an HNC or HND into year 2 or year 3 of a degree programme. Articulation route is a pathway from an HNC or an HND to a degree programme, usually agreed between a college and a university. Advanced standing articulation or advanced entry relates specifically to a route where you can enter a degree programme with no loss of time i.e. there is no necessary duplication of academic study. This route would allow you to enter year 2 of a degree programme with an HNC or year 3 with an HND.
4 STEPS TO UNI: ARTICULATION 1. Study at college
3. Take the ACT Programme
We work with our partner colleges to co-ordinate relevant curricula and modules, so you can hit the ground running when you arrive at Abertay. Check our website for a list of partner colleges and courses available under this programme.
Abertay College Transition Programme is a FREE programme designed to help you get the most from your time at Abertay by easing the transition from college, helping you to familiarise yourself with both the University and new ways of studying. And, of course, you’ll meet other new students!
abertay.ac.uk/studying/fromcollege/partnercolleges/ 2. Apply via UCAS
4. Study for success at Abertay
UCAS processes all applications for full-time university degree courses in the UK. You must use the UCAS system to apply to Abertay. Apply to year 2 of a related university degree course with an HNC and year 3 with an HND.
Having completed our ACT programme, you are in the best possible position to start your new studies. But don’t worry, we won’t abandon you! Abertay offers lots of opportunities for you to develop your study skills further and our support team will be there with you every step of the way!
SCOTLAND AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
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Join our international family Every year we welcome students from over 70 countries. When you choose to study with us, you’ll be joining a community of like-minded people. We are a small, successful specialist university offering professionally relevant degrees based in Dundee – in the heart of Scotland. Support when you need it Our Student Services staff are there when you need a little help and advice. Our dedicated professional advisors can help you with all aspects of studying and living in Scotland. From our International Student Orientation and Welcome Programme, to assistance with immigration, or advice on housing, our staff are here to help.
English language As you would expect, all of our programmes are taught in English and you’ll be expected to meet our minimum English language requirements of IELTS 6.0 (no band less than 5.5). Our Language Centre provides support to all students whose first language isn’t English, offering a range of programmes including an 8-month International English Foundation programme, an Intensive English for Academic Purposes programme, as well as English for Academic Purposes Workshops during terms 1 and 2.
Global partnerships As well as the opportunity to join us directly from your school or college, our global partnerships provide students from all over the world with the opportunity to study with us for one semester or one year.
Award-winning courses
City centre campus
Study abroad opportunities
Industry links
Accelerated degrees
Small university
Professional accreditation
Supportive environment
Industry placements
Over 100 years of history
English language courses
Global partnerships
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ACCELERATED DEGREES FAST FORWARD YOUR FUTURE Accelerated degrees are a new option available at Abertay University. They have been created in response to the desire of our students to be able to get into the employment market earlier. Unlike a traditional four-year degree, an accelerated degree takes just three years to complete but gives you the same quality education. Reasons why you should consider an accelerated degree: • Enter the graduate job market or postgraduate study 11 months sooner than traditional students. • Save on living costs, rent and other expenses. • Save on tuition fees. • Show employers that you are dedicated and focused.
Degree programmes available for the accelerated degree route include: BA (Hons) Business Management
45 WEEKS
The content for both of the courses is the same. You will study the same subjects, and you will have the same quality of education.
30 WEEKS SUMMER HOLIDAYS
You will finish 11 months before the traditional programme, giving you a head start to apply for jobs before the majority of students graduate.
BA (Hons) Computer Arts
30 WEEKS
Differences start at the end of year 2 when accelerated students will continue to study for another 15 weeks and will get a shorter summer break.
SUMMER HOLIDAYS 30 WEEKS
BSc (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development
BSc (Hons) Food and Consumer Science BA (Hons) Game Design and Production Management BSc (Hons) Sports Development and Coaching
45 WEEKS
BSc (Hons) Ethical Hacking
SUMMER HOLIDAYS 30 WEEKS
For the first two years, both traditional and accelerated students study together. You both get to enjoy long summer holidays. This will give you the opportunity to make friends and settle in to the university environment.
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TRADITIONAL DEGREE
30 WEEKS
ACCELERATED DEGREE
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You might be wondering, what does the Abertay Students’ Association (Abertay SA) do? That’s a fair question, and here is a short answer. Abertay SA is run by students, for students, and one of our main functions is to represent your views in the University. We do this through elected representatives, setting policy through our student rep council and encouraging direct democracy.
Your journey through university will be challenging, and on occasion, you may need support. Our advice service is here to make sure that you can get help with any personal or academic situations that might crop up. You might also interact with the SA by joining one of the 30+ societies, and if there isn’t one for you, then we’re happy to help you create one! We look forward to working hard to represent, support and empower you, and it’s our hope you will get involved in the process.
CHRISTIAN UNION SAL DRAMA
Games CARD GAMES Interest Business
Anime
ISLAMIC JAPANESE
Film
Ethical PSYCHOLOGY LAW HackingMarketing
Renaissance Martial Arts
STUDENT SOCIETIES
Debating Biomedical
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Criminology
Games Development Dr Who & Sci-fi
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A Accounting and Finance BA (Hons)
M 34
35 36
C Civil and Environmental Engineering BEng (Hons)/MEng Computer Arts BA (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology BSc (Hons) Computing BSc (Hons) Criminology BA (Hons)
37 38 39 40 41 42
E Environmental Science and Technology BSc (Hons) Ethical Hacking BSc (Hons)
43 44
F Food and Consumer Science BSc (Hons) Food, Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons) Forensic Sciences BSc (Hons)
45 45 46
G Game Design and Production Management BA (Hons)
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L Law LLB (Hons)
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N
B Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) Business Management BA (Hons)
Marketing and Business BA (Hons)
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Nursing (Mental Health) BSc (Hons)
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P Physical Activity and Health BSc (Hons) Psychology BSc (Hons) Psychology and Counselling BSc (Hons) Psychology and Forensic Biology BSc (Hons)
51 52 53 54
S Social Science BA (Hons) Sociology BSc (Hons) Sound and Music for Games BA (Hons) Sports Development and Coaching BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) Sport and Management BA (Hons) Sport and Psychology BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning BSc (Hons)
55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
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UNDERGRADUATE CO U R S E S
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BA (Hons)
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Key Information
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
UCAS code Course length
NN43 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM Essential subjects: Literate subject (e.g. English). Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links The course is characterised as having many links with industry with speakers and projects coming from diverse groups. Last year industry links included Dundee Social Enterprise Network, Stagecoach, Sky, Children First. There were also talks from representatives of two major professional accounting bodies: ACCA and CIMA.
Professional Body Accreditation ACCA, CIMA and AIA.
Sample Modules Financial and Management Accounting, Taxation, Corporate Finance, Economics.
What to expect Organisations, be they public, private or third sector, all need to understand where their finances come from, how they are being used and whether they have any left. Without this vital information the organisation is not sustainable. Abertay Accounting students are trained to be problem solvers and decision makers, and to have the confidence to manage, lead and grow all types of organisations. Although many students start at stage 1, there are also many who join this course after an HNC (into stage 2) or an HND (into stage 3). Regardless of where you start, staff are actively engaged in ensuring you are well supported and can achieve to the best of your ability. There are opportunities for internships through engaging with local and international companies. The way we teach at Dundee Business School is designed to ensure you have a real-world experience of what it is like to work in finance and accounting and we prepare you for this through live business projects and simulations. Our aim is to ensure we create graduates who can ‘hit the ground running’. Why choose this course? • Accounting is always in demand. • Professional body accreditation from CIMA, ACCA and AIA. • Live business engagement working on problems set in real time by clients. • Enhance your CV and job prospects through extracurricular activities such as the IBM Universities Business Challenge, Peer Mentoring of Secondary School Students and Charity Challenges. Many of these opportunities involve inter-university working and overseas travel. • Fancy studying abroad? We have many partners in Europe and beyond where you can study in English for a term. Career prospects Recent graduates have joined companies such as Lloyds Bank, Henderson Loggie, Centrica, Ernst & Young, NCR, BNP Paribas and HSBC in finance and accounting-related positions. Many of these positions include overseas travel. One of the key aspects of accounting is that it has a global appeal. Although the obvious career route for someone with an accredited accounting degree is to become an accountant, many use their skills and knowledge in the wider business arena where a strong numeric background and understanding of company finances makes them valuable additions to business units.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/NN43
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UCAS code Course length
B901 4 years (full-time)
Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM
What to expect
Essential subjects: Biology. Chemistry is recommended.
Biomedical Science (BMS) is an exciting, fast-paced discipline that will give you a deep understanding of the science behind human health and disease. A key feature of our degree is the extensive training in laboratory-based skills provided in all four years of your studies. After following a common pathway for two years, you will take either the ‘Standard’ or the ‘Applied’ programme route. The Applied route includes a placement, and is particularly relevant for those aspiring to the role of biomedical scientist in the NHS. Both routes are professionally accredited.
For applicants with other entry qualifications or those considering advanced entry, please refer to our website.
Note: The degree award title for the Standard route is BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science. For the Applied route the degree award title is BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science.
Industry Links
Why choose this course? • Taught by a combination of academic experts and clinical professionals. • The applied route additionally provides an 18-week clinical laboratory placement in year 3 of the programme and allows you to apply for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as soon as you gain your BMS degree.* • The standard route provides you with a broad education and training in bioscience relevant to medicine. (Standard route graduates who gain employment in the NHS as trainee biomedical scientists may apply for HCPC registration following 12-24 months of training.) *
Due to the nature of future employment, successful applicants will be required to satisfy a Disclosure Scotland (Enhanced) check and are expected to have been inoculated against hepatitis.
Around 10-15 placements are normally expected to be available per year. Note that, where applications for the Applied route exceed available places, entry will be competitive, based upon a number of criteria including Stage 2 academic performance.
Career prospects Professional accreditation allows graduates to apply for HCPC registration and means that our graduates are able to apply for employment as biomedical scientists/trainee biomedical scientists within the NHS. Such posts are only open to those with an accredited Honours degree in Biomedical Science. Many of our past graduates have taken the biomedical scientist career path where, after gaining your Specialist Skills Diploma, you would be eligible for promotion to specialist biomedical scientist and with further progression you could ultimately attain a specialised consultant’s post. The NHS needs to appoint more biomedical scientists due to an ageing workforce coupled with increasing demand for diagnostic tests. Nevertheless, competition for available posts is likely to be intense, particularly in light of the current financial situation affecting the NHS. However, the Abertay degree is designed to equip its graduates with the knowledge and skills to enter various alternative biosciencebased careers, including scientific work in university and commercial laboratories. Several past graduates have opted for other biology careers such as school teaching or further study.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/B901
The programme has very strong links with local industry, and in particular with hospital laboratories in Dundee, Perth and Fife.
Professional Recognition The Abertay BMS programme is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). In addition, the Applied degree route is approved by the government regulator, the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). It is important to note that an IBMS accredited BMS degree is required for employment in the NHS in the role of biomedical scientist.
Sample Modules Biology Principles and Practice, Human Physiology, Cell Biology and Immunology, Biochemistry and Cellular Pathology, Transfusion Science, Advanced Medical Genetics.
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
Minimum Entrance Requirements
BSc (Hons)
Key Information
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BA (Hons)
What to expect
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Key Information UCAS code Course length
N1N2 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM Essential subjects: Literate subject (e.g. English). Preferred subjects: Advanced entry to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/ HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links The Business School has a long history of working with employers from a range of backgrounds at all levels of study. The capstone to this is the ‘Innovation for Global Growth’ initiative in the final year of study. This provides a unique opportunity for students to test their employability skills with significant industry, commerce and public sector employers. Previous client organisations have included Heineken, Michelin, Tokheim, NCR, RBS, NHS Scotland, Harris Tweed and Thorntons.
Sample Modules Business and Society, Innovation, Digital Business, Project Management, International Management and Strategy.
Our Business Management course offers you the opportunity to acquire an understanding of how complex organisations work in a world where change is the only constant. In an increasingly globalised context, businesses are looking for graduates who appreciate the challenges presented by shifting markets, ever-changing business models, new social trends and emerging technologies, and who possess the analytical skills to develop business solutions. This applies no matter whether your ambition is to start your own business, or become a manager, advisor or business analyst. This course, designed with employability as an objective, helps prepare you for that through a combined approach to knowledge development and skills acquisition relevant to contemporary business and management needs. The course offers a combination of study that is innovative, offers opportunities for in-work learning and through employer engagement activities and gives you the chance to demonstrate your potential to employers from a range of sectors within the Scottish economy and beyond. Why choose this course? •
The focus on employer engagement in aspects of teaching and learning gives the programme a contemporary feel and relevance. Even in year 1, it is expected that you will provide local organisations with solutions to contemporary problems. Organisations, such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service, have benefited from interactions with students and their creativity in areas as broad as events management to operations management.
• The course goes beyond the classroom to using extracurricular activities, such as international competitions like IBM Business Challenge, to contribute towards a greater understanding of the complexities of business management. • The course uses innovative techniques in business simulation, employer engagement in assessment, the use of ‘live’ business projects, and work placement opportunities here and abroad. • We have partner institutions, around the world from the US to Asia and all stops in between, where you can study in English for a term or year. This is a great opportunity to boost your CV as it shows experience of different cultures and methods of working, and demonstrates that you are ready for working in a global business environment. Career prospects •
Graduates of Business Management can expect to enter careers in a wide-range of sectors. Graduates from business have gone on to work for Alliance Trust, Scottish Government, NCR, Atlas Copco, Rolls Royce, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish & Southern Electricity and third sector organisations such as the Dundee Social Enterprise Network. The roles they have taken are broad ranging from human resource manager, project planning and risk officer, business analyst and CEO of their own company. Others have taken a different route into primary and secondary education, teaching the business professionals of the future.
• The programme helps with employability in many ways: working with others in teams; developing professional communication skills through written, electronic and oral presentations; harnessing technology and having the confidence to generate innovative business facing solutions to real problems.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/N1N2
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UCAS code MEng H2H2 BEng H3H3 Course length MEng 5 years (full-time) BEng (Hons) 4 years (full-time)
What to expect The 21st Century engineer is a key player in the sustainable development of the modern world. Whether it is involvement in the design and building of wind turbines, the reuse of construction materials to develop new roads or the drive for sustainable construction and low energy buildings, it is the contemporary civil engineer who plays a key role in the successful completion of the project. Today’s civil engineer requires the knowledge and ability to produce cost-effective solutions to expensive and diverse problems in a safe, socially-acceptable and environmentally responsible way. To achieve this, a range of interesting and valuable skills are developed in the programme. The programme offers practical experience in the form of a week-long construction experience in year 2, a work placement for all students in term 2 of year 3 and the opportunity to undertake a sandwich option in the summer periods from year 2 onwards. The relevance and topicality of the programme is further underpinned by the teaching team’s research activities in the University’s leading research centres. 50% of this research was rated internationally excellent or world-leading in the 2014 National Research Excellence Framework.
BEng (Hons) Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM MEng Higher AABB A Level BBC ILC (H) A2A2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 30 Essential subjects: Mathematics.
Industry Links
Why choose this course? • Relevant and valuable work experience in a civil engineering/construction organisation for term 2 of year 3 for all students. This provides the opportunity to practise skills, test careers and enhance employability. • Students regularly gain sponsorships from placement employers. • The programme combines the study of engineering principles and environmental science and management concepts to produce graduates who are well equipped to lead the design and development of sustainable solutions to a range of civil and environmental engineering problems. • Development of key transferable employment skills including digital modelling, problem solving, team working and management skills, enhanced by a free choice of a broadening elective module in years 1 and 2. • Common elements in the first two years with our BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Technology and, depending on performance, the ability to transfer at the end of year 3 to the MEng programme, provides flexibility in the choice of final award. •
Minimum Entrance Requirements
A sandwich option which leads to the award of MEng or BEng (Hons) Sandwich Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. The requirements for this being the successful completion of the term 2 year 3 work placement, combined with approved construction sector employment through two summers. For BEng (Hons) students, this will be between years 2–3 and years 3–4. For MEng students, this can be between years 2–3, years 3– 4 or years 4–5.
Career prospects During their degree studies, all students undertake a relevant industry work placement during the second term year 3, providing an opportunity to practise skills and review different career options from the wide range of possibilities within the profession. In addition, the Civil and Environmental Engineering degree offers the option of undertaking a sandwich degree by combining the term 2 work placement with summer work placements during Years 2-3, 3-4 or 4 -5. Experiences gained in work placements have been found to increase the employability of our Civil Engineering students and have been acknowledged by employers as an advantage. Exciting opportunities exist for graduates from our programme. There are employment prospects with professional consulting engineers, major civil engineering contractors, specialist project management organisations, local authorities, public and private utilities and transportation groups. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/MEngH2H2 or abertay.ac.uk/BEngH3H3
• Work Placement • Constructionarium year 2 • Variety of industrial speakers throughout all years of study • Site visits • Student and staff representation on local and national professional body committees for ICE and CIOB
Professional Body Accreditation Accreditation is currently being sought for: BEng (Hons) – fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng). MEng – fully satisfying the educational base for Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Sample Modules Structural Design and Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources and Fluid Mechanics, Engineering Science, Surveying and Construction, Waste and Wastewater Management.
MEng/ BEng (Hons) CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING/SANDWICH
Key Information
Accelerated Degree
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BA (Hons)
Key Information UCAS code Course length
GW42 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements
COMPUTER ARTS
Higher AABB A Level BBC ILC (H) A2A2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 30 BTEC Extended Dip DDM Essential subjects: Art or Photography or Graphic Communication or Product Design. A portfolio of work is required. Advanced entry: to year 2 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links Throughout the year students will be able to attend visiting lectures delivered by our industry partners and former graduates from the programme, relating to game art, illustration, animation and visual effects. In year 3 of the programme you will work directly with an industry mentor to develop a prototype creative project as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Professional Body Accreditation Computer Arts is accredited by Creative Skillset, the sector skills council for the creative industries and is judged by this body and professionals working within the creative industries as a programme which equips its graduates with specialist skills and knowledge required to progress to a career within the creative industries.
Sample Modules Computer Arts Practice, Animation and Dynamics, 3D Production Methods.
What to expect Our BA (Hons) Computer Arts is an internationally-acclaimed course recognised by the interactive entertainment and broadcast sectors as one of the best digital arts degrees available. The course is accredited by Creative Skillset, the UK Sector Skills Council for Creative Media industries, which ensures our graduates have the skills and knowledge required for successful professional careers. The Computer Arts programme explores digital arts practice across the creative industries, exposing you to a diverse range of subjects including 2D and 3D digital art, animation, computer games, physical computing and visual effects. You will develop your professional practice within these fields working independently and within a team on creative projects throughout your studies. You will also develop your critical and contextual understanding of the field, and will develop your knowledge of industry best practice through engagement with industry practitioners, through participation in visiting lectures, masterclasses and project mentoring. The creative industries are pervasive in today’s culture, from film to advertising, from computer games to gallery installations. By studying this programme, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to lead the design and production of content for computer games, animation, visual effects and transmedia projects. Why choose this course? • The Computer Arts programme is structured around industry-led project briefs and collaboration with industry partners including computer games studios, digital media production companies and visual effects studios to ensure that students develop the knowledge, skills and creativity required to stand out when applying for internships or for employment upon graduation. •
During your studies you will collaborate in cross-disciplinary creative industries teams, working with industry mentors in order to conceive, design, and create digital media prototypes. Team working is core to working within the creative industries and to have experience of completing a project in collaboration with team mates from other disciplines will greatly aid your communication and negotiation skills, whilst also enhancing your portfolio.
• Computer Arts at Abertay is tailored to fit specialist interests and to develop depth in your subject knowledge, therefore years 3 and 4 utilise open project briefs and optional modules to support students wishing to specialise in concept art and design, animation, game art production, digital illustration, installation and/or time-based digital media artwork. •
This programme is taught within open plan interdisciplinary studios, alongside students studying game design, games technology, sound production and games production techniques. You will have the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines utilising cuttingedge technology, including motion capture facilities and VR technology to enhance your creative projects and stay at the forefront of digital innovations.
Career prospects Graduates from Computer Arts have secured employment internationally in computer games, film, television and animation. For the last three years, over 10% of graduates have secured related employment before graduation, including roles as 3D artists and UI artists at leading console game development companies, character animators and scene prep artists in television animation and character TD and character animators at leading visual effects companies. Several of our graduates, in partnership with their peers from across the School, have successfully set-up their own games companies, publishing their games mobile, console and online platforms. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/GW42
Accelerated Degree
39
What to expect This course provides you with the skills and knowledge that will enable you to create computer games and interactive experiences, using contemporary game engines, scripting languages and programming tools. The course provides an excellent grounding in computer programming required by the computer games industry and beyond, offering you a qualification suitable for employment in the multi-billion pound worldwide computer game industry, as well as preparing you to work in the fields of mobile and online application development. Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to work closely with local and global games industries, as well as working closely with other games-related courses including art, media and audio. As part of the course you will use the latest games technology. Abertay University is home to the largest laboratory of Sony PlayStation® consoles in Europe, with 30 PlayStation® Vita development kits permanently installed alongside PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 development kits. Why choose this course? •
This world-leading course is academically challenging and will develop your skills in game programming, artificial intelligence for games, network programming and interface design. You will become adept in the use of industry standard game engines and technologies. The course allows for customisation, letting you develop a specialisation (such as artificial intelligence) while building a broad foundation in game application development.
• You will graduate with confidence and the skills required to work in one of the most demanding industries in the world, and at a distinct advantage over other computing graduates intending a career in the games industry. Career prospects As the computer games and associated industries mature, the roles of developers are becoming well-defined. There is a worldwide demand for game programmers and a requirement for first-rate computer programmers with knowledge of developing applications using middleware such as game engines. On graduating, you will possess a games-orientated programming degree which is directly relevant to the needs of industry. The course was created in response to industry requirements and is Creative Skillset accredited. The University works closely with leading game developers such as Electronic Arts, Sony Computers Entertainment Europe, Codemasters and Denki, making graduates from the course highly employable within these industries. Graduates have found employment as games programmers in a wide variety of different areas such as creating console games for Sony PlayStation®, Nintendo and Microsoft, to programming the latest mobile devices. While pursuing their studies some students have created their own start-up companies.
UCAS code Course length
G450 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher AABB A Level BBC ILC (H) A2A2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 30 BTEC Extended Dip DDM Essential subjects: Mathematics at Standard Grade 2 or National 5 Grade B or GCSE Grade B. Advanced entry: to year 2 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links Abertay University has strong links with a wide range of companies including Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, FuturLab and Tag Games. Industry engagement is an essential part of the course as students hear from industry speakers and receive mentorship from industry professionals as part of their group project work.
Professional Body Accreditation This course is accredited by Creative Skillset, a UK industry body that supports training for the creative industries. Abertay University is a member of Sony’s PlayStation® First Academic Development Programme, giving our students unique access to development tools specific to Sony PlayStation® technologies.
Sample Modules Mathematics for Games Development, Network Systems for Games Development, Artificial Intelligence. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/G450
BSc (Hons) COMPUTER GAME APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT
Key Information
40
BSc (Hons) COMPUTER GAMES TECHNOLOGY
Key Information UCAS code Course length
G470 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher AABB A Level BBC ILC (H) A2A2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 30 BTEC Extended Dip DDM Essential subjects: Mathematics (min. grade B) at Scottish Higher or A Level. Advanced entry: to year 2 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links Abertay University has strong links with a wide range of companies including Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, FuturLab and Tag Games. Industry engagement is an essential part of the course as students hear from industry speakers and receive mentorship from industry professionals as part of their group project work.
Professional Body Accreditation This course is accredited by Creative Skillset, a UK industry body that supports training for the creative industries. Abertay University is a member of Sony’s PlayStation® First Academic Development Programme giving our students unique access to development tools specific to Sony PlayStation® technologies.
Sample Modules Applied Game Technologies, Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, Graphics Programming with Shaders.
What to expect The goal of this course is to create graduates that have the essential skills and knowledge required to develop computer games software in an industry where technology is constantly evolving. This course provides qualifications suitable for entry to employment in a buoyant, multi-billion pound, worldwide industry. Such is the shortage of well-trained and highly-skilled computer games programmers that the career opportunities open to you when you graduate with our BSc (Hons) in Computer Games Technology are virtually endless. As part of the course you will use the latest games technology. Abertay University is home to the largest laboratory of Sony PlayStation® consoles in Europe, with 30 PlayStation® Vita development kits permanently installed alongside PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 development kits. Why choose this course? • This world-leading course is academically challenging and will develop your skills in game programming, real-time interactive graphics, sound and mathematics. You will leave us with confidence and skills to work in one of the most demanding industries in the world, and at a distinct advantage over other computing graduates intending a career in the games industry. • There are open-plan areas available to facilitate team work and encourage students from all game development disciplines to engage and collaborate with one another. • The course is kept up to date as the games industry changes and technology advances ensuring our graduates are well equipped for employment within the creative industries sector. Career prospects On graduating, you will possess a mathematics/games-orientated programming degree that is highly sought after by the computer games industry. The BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree was created in response to the acute shortage of game programmers within the industry, and is designed to meet the industry requirements outlined by Creative Skillset. The University works closely with leading game developers such as Sony Computers Entertainment Europe, Electronic Arts, Codemasters and Denki, making graduates from the course highly employable within these industries. Graduates have found employment as games, graphics and network programmers in a wide variety of different areas such as creating console games for Sony PlayStation3, Nintendo Wii, and Microsoft XBox 360, to programming handheld devices such as the Nintendo DS and the latest smartphones. While pursuing their studies some students have taken advantage of the University’s enterprise initiatives to found their own start-up companies. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/G470
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BSc (Hons)
What to expect The computing industry is constantly evolving, with new hardware, software and production technologies emerging on a regular basis and being applied in a variety of innovative applications. Graduates entering the software development industry need expertise in a range of current and emerging technologies that they can apply creatively to existing and new problem areas. The BSc (Hons) Computing programme is a practice-based course focused on software development for mobile, desktop and Internet platforms. The focus of the programme is on constructing effective, efficient, robust and maintainable software through the relevant study of systems architecture, programming design, coding, platform technologies, software engineering and other areas of computer science, as applied in a variety of contexts. The programme is designed to produce graduates with high-level subject-specific knowledge and practical and transferable skills to enable them to seek employment or proceed to further advanced study. Why choose this course? • Provides you with technical and professional skills to enter employment in the computing industry. • Focuses on software development for mobile, desktop and Internet applications. • Regularly reviewed to keep up to date with current professional technologies. • Emphasis on the practical application of knowledge and skills. Career prospects There is a constant demand across a wide variety of business areas for graduates who can show proven ability to design, build and maintain software systems, developing computer applications that are effective, efficient and contribute to an organisation’s success. Graduates from this course have gone on to work for organisations in industry, government, entertainment and educational sectors. Our graduates have found work within large multinationals like Hewlett-Packard, BT, Logica and NCR, and smaller local companies such as MTC and Brightsolid. Roles taken by graduates from Computing include software developers, software testers, web developers, system analysts and technical consultants. Many of our graduates have also proceeded on to postgraduate study.
UCAS code Course length
G400 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: Computing or Information Systems or Mathematics or Physics. Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links Throughout all years but especially in year 3 and year 4 speakers from the computing industry will give guest lectures.
Professional Body Accreditation The programme is accredited by the BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT.
Sample Modules Computer Networking, Software Development for Mobile Platforms, Enterprise System Engineering.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/G400
COMPUTING
Key Information
42
BA (Hons)
CRIMINOLOGY
Key Information UCAS code Course length
M9M9 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: Literate subject. Advanced entry: is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links Teaching staff incorporate a number of external speakers within their modules. These speakers are drawn from areas such as the media, business, the criminal justice system, the voluntary sector and local community groups. The Community Links module offers you the opportunity to participate in a work placement in your final year. In the past, after graduation, some students have progressed to full-time employment with their work-placement organisations.
Sample Modules
What to expect The course will help you to ask questions about crime and society, and about why certain crimes become prioritised over others. What do we mean by crime? How do we ‘talk’ about crime? How do we define criminal behaviour? Who are the victims of crime? And why do these things appear to change over time? Different approaches are taken to answer these questions to help shape your understanding of the relationship between crime, society, politics, the media and criminal justice policy. This will provide a strong foundation for a range of careers, for example in policing, the prison service, social and criminal justice policy, probation and through care. Why choose this course? Our teaching is informed by our research practice. This means you’ll receive state-of-the-art knowledge about cutting-edge developments in the discipline from leading experts in a variety of fields from youth crime, community safety, the media and crime, digital crime, and race and crime. Students regularly commend us for the excellence of our teaching and for the support we give our students. More than anything else, students find the criminology degree both interesting and challenging. Career prospects A criminology degree at Abertay provides you with the knowledge and skills required for a variety of careers, particularly those characterised by working with and managing people and groups. Whether it’s working in collaborative groups, assessing evidence, writing reports, acquiring skills in qualitative and quantitative research or completing project work, your studies will contribute towards your employability. Our work-placement module enhances this advantage. Graduates from this course can pursue a number of career routes in criminal justice professions including policing, the prison service, social work and probation, and also in areas like community work and teaching. Graduates may also apply for postgraduate study, most typically in social policy and social work, criminology, law and criminal justice policy, for which there is a demand, particularly in Scotland. Finally, there is an opportunity at Abertay to carry on your studies by doing a Masters by Research.
Contemporary Criminological Theory, Criminal Law and Evidence, Criminal Justice Process, Contemporary Social Issues. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/M9M9
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UCAS code Course length
What to expect
Minimum Entrance Requirements
There is no better time or greater need to study environmental sciences and learn about the opportunities to make a difference to real-life problems. The world is changing: the climate is warming, population is increasing, demands for food and energy are growing, society is more and more connected, and our need to handle large and complex data is rapidly increasing. The natural world is complex and human activity can have consequences that are hard to predict and difficult to reverse. The programme provides you with a deep understanding of environmental processes. Practical experience through field and laboratory work, combined with highly desirable training in data analysis, is a key feature of this programme. You will be trained in a substantial range of transferable skills in laboratory work, visualisation, report writing and project management. The programme is taught by staff that are research active: 50% of our research was judged ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world leading’, with 60% of our research judged to have a ‘very considerable impact’ (REF2014). Why choose this course? • The programme is offered by an interdisciplinary team of environmental scientists, chemists, biologists, physicists and statisticians, all research-active in their respective fields. • Benefitting from Abertay’s interdisciplinary approach to research-informed teaching, this programme will provide you with a unique opportunity to graduate with a broad-ranging environmental science foundation, combined with quantitative analytical skills, which will provide you with qualifications in critical STEM areas, greatly in demand in the current job market. Career prospects •
F571 4 years (full-time)
Environmental scientists are in demand due to the severe challenges that we face with global warming and a growing population. The programme combines environmental understanding with technology and engineering applications, providing at the same time knowledge of regulatory frameworks and environmental policies at a local and global level. This will make you particularly qualified for a variety of career options in many industries and regulatory bodies that affect the environment.
• Career opportunities include (but are not limited to) environmental management and consultancy, regional water management, the (renewable) energy industry, universities and environmental research institutes, and local and national governmental planning agencies. • You will also obtain a broad base of analytical, mathematical, technical and presentation skills that will provide you with tools for either pursuing a higher degree, or that can lead to career options in the corporative industry or teaching. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/F571
Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM Essential subjects: One of the following – Architectural Technology, Biology, Building Construction, Chemistry, Engineering Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics.
Industry Links The programme brings you into contact with the broad landscape of stakeholders in the environment and will develop your understanding of what they do and how they interact. This will be through visits, invited lectures, as well as the possibility of projects.
Professional Body Accreditation Accreditation will be sought from the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences.
Sample Modules Environmental Data Handling, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Science and Human Interactions, Food Security.
BSc (Hons) ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Key Information
44
BSc (Hons)
ETHICAL HACKING
What to expect The modern computing world faces ever-changing security challenges. Hacker tactics, security vulnerabilities, advancing business practices and computing technologies are all evolving rapidly. Professionals with a broad-based expertise, solid pragmatic skills and an ability to think outside the box, are best placed to solve these security challenges.
Accelerated Degree
Key Information UCAS code Course length
GG45 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: Computing or Information Systems or Mathematics or Physics.
Professional Body Accreditation BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT
Sample Modules Digital Forensics, Computer Security, Computer Networking.
The BSc in Ethical Hacking aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to understand the mechanics behind hacking attacks and develop appropriate countermeasures. In addition to this, you will gain the necessary background knowledge and technical skills to undertake security audit testing on computer networks and systems. Modern software systems and applications are often extremely complex, so it is almost impossible to build solutions that are 100% secure at initial release. It is also far better for security loopholes to be identified and fixed by internal hackers rather than external ones. Consequently, the business world is seeing a rapid increase in the demand for ethical or ‘white hat’ hackers, employed by companies to find security holes before criminal, ‘black hat’, hackers do. How do hackers break into computer systems? Can they get into your computer? Is it easy to break into a corporate network and steal their secrets? Hackers are innately curious and want to pull things apart. They experiment and research. A hacker wants to learn and investigate. The aim is for you to arrive on this programme as a student and leave as an ethical hacker. The security modules during the programme use a case-study approach that allows you to gain experience in investigating, analysing, testing, hacking and, ultimately, protecting real-life systems through the development of countermeasures. The basic aim of this course is to provide a graduate with knowledge of how illegal computer attacks can be performed and how they can be stopped. Why choose this course? • Recognised as one of the UK’s leading vocational security programmes. • Abertay now has around 150 Ethical Hacking students and a new stand-alone Ethical Hacking lab with around 50 PCs. • You will study the latest security flaws and how to counteract them. • At each stage of the course, a project will give you the chance to develop an area of expertise. Career prospects Graduates from this programme will have the skills necessary to pursue a wide range of careers in areas such as penetration testing, network management, computer programming and web developing. A major employment selling factor for our graduates is that the degree equips them with the ability to perform these and other roles with security in mind at all times. Previous graduates have gained employment in a range of industries and organisations from multinationals and the public sector to smaller companies. Graduates from the programme currently work for NCR R&D Dundee, KPMG, NCC, Firstbase Technologies, NTA Monitor and Qinetiq. Entrepreneurship is encouraged and supported, and a number of students have opted to create their own companies. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/GG45
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If food is your passion, be it nutrition, health or consumer science, then these are the programmes for you. Our food degrees have two years of common core stages, allowing you to transfer between the two programmes at the end of year 2, in line with career aspirations. The programmes are aimed at secondary school leavers, entrants from further education colleges and mature students who wish to pursue a career in a food related sector or in home economics teaching. Careers range in the food industry (the fastest growing manufacturing sector in the UK) from food technologists, quality control and quality assurance managers and hygiene officers, to home economics teachers, nutritionists, community food workers, consumer advice officers and health promotion workers. Vocationally relevant, you will develop practical skills in laboratories and kitchens backed up by academic learning, and you will be trained by experts in their field, giving you hands-on experience during industry-linked projects in association with Food Innovation@Abertay (FIA). FIA is a knowledge transfer platform based at Abertay, allowing you to network with the food industry. Why choose this course? • Two-year common core programme allows you to transfer between our food degrees at the end of year 2, in line with your career aspirations. • Work placement in year 3 provides you with the opportunity to practise skills and test careers. • Vocationally relevant, with emphasis throughout on development of practical skills in laboratories and kitchens as well as academic learning. • Programme content influenced by industry contact and close working with FoodInnovation@Abertay. • All programmes meet General Teaching Council requirements as a prerequisite degree for Home Economics teaching. • You can opt to complete the Honours degree in Food & Consumer Science in three (rather than four) years. Career prospects If your interests lie in food promotion and marketing, nutrition research, home economics teaching, consumer advice, or community nutrition, our degrees could be your passport to success. Your graduate CV will be enhanced by your relevant work experience placement and projects, which are linked to health and nutrition, food quality and safety or new product development. Trained to maximise your own potential by either contributing to team work or leading a team you will be confident in presenting to audiences of all professional levels – skills that are valued by employers in the food and health sector. Our successful graduates have job titles including food technologist, technical manager, food safety and quality assurance officer, hygiene officer, nutritionist, home economics teacher, community food worker, consumer advice officer, and health promotion worker.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/DN69 or abertay.ac.uk/BD46
Accelerated Degree
Key Information UCAS code Course length
Food and Consumer Science DN69 Food, Nutrition and Health BD46 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM Essential subjects: None. For applicants with other entry qualifications or considering advanced entry, please refer to the website.
Industry Links Industry visits and guest lectures.
Sample Modules Nutrition through the Lifespan, Food Characterisation, Nutrition and the Consumer.
BSc (Hons) FOOD AND CONSUMER SCIENCE FOOD, NUTRITION AND HEALTH
What to expect
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BSc (Hons)
Key Information
FORENSIC SCIENCES
UCAS code Course length
F410 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM Essential subjects: Chemistry and Biology (Human Biology accepted) or Physics. For applicants with other qualifications or considering advanced entry, please refer to website. Due to the nature of future employment, successful applicants will be expected to have been inoculated against hepatitis.
Industry Links Guest speakers from forensic science providers and the legal fraternity.
Professional Body Accreditation Professionally accredited and commended by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Graduates are eligible to apply as Associate Members of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (ACSFS) upon graduation.
What to expect Forensic science is the application of scientific knowledge and techniques in support of the legal process. This exciting course includes the following three main study areas – forensic science, chemistry and biology, with the addition of supporting topics such as law and embedded statistics. The Forensic Sciences degree covers a full range of topics including crime scene investigation, body fluid analysis, DNA profiling, trace evidence analysis (including fibres, glass and paint), fingerprinting and substances of abuse to name but a few. Why choose this course? • Experience-led and problem-solving approach to learning with a focus on contemporary forensic practice, including optional scientific work placements. • Taught by forensic science practitioners who have come directly from industry and have links with a number of forensic science providers within the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. • Professionally accredited and commended by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. • Graduates are eligible to apply as Associate Members of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (ACSFS) upon graduation. Career prospects Graduates can go into careers such as forensic scientists (either as part of the public or the private sector) and related areas such as scenes of crime investigation or policing. A number of our graduates have successfully obtained these highly-competitive jobs. The course also provides you with the skills and abilities to pursue alternative interesting and fulfilling career paths. For example, the development of diagnostics in the biotechnology industries, quality assurance, problem solving in the public utilities, and the development of protocols and procedures in the armed forces or government agencies. You may wish to pursue a career in teaching and several of our graduates have trained as science teachers or you may want to undertake higher research (at MSc/PhD level). Transferable skills can also be used in a range of other careers such as management business, law, accountancy and disciplines unrelated to science.
Sample Modules Foundations of Chemistry, Special Topics in Forensic Biology, Forensic Trace Evidence, Investigative Analytical Chemistry, Forensic Applications of DNA. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/F410
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Abertay University is the National Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education and is the only European university to be ranked in the prestigious Princeton Review’s 2015 list of the ‘Top 25 Schools to Study Game Design’. This international reputation for excellence in computer games education stems from our unique student experience, which places students in a workplace simulation model that fosters the creation of innovative games and has led to the creation of many development studios. The BA (Hons) Game Design and Production Management degree has been designed to develop your professional skills and awareness through the creation of game concepts and assets, game prototyping, production and leadership, and the wider cultural and critical contexts of games. You will be encouraged to work creatively and professionally as a game designer, communicating concepts through prototypes, game assets, documentation and presentations. The course further encourages professional communication and management skills through multidisciplinary projects and master classes from visiting professionals. Why choose this course? The university works closely with leading game developers such as Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Microsoft and Ubisoft making graduates from this course highly employable within these industries. Graduates have found employment as game designers, associate producers, quality assurance testers and community managers on a wide variety of different projects across the AAA console, independent, mobile and online marketplaces. The production and leadership theme of the programme has also facilitated entrepreneurial graduates forming their own companies in the games or media sectors. This course is aimed at applicants that are interested in: • Working alongside artists, programmers and audio specialists in small development teams to design and develop computer games. • Studying the historical context and fundamentals of game design, interaction and narrative theory. • Developing professional skills in level design, concept development, project management and entrepreneurship. • Learning how interactive entertainment products are designed, developed and marketed. Career prospects Video games are the core part of a wider interactive entertainment marketplace with companies in this space varying from small games studios and independent creators, to national and international media groups. They require talented and passionate individuals with proven skills in the conceptualisation, design and production of innovative interactive experiences. The games industry offers long-term career potential through its continued expansion, with opportunities varying from game and level design through to quality assurance and production of interactive media. Prospects have never been better as it is a growing and exciting industry, with a global demand for skilled development staff. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/G452
Accelerated Degree
Key Information UCAS code Course length
G452 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher AABB A Level BBC ILC (H) A2A2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 30 BTEC Extended Dip DDM Essential subjects: Literate subject (e.g. English).
Industry Links There are excellent industrial links across all the games programmes at Abertay. Students regularly receive guest lectures and demonstrations from external companies as part of normal teaching. Abertay Game Lab also runs a series of special events and masterclasses with well-known local and international designers and developers, and these are on offer to all students.
Sample Modules Introduction to the Games Industry, Principles of Programming, Pre-Visualisation, Narrative Theory in Interactive Game Design.
BA (Hons) GAME DESIGN AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
What to expect
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LLB (Hons)
LAW
Key Information UCAS code Course length
M114 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: English or other literate subject.
Industry Links Work placement at stage 3. Industry/Law Society of Scotland speakers at all stages of the programme.
Professional Body Accreditation Law Society of Scotland Faculty of Advocates
Sample Modules Legal Systems and Method, Contract, Public Law, Delict, Criminal Law.
What to expect A law degree at Abertay is a passport to a range of jobs and not just in the legal profession. The training that this course gives you prepares you to think systematically, apply multi-sourced information to solve problems and to communicate confidently with a variety of audiences. There is a strong focus on skills development through innovative delivery and assessment. Extracurricular activities such as the Citizens Advice Bureau employment law clinic is a prime example of how our students put their knowledge into action in a practice-based approach to learning. Why choose this course? •
We designed our LLB (Hons) degree around two central themes. The first is a focus on employability skills, ensuring we develop the potential of all our students as well as their legal knowledge. From your first term to your last, you will make presentations, draft legal documents and engage in negotiations. You will also use our mock court facility for debates, client interviews and ‘mooting’ exercises where you present legal arguments. In year 3 you will have an opportunity to undertake a work placement module under the supervision of a legal practitioner or other professional in a law-related setting and/or undergo training to enable you to give legal advice to the general public in our law clinic.
•
Secondly, we emphasise the pervasive European influence in our legal system – both historically and now through integration with the rest of the EU. You will have the opportunity to undertake a single term of study abroad at one of our EU partner institutions in year 3 to broaden your knowledge and understanding of law and legal systems. Not only is this a fantastic educational and cultural experience – it is something that will make your CV stand out!
Career prospects A law degree equips you with a wide range of employability skills. Our graduates enjoy a variety of careers. After studying part-time for our degree, one graduate went on to become Scottish trainee of the year and is now associate partner with a large well respected firm. Another, originally from Germany, became a criminal defence solicitor, a career she always dreamt of. Others go on to use their law degrees in allied areas such as the court service, the police, the civil service or work in law centres or advice bureaux. Graduates have also found careers in banks, in financial services and journalism. Others have chosen careers as legal academics and some have used their legal knowledge to help set up their own businesses. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/M114
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UCAS code Course length
NN15 4 years (full-time)
Higher BBBB A Level CCC ILC (H) B2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 28 BTEC Extended Dip MMM Essential subjects: Literate subject (e.g. English). Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
What to expect This course is contemporary and designed to develop marketing graduates with a keen eye for innovation, creative design and problem solving marketing related issues. The course gives you a great opportunity to study areas important to today’s employers, some specific to the marketing function, for instance sales, strategy and communications, as well as those contemporary techniques in marketing practice such as digital & social media, consumer relationship marketing and creative design. The course develops the necessary marketing skills required for a graduate to compete in today’s marketplace. Why choose this course? The course has placed direct contact with industry partners at its centre: • Engaging with industry through guest speakers, projects and industry visits. For example, last year students worked with local and global companies including Wave 102, SAGE, Goodfellow & Steven and Bonar Yarns. • Through the Marketing Society, students network with local and national experts in their field as well as supporting the marketing communities’ knowledge base. • Combining specialist marketing knowledge and practice with the study of business, you will develop marketing campaigns in conjunction with real clients, providing consultancy and market research. • You are encouraged to broaden your horizons with work placements and study abroad initiatives • The marketing programme integrates marketing with the business functions, enabling graduates to demonstrate an understanding of the role of marketing within a business. Career prospects Graduates who have specialised in marketing at Abertay have gone on to successful careers in all areas of marketing, with roles including marketing managers, global marketing executives, marketing co-ordinators, PR managers, communications managers and marketing researchers in a variety of organisations. The blend of skills and knowledge, and the practical engagement with industry throughout the course will prepare you for a career with key corporate players in the UK and abroad. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/NN15
Industry Links Industry links are integrated throughout the programme through real-world business challenges and engaging with industry partners in the form of guest speakers and site visits.
Professional Body Accreditation The Programme has a student-led society which encourages student engagement, support and is linked to the professional body, Marketing Society. The benefits to students are the opportunity to compete against students from other Scottish universities in an Apprentice Day; the opportunity to engage with inspiring marketing events and discuss marketing campaigns; the opportunity to meet graduates and industry practitioners.
Sample Modules Economics, Business, Essentials of Marketing, Understanding Consumer and Organisational Behaviour.
MARKETING AND BUSINESS
Minimum Entrance Requirements
BA (Hons)
Key Information
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Key Information
BSc (Hons)
UCAS code B760 Course length 4 years (full-time) Part-time option available at stage 4 (max of 2 years in length)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM
NURSING (Mental Health)
Essential subjects: None, however, candidates must be able to demonstrate evidence of numeracy, literacy and the ability to undertake the study of science as applied to mental health nursing at undergraduate level. All applicants must also be able to provide evidence of good character and undergo a successful criminal record check and health screening. In line with Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements, applicants must undergo a face-to-face interview.
Industry Links You will be taught by an enthusiastic and committed team of teachers, researchers and practitioners with extensive experience. The team is made up of mental health nurses with a variety of clinical backgrounds some of whom continue to work in practice. This is complemented by practitioners and colleagues from counselling and adult nursing. We have strong links with people with lived experience of mental distress and with those who provide informal care. Both groups contribute to teaching. In addition, we work closely with the local health boards who provide practice placements and mentors for students, as well as specialist teaching.
Professional Body Accreditation The course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, with successful completion leading to eligibility to register and work as a mental health nurse.
Sample Modules Interpersonal Skills for Nurses, Human Biology, Professional Issues in Nursing, Mental Health Nursing.
What to expect With our partners in NHS Fife and NHS Tayside, we have been running mental health nursing programmes at Abertay for many years. These have changed and developed as the profession has evolved. This means that our course is modern, dynamic and forward looking. We are keen to recruit students who are committed to providing excellent mental health care in what can be a challenging but also very rewarding work context. Our expertise lies in mental health nursing of individuals across their lives, alongside the development of student nurses into recoveryfocused practitioners. Our commitment is to provide a stimulating and contemporary programme of study that will help you to develop both personally and professionally and which will equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience you need to practice as a mental health nurse. Why choose this course? • The programme is Scotland’s only Honours level mental health nursing degree. Grounded in a commitment to recovery as a guiding principle, it has a strong focus on the delivery of research-informed, person-centred care. • We attract students from across Scotland and the wider UK, as well as Ireland and further afield. This makes for a diverse group of learners, which will enrich your time at university. • There is an active nursing society run by senior students. • Staff encourage you to get involved in their research, which has led to students presenting papers and posters at academic conferences. Career prospects Graduates find employment in a variety of community and hospital settings working for the NHS or the private and third sectors. You could be working with a wide range of groups including older people, those under 65, children and adolescents, and in substance misuse, acute care, and forensic settings. There are also opportunities for further study on our Masters and PhD programmes. Careers in research and education are also possible for those who go onto further study. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/B760
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BSc (Hons)
UCAS code Course length
What to expect The study of physical activity and health is identified as a key area to facilitate health promotion interventions and is therefore crucial for improving the wellbeing of the population. Teaching draws on the core disciplines of physiology, psychology, sociology and public health theory as well as how to apply this knowledge and skills in a practice setting. Why choose this course? • Content reflects an interdisciplinary approach to the study of physical activity and health, both at an individual and community level. • Emphasises the ability to communicate effectively to a range of audiences, including GPs and other medical professionals, sport scientists, local authority and government officials, and individuals associated with public health. • Teaching is underpinned by research and there is a strong emphasis on the links with industry, including opportunities for placements and internships. • 91% of students said they were ‘very satisfied overall’ with their Sports programme at Abertay University in the 2015 National Student Survey. Career prospects Graduates from this programme are well equipped to obtain employment across a wide range of vocations. For example, as active schools and physical activity co-ordinators, health promotion workers in community settings, and lifestyle analysts in gym settings. This programme will also help you develop a range of transferable skills that will prepare you to take on a variety of professional challenges across diverse working environments. In addition, you will have acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to pursue post-graduate studies in a related area.
C600 2 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Entry to year 1 and 2 of this course is through BSc Sport and Exercise (see page 59). Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualifications and grade requirements. Criminal record check required √
Industry Links You will have the opportunity to develop links with various sports industries and work toward achieving awards through this. Work placements that are embedded in the curriculum are an integral part of this process.
Sample Modules Physiological Adaptions for Health, Public Health and Physical Activity, Physical Activity Health Promotion, Lifestyle Management, Social Science of Physical Activity and Health.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C600_PAH
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH
Key Information
52 Key Information
BSc (Hons)
UCAS code Course length
C800 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher AABB A Level BBC ILC (H) A2A2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 30 BTEC Extended Dip DDM Essential subjects: Literate subject at Scottish Higher level.
PSYCHOLOGY
Advanced entry: to year 2 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links Abertay has strong links with the Scottish Institute for Policing Research and many of the lecturing staff are members of professional societies relating to their course topics. We also have good links with local health services, the games industry and local education authorities. The Work-based Review module gives you the opportunity to consider how psychology can be applied in your own workplace.
Professional Body Accreditation The degree is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) provided a minimum Second Class Honours is obtained. This is the first step to becoming a chartered psychologist, as well as being a prerequisite to many postgraduate psychology courses.
Sample Modules Applied Psychology, Research Methods, Human Evolutionary Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Brain and Behaviour, Personality and Individual Differences.
What to expect Psychology, the scientific study of mind, brain and behaviour, explores a wide range of mental processes including emotions, attitudes, cognitive changes across the lifespan, remembering and learning. It explores how we act and interact, both as individuals and in groups, and the thoughts and feelings that underlie our behaviour. The underlying aim of our programme is to produce graduates with a good level of knowledge in all core areas defined by our accreditation body, the British Psychological Society (BPS), as well as allowing them to foster their own interests by studying advanced modules aligned with the BPS curriculum. Alongside the core curriculum, you will also have the opportunity to foster your interests across more specialist areas of psychology (such as applied, clinical, performance or forensic psychology, or biological and evolutionary psychology). You will also learn how to design your own psychology experiments and analyse a variety of data; this culminates in designing a supervised, student-led research project in the final year. Abertay is committed to teaching and research that applies psychology to real-world problems and has been recognised for producing highquality science that has an impact on society. Abertay was the highest rated modern university in Scotland for psychology research in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014. Why choose this course? • Our programme is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), and we have been commended by the Society for our unique approach to research methods training and support given during the Honours year project. • Our translational approach to psychology focuses on training you to apply the knowledge you have gained to real-world problems to enhance employability. • We encourage student engagement with psychology research through research-active staff and links with potential employers. • 95% of students said they were ‘very satisfied overall’ with the BSc Psychology programme at Abertay University in the 2015 National Student Survey. Career prospects A BPS accredited psychology degree conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis Chartership is essential for becoming a professional psychologist (working for example in clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational or sport psychology). Occupations that a psychology degree will provide a good basis for (sometimes following additional postgraduate training) include primary or secondary school teacher, college or university lecturer, research assistant, social worker, personnel officer, market research executive, social researcher, psychotherapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist and drug rehabilitation worker. Psychology graduates have transferable skills that are in high demand in the general graduate job market such as numeracy, statistics and information technology skills, communication and analytical thinking. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C800
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What to expect Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes, and the relationship between the two. It explores how we act and interact, both as individuals and in groups, and the thoughts and feelings that underlie our behaviour. Counselling is concerned with the integration of psychological theory with interventions and therapeutic practice. As a student on this course you will develop both a scientific understanding of psychology as a discipline, and practical skills in counselling and therapy. Abertay University has been recognised for its research in psychology and was the highest rated modern university in Scotland for psychology research in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014. The University also has an international reputation for innovative and evidencebased developments in counselling research, teaching and practice. By combining the scientific, evaluative discipline of psychology with highly transferable skills developed through the study of counselling, graduates of this programme emerge with a very valuable skill-set for employability. Why choose this course? • Our translational approach to psychology and counselling focuses on training you to apply knowledge gained in real-world problems to enhance employability. • The Psychology and Counselling programme is unique in Scotland – the only degree programme that combines a BPS-accredited psychology degree with counselling modules. It is taught by research-active psychology staff and counselling practitioners, ensuring expert-led teaching. • You can take a range of options during your programme of study, providing a broad knowledge base across all areas of psychology and counselling. You will learn how to design your own psychology experiments and analyse a variety of data, culminating in a supervised, student-led research project in the final year. Career prospects The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, a requirement for students who want to pursue post-graduate training in psychology (e.g. clinical, educational or forensic qualifications). As well as psychology training, you will also develop knowledge and skills in counselling, allowing you to pursue postgraduate training as a counselling psychologist or practitioner. Psychology and Counselling graduates have transferable skills that are in high demand in the general graduate job market such as communication, numeracy and statistics, information technology skills, research evaluation and analytical thinking. The degree therefore provides a good starting point for a number of careers beyond psychology and counselling, including teaching, research, social work, marketing, human resources, civil service, management, and many more. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C843
UCAS code Course length
C843 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher AABB A Level BBC ILC (H) A2A2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 30 BTEC Extended Dip DDM Essential subjects: Literate subject.
Industry Links Abertay staff have strong research links and many are members of professional societies relating to their course topics. There are good links between psychology staff and industry (e.g. gaming, education) and most counselling staff are also current practitioners.
Professional Body Accreditation The Psychology and Counselling degree is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) provided a minimum Second Class Honours is obtained. This is the first step to becoming a chartered psychologist, as well as being a prerequisite to many postgraduate psychology courses.
Sample Modules Cognitive Psychology, Mental Health and Ageing, Research Methods, Counselling Skills, Introduction to CBT.
BSc (Hons) PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELLING
Key Information
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BSc (Hons) PSYCHOLOGY AND FORENSIC BIOLOGY
Key Information UCAS code Course length
C8F4 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: To include literate and biology/ chemistry or physics.
Industry Links Abertay has strong links with the Scottish Institute for Policing Research and many of the lecturing staff are members of professional societies relating to their course topics. Abertay is a leading institution in the computer games industry and there is an opportunity to explore the issues relating to games, human behaviour and learning. We also have good links with local health services, the games industry and local education authorities.
Professional Body Accreditation The degree is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) provided a minimum Second Class Honours is obtained. This is the first step to becoming a chartered psychologist, as well as being a prerequisite to many postgraduate psychology courses.
Sample Modules Biological Psychology and Personality and Individual Differences, Forensic Psychology, Research Methods, Principles of Biology.
What to expect This course combines psychology, biology and forensic science modules. It is designed for people who want to study psychology, but with a particular focus on areas relevant to the criminal justice system, and forensic and biological sciences. Compared to most psychology degrees in the UK, this degree has a different blend of supporting subjects, but still has all the core elements of psychology that make it one of the most popular areas of undergraduate study in the UK. Because of the supporting subjects, the range of teaching styles used is particularly large, leading to a rich and varied student experience. This programme is designed to help you facilitate and interact with people from a wide variety of backgrounds in your future careers. It is particularly designed to make you an adaptable, thoughtful and analytical scientist. Modern careers require adaptable graduates, familiar with different ways of dealing with data and communicating with both specialists and non-specialists. By including subjects beyond traditional social sciences, the degree gives you exposure to a variety of forms of scientific discourse. Abertay University has been recognised for its research in psychology and is the highest rated modern university for psychology research in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014. Why choose this course? • The mix of modules that make up the degree is very different to most psychology or forensic science degrees. • The core psychology content is the same as the other psychology courses at Abertay, but the supporting subjects are drawn from biology and forensic science. • Our translational approach to psychology focuses on training you to apply the knowledge you have gained to real-world problems to enhance employability. • We encourage active engagement with psychology research through research-active staff and links with potential employers. Career prospects As the programme includes additional forensic and biological science topics in addition to psychology, the choice of careers includes research, management training, customer relations, police work, drug rehabilitation, as well as all the opportunities open to psychology graduates. Some students continue their studies and apply to train as professional forensic psychologists. Graduates of this course also have transferable skills, that are in high demand in the general graduate job market, such as numeracy, statistics and information technology skills, communication skills and analytical thinking. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C8F4
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Why choose this course? • This course gives you the opportunity to study human behaviour and action from different disciplinary vantage points thereby enhancing your understanding. • It offers a wide range of subject-based option modules, allowing you to construct a degree that reflects your subject interests. • There is the opportunity to specialise in one of the social science subject areas in order to graduate with a named award of BA (Hons) Social Science with (subject). • Advanced entry for relevant HNC/HND holders and EU students on related higher education courses. Career prospects This course prepares graduates for people-oriented jobs that require an understanding of how people think and act, and have high levels of interaction with others. Graduates have successfully gone into diverse fields such as social work, community education, teaching, care services, the police service and public relations work. We are proud of our Social Science graduates who leave us with the ability to ask more questions than when they began. Our aim is not simply to produce graduates who ‘know’ the world, but who can interrogate ideas and generate creative and novel ways of dealing with issues and problems.
UCAS code Course length
L300 2-3 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links A significant feature of the BA Social Science programme at Abertay is its emphasis on skills required for the workplace. This culminates with a core final year module that enables you to put your acquired knowledge and abilities to use in a workplace suited to the skills and interests of Social Science students. You will be placed with a third sector, NGO employer in your final year to experience the world of work first hand in preparation for your graduation and entry into the world of employment.
Sample Modules Classical Social Theory, Forensic Psychology, Public Health and Physical Activity, Managing Ideas and People, Community Links. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/L300
SCIENCE (with subject)
This course is aimed at students joining us from college and offers the opportunity to study a range of subjects including Sociology, Psychology, Business and Management Studies, and Sports and Health thereby offering a broader scope than many conventional social science programmes. You will develop your ability to think in different ways and acquire valuable intellectual skills, preparing you for working in our ever-changing, knowledge-based economy. It also contributes to you becoming an active and informed citizen in our increasingly complex, technologically-based society. Overall, studying at Abertay offers a stimulating cross-disciplinary higher education experience that will help you understand the nature of our globalised world.
BA (Hons) SOCIAL
Key Information
What to expect
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BA (Hons)
SOCIOLOGY
Key Information UCAS code Course length
L301 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: Literate subject. Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements.
Industry Links Teaching staff incorporate a number of external speakers within their modules. These speakers are drawn from such areas as the media, business, the criminal justice system, the voluntary sector and local community groups. The Community Links module offers you the opportunity to participate in a work placement in your final year. In the past, after graduation, some students have progressed to full-time employment with their work-placement organisations.
Sample Modules Contemporary Social Issues, Classical Social Theory, News, Truth and Power, Political Sociology.
What to expect Sociology is the study of how people think, act, relate and organise themselves in modern societies. This course is aimed at anyone who is interested in understanding how individuals both shape, and are shaped by, the social contexts they inhabit. Teaching on the course is informed by our strong staff research profile and includes such substantive areas as crime, technology, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, the media, and the environment. You will also receive a strong grounding in sociological theory and research methods along with training in specialist data-analysis software. In the final year of the course, in conjunction with community and non-governmental organisations based in Dundee, we also offer you a work placement module. You will find that studying sociology is a challenging but rewarding endeavour. It equips you with the aptitudes and capabilities that public and private sector employers demand. This includes how to analyse complex issues, engage in critical thinking, communicate to a variety of audiences and develop innovative solutions. Studying sociology will also keep you at the forefront of the key political issues and social debates defining the 21st Century, from social mobility to multiculturalism, human rights to climate change. Why choose this course? Our teaching is informed by our research practice. This means you’ll receive state-of-the-art knowledge about cutting-edge developments in the discipline. Students commend us for the excellence of our teaching. In fact, in the National Student Survey 2015, the course received a 100% satisfaction rating for teaching practice. We make the study of sociology interesting, engaging and stimulating. On our course, class sizes are small. This means you’ll receive the personal guidance, help and attention necessary to succeed in your studies. Career prospects A sociology degree at Abertay provides you with the knowledge and skills required for a variety of careers, particularly those characterised by working with and managing people and groups. Whether it’s working in collaborative groups, assessing evidence, writing reports, acquiring skills in qualitative and quantitative research or completing project work, your studies will contribute towards your employability. Our work placement module enhances this advantage. On graduation, our students typically find employment in such areas as government, social research, marketing, social work, youth and community work, human resource management, public relations, journalism, policing, teaching (at primary, secondary and FE levels) and the probation service. Your sociology degree will help you to succeed in completing any professional qualifications you may choose to do. In addition, your sociology degree provides a strong foundation for further academic study at a Masters or PhD level.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/L301
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UCAS code Course length
Minimum Entrance Requirements
What to expect From the uplifting beep of an 8-bit style platformer, to the suffocating claustrophobia of a first-person perspective horror slash-‘em-up, never before has the world of game audio provided such a rich, dynamic and varied professional landscape. A new generation of consoles and the adoption of tablets and mobile phones as gaming platforms, has led to an explosion of new game content. This means that the demand for creatives who can work with sound and music, and who understand its role in enhancing gameplay, has never been greater. If you’re a sound designer, engineer, producer, composer, or a game designer or coder with a passion for sound, this course gives you the opportunity to explore the concepts and applications of video game sound. You will be based in White Space, Abertay’s hub for creative computing, and from the outset you will be working alongside programmers, artists, animators and producers in interdisciplinary production teams, ensuring your skills will be both up to date and informed by direct contact with industry. You will use industry-standard production tools, audio middleware and game engines, allowing you to develop a professional portfolio, you will be supported by an enthusiastic team of internationally-acclaimed academics at one of the world’s leading institutions for computer games education. Why choose this course? •
J930 2 years (full-time)
Abertay University has a long history of delivering excellent, industry-facing computer game education. Supported by a dedicated and enthusiastic team of academic staff who have direct professional experience of the games industry, we will work to ensure that your skills are up to date, and that you develop professionally in an environment that reflects both the tools and practice of this nascent, but ascendant area of the music industry.
Successful completion of an HND in Sound Production or Music Technology with an A in graded unit.
Industry Links The degree programme was the first in Scotland to be fully accredited by JAMES, the Joint Audio Media Education Service, and is part of the creative suite of programmes that form Abertay’s Skillset Media Academy. As part of those networks, you will have access to a programme of speakers drawn from across the games industry, and the inside track for exclusive industry placements and job opportunities. You will work in small development teams on live projects for external clients. This embeds industrial contact directly in the curriculum, giving you the benefits of a placement within the safe environment of the university campus.
Professional Body Accreditation
Career prospects Although the degree programme is focused on game sound, it will help prepare you to find employment across the music industry and beyond. Certainly sound design and composition for computer games, film and television, radio and theatre are all career options, but in the past graduates have built successful careers for themselves in music retail, audio-visual installations, designing visitor attractions, sound production for holiday and festival venues, web design and podcasting. The ability to work creatively with sound can find a home in many different areas. The degree programme also provides an excellent platform for further study, and there are a number of excellent Masters programmes in sound design and the music business both here in the UK and overseas that provide the next step for many of our graduates. Your experience of working in a vibrant and creative atmosphere, in multidisciplinary teams, and negotiating submissions with clients and academic staff, will help prepare you well for the future, no matter what it holds. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/J930
Full JAMES accreditation, JAMES Scottish Regional Co-ordinator and Skillset Media Academy.
Sample Modules Developing Game Concepts, Pre-Visualisation, Principles of Programming, Gameplay Prototyping, 3D Modelling for Games.
BA (Hons) SOUND AND MUSIC FOR GAMES
Key Information
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BSc (Hons) SPORTS DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING
Accelerated Degree
Key Information UCAS code Course length
C600 2 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Entry to year 1 and 2 of this course is through BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise (see page 59). Advanced entry: to year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements. Criminal record check required √
Industry Links You will have the opportunity to develop links with various sports industries and work towards achieving awards through this. Work placements that are embedded in the curriculum are an integral part of this process. Abertay staff have strong research links and many are members of professional societies. There are good links between Division of Sport and Exercise Science staff and industry (e.g. coach education, NHS), and many staff are also current practitioners.
Sample Modules Coaching and Learning, Managing Sports Policy and Development, Social Issues in Sporting Context, Strategic Development in Sport.
What to expect There is an increased focus on participation in sport for a healthier nation as well as improving performance at the elite level, and identifying future talent. Therefore, there is a need for well-qualified and experienced coaches and sports development specialists. Teaching draws on the core disciplines within the field of sport and exercise – this includes physiology, psychology, biomechanics and social science. Students will also be taught how to apply this theoretical knowledge to practical settings across a plethora of real world situations. Why choose this course? • Content reflects a complex body of knowledge within sport coaching and sport development. • Emphasises the development of an understanding of theory and practice in coaching, and the structure and organisation of sport governing bodies in the UK. • Teaching is underpinned by research and there is a strong emphasis on the links with industry, including opportunities for placements and internships. Practical sessions will be delivered in bespoke physiology and biomechanics laboratories. • 91% of students said they were ‘very satisfied overall’ with their Sports programme at Abertay University in the 2015 National Student Survey. Career prospects Graduates from this programme are well equipped to obtain employment across a wide range of vocations. For example, as sport coaches in the community and professional settings, and sport development officers in city councils or sports clubs. This programme will also help you develop a range of transferable skills that will prepare you to take on a variety of professional challenges across diverse working environments. In addition, you will have acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to pursue post-graduate studies in a related area.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C600_SDC
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BSc (Hons)
Key Information C600 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics or PE.
What to expect As a growing industry, sport and exercise incorporates scientific support, coaching, service provision and consumerism, as well as personal and community development. A broad knowledge of sport and exercise issues means that you have the capacity to contribute to amateur and professional sports organisations, as well as work with a range of community groups including young people, the elderly and those either suffering from, or at risk of developing, a number of disease states. Teaching draws on the core disciplines of physiology, psychology, social science and biomechanics. You will also be taught how to apply this theoretical knowledge to practical settings across a plethora of real-world situations. Why choose this course? •
It provides the flexibility to choose a programme structure that best fits your needs.
• Emphasises a number of transferable skills. • Teaching is underpinned by research and there is a strong emphasis on the links with industry, including opportunities for placements and internships. • 91% of students said they were ‘very satisfied overall’ with their Sports programme at Abertay University in the 2015 National Student Survey. Career prospects Graduates from this programme are well equipped to obtain employment across a wide range of vocations. For example, as sport and exercise practitioners in community and professional sporting organisations, as well as other public and private non-sporting organisations. This programme will also help develop a variety of transferable skills that help prepare graduates to take on professional challenges across diverse working environments. In addition, you will have acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to pursue post-graduate studies in a related area. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C600
Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements. Criminal record check required √
Industry Links You will have the opportunity to develop links with various sports industries and work towards achieving awards through this. Work placements that are embedded in the curriculum are an integral part of this process. Abertay staff have strong research links and many are members of professional societies. There are good links between Division of Sport and Exercise Science staff and industry (e.g. coach education, NHS), and many staff are also current practitioners.
Sample Modules Physiological Adaptations for Health, Physical Activity across the Lifespan, Strength and Conditioning, Coaching and Learning.
SPORT AND EXERCISE
UCAS code Course length
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BSc (Hons) SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE
Key Information UCAS code Course length
C600 2 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Entry to year 1 or 2 is through the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise (see page 59). Advanced entry: to year 2/year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/ Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements. Criminal record check required √
Industry Links You will have the opportunity to develop links with various sports industries and work toward achieving awards through this. Work placements that are embedded in the curriculum are an integral part of this process. Abertay staff have strong research links and many are members of professional societies. There are good links between Division of Sport and Exercise Science staff and industry (e.g. coach education, NHS), and many staff are also current practitioners.
Sample Modules Biomechanics, Physiological Adaptations for Performance, Practical Strength and Conditioning, Applied Sport Psychology.
What to expect Sport and exercise science has become an integral component for sport organisations across a wide range of amateur and professional sports. At the same time, the role of the sport and exercise scientist has also developed, with the promotion of an active and healthy lifestyle helping to prevent chronic diseases such as obesity and type-II diabetes. The depth of understanding of the scientific underpinnings gained from the programme means that sport and exercise scientists are equipped to work with a wide range of populations including young people, the elderly and those either suffering from, or at risk of developing, a number of disease states. Teaching draws on the core disciplines of physiology, psychology, and biomechanics. You will also be taught how to apply this theoretical knowledge to practical settings across a plethora of real world situations. Why choose this course? • Emphasises the knowledge, understanding and practical skills necessary to enter work in a sport and exercise science setting. • Hands-on approach to learning as students enjoy the opportunity to work in our labs. • Teaching is underpinned by research and there is a strong emphasis on the links with industry, including opportunities for placements and internships. Practical sessions will be delivered in bespoke physiology and biomechanics laboratories. • 91% of students said they were ‘very satisfied overall’ with their Sports programme at Abertay University in the 2015 National Student Survey. Career prospects Graduates from this programme are well equipped to obtain employment across a wide range of vocations. For example, as sport and exercise science practitioners in community and professional sport organisations, as well as other public and private non-sport organisations. This programme will also help develop a range of transferable skills that will help prepare you to take on a variety of professional challenges across diverse working environments. In addition, you will have acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to pursue post-graduate studies in a related area. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C600_SES
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BA (Hons)
UCAS code Course length
CN62 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: Include a literate subject or PE or business.
What to expect Whether it be high-performance sport at the Olympics or World Cup, or the development of sport in the community, sport, exercise and physical activity are becoming increasingly important in the modern world. This degree prepares you for a management career in sports. It focuses on the skills required to manage sporting facilities, including financial, human resource, sporting expertise, marketing and service operations. The course is designed to give you an understanding of the management, social and practical skills required in the rapidlygrowing sports industry.
Advanced entry: is available with appropriate qualifications (e.g. HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualification and grade requirements. Criminal record check required √
Industry Links
Why choose this course? • Flexibility to follow personal interests. • Extensive work-based learning. • Opportunities to gain coaching and/or industry qualifications. • Combines sport and management skills. Career prospects There is a need for highly skilled managers who understand both the sport skills and management skills required within sporting facilities and sports businesses. It is anticipated that a range of career possibilities will be available to you such as activity co-ordinator, sports development officer, sport and leisure manager, sports business manager, lecturer or researcher, or management trainee. The transferable skills gained will also enable you to take up graduate careers in organisations such as the police force, fire service, armed forces and teaching. Employability attributes are developed through aspects of the programme such as the work placements, personal development portfolios and the use of guest speakers from industry.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/CN62
Modules are delivered by staff with established relationships with sport and management organisations (e.g. National Governing Bodies), while guest speakers from industry are also regularly involved across the curriculum. All students will also have the opportunity to undertake a substantial industry-based work placement as part of a workbased learning module.
Sample Modules Strategic Development in Sport, Managing Sports Policy and Development, The Nature of Management, Project Management.
SPORT AND MANAGEMENT
Key Information
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BSc (Hons)
SPORT AND PSYCHOLOGY
Key Information UCAS code Course length
CC68 4 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements Higher ABBB A Level BCC ILC (H) A2B2B2B2 International Baccalaureate 29 BTEC Extended Dip DMM Essential subjects: Science, PE, Psychology or Mathematics Criminal record check required √
Industry Links You will have the opportunity to develop links with various sports industries and work towards achieving awards through this. Work placements that are embedded in the curriculum are an integral part of this process. Many of the Psychology lecturing staff are members of professional societies relating to their course topics. They also have good links with local health services, the games industry, and local eduction authorities.
Sample Modules Social Psychology, Research Methods, Psychology for Sport and Exercise, Biomechanics, Coaching and Learning, Applied Sport Psychology.
What to expect The BSc (Hons) Sport and Psychology degree is an unique degree, being the only one of its kind in Scotland. It examines the sciences underpinning the study of sport: how the mind and body work together for sport performance. In this course you examine how psychology is applied in practice in sport and exercise settings, as well as having the opportunity to consider how diet and physical activity influence health, psychological theories that underpin coaching and how to assess fitness and prescribe exercise/training programmes. In the final year, you complete a research project based on your independently chosen topic area, working closely with a member of staff designated as your project supervisor. We offer an applied approach to sport and psychology aimed at providing you with real-world experiences that provide excellent training for life beyond the University. Why choose this course? • The programme is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis Chartership and commended by the Society for our unique approach to research methods training and support given during the Honours year project. • We provide an interdisciplinary programme that offers the opportunity for extensive work-based learning. • Our translational approach to sport science and psychology focuses on training you to apply knowledge gained in real-world problems to enhance employability. • You are encouraged to actively engage with sport science and psychology research through research-active staff and links with employers. • We offer highly valued work experience and opportunities to gain coaching and/or industry qualifications. • You can undertake work placements with a wide variety of placement options available; for example, you can shadow professionals from local teams or the NHS in their self-directed learning. Career prospects With further study you could become an accredited sport and exercise psychologist. Other potential career pathways include sport development officer, coach, outdoor pursuits instructor, fitness consultant, lifestyle manager, sport administrator, lecturer, physical activity leader, researcher, etc. By having a BPS accredited degree, you can pursue a career in any other psychology discipline, after appropriate study and training. For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/CC68
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UCAS code Course length
C600 2 years (full-time)
Minimum Entrance Requirements
What to expect Strength and conditioning has become an integral component for sport organisations across a wide range of amateur and professional sports. At the same time, the role of the strength and conditioning practitioner extends beyond the traditional provision of strength training; and is not just confined to sport organisations. The depth of understanding of the scientific underpinnings of training and performance required to be a successful strength and conditioning specialist are equally applicable to work with a wide range of populations including young people, the elderly and those either suffering from, or at risk of, developing a number of disease states. Teaching draws on the core disciplines of physiology, psychology, and biomechanics. You will also be taught how to apply this theoretical knowledge to practical settings across a plethora of real-world situations. Why choose this course? • This specialist route was the first of its kind in the UK. The content covered and assessment strategies are designed to prepare graduates to achieve accreditation from the internationally recognised United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). • Teaching is underpinned by research and there is a strong emphasis on the links with industry, including opportunities for placements and internships. • 91% of students said they were ‘very satisfied overall’ with their Sports programme at Abertay University in the 2015 National Student Survey. Career prospects Graduates from this programme are well equipped to obtain employment across a wide range of vocations. For example, as strength and conditioning practitioners in community and professional sport organisations, as well as other public and private non-sport organisations. This programme will also help you develop a range of transferable skills that will prepare you to take on a variety of professional challenges across diverse working environments. In addition, you will have acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to pursue postgraduate studies in a related area.
For more in-depth information on this course go to abertay.ac.uk/C600_SAC
Entry to year 1 and 2 is through the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise (see page 59). Advanced entry: to year 3 is available with appropriate qualifications (eg HNC/HND/A Level/Advanced Higher). Please refer to the course entry on our website for details of qualifications and grade requirements. Criminal record check required √
Industry Links You will have the opportunity to develop links with various sports industries and work toward achieving awards through this. Work placements that are embedded in the curriculum are an integral part of this process. Abertay staff have strong research links and many are members of professional societies. There are good links between staff and industry, and most staff are also current practitioners.
Sample Modules Strength and Conditioning, Physiological Adaptations for Performance, Biomechanics, Physiological Adaptations for Health.
BSc (Hons) STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Key Information
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FURTHER INFORMATION
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Need more information?
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
If you’d like to receive advice on whether your qualifications are suitable for entry then contact the Student Recruitment Office: t: +44 (0) 1382 308080 e: sro@abertay.ac.uk
Making an offer
Can I be considered for advanced entry?
Throughout the course section of this Prospectus, information is provided on the minimum entrance requirements for each course, along with details of any essential subjects. Applicants should remember that many factors are taken into account when making offers, including references and personal statements. Therefore no applicant is guaranteed admission on the basis of achieving the minimum entrance grades alone. Actual offers may be higher or lower than the grades stated. As the Prospectus is produced some time in advance of applications being made, it should be noted that the rates published may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the course information on our website, before submitting your application.
Over 32% of our students join us through advanced entry available on the majority of our degree programmes. Suitably qualified applicants can apply to be considered for direct entry to the later years of an undergraduate degree course. So, if you have Advanced Highers, good A Levels or a relevant Higher National Certificate (HNC), then ask to be considered for direct entry to year 2, allowing you to complete your Honours degree within three years.
If you receive a conditional offer of a place from us, it will usually state our requirements in grades and detail any specific subjects that you need to achieve, e.g. BBBB at Higher including Mathematics.
UCAS tariff The UCAS tariff is a system that measures qualifications using a points based system. The University does not normally express offers to applicants with UCAS tariff points. Our offers are based on achieving certain grades and subjects depending on the qualifications you are taking.
Curriculum for Excellence The University welcomes students from Scotland who have followed Curriculum for Excellence and taken the new SQA qualifications. The University has published a statement on www.abertay.ac.uk/courses/apply/cfe that provides more information.
Do you consider SQA Scottish Baccalaureates for entry? We welcome applicants with the new SQA Scottish Baccalaureates. Although they are not generally listed as a separate entry qualification due to space limitations in this Prospectus, entry to year 2 of a relevant degree programme may be possible, but will be dependent upon the subjects taken and grades achieved. All applications will be treated on an individual basis.
What if I’m coming from an FE College? In most cases, a relevant Higher National Certificate (HNC) will enable you to start in year 2 of the relevant degree course. Alternatively, a relevant Higher National Diploma (HND) will usually enable you to start in year 3 of the relevant degree programme. More information on the articulation routes for a wide range of HNCs and HNDs can be found by visiting our website www.abertay.ac.uk/courses/fromcollege/
Do I need English and Mathematics? All applicants must possess both English and Mathematics at SQA Standard Grade Credit Level at Grade 3 or better or Intermediate 2, or National 5, or GCSE level at Grade C/4 or better.
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the opportunity to meet with lecturers, current students and other applicants to find out more about the course you have applied for.
Access courses
We recognise that students who have been in local authority care might face particular difficulties moving into higher education. Among the first universities in Scotland to receive the Buttle UK Quality Mark, Abertay is keen to support young people leaving care. We guarantee places on our Summer School Preparation Course for all care leavers. We can liaise with social work departments to help you secure financial support while you study and we offer year-round places in university accommodation. For more information, please contact Liz MacDougall on 01382 308425 or l.macdougall@abertay.ac.uk
If you do not have traditional qualifications (such as Scottish Highers), then a range of Access courses is available. Access to Higher Education at Abertay Dundee (AHEAD) is Abertay’s part-time access course, which takes place during the evening to allow you, whether or not you are working, to gain access to higher education. AHEAD is designed to allow people from diverse backgrounds to develop a range of transferable learning skills and subject knowledge in a supportive and friendly environment. You also get the opportunity to experience teaching and learning in a higher education environment. The aim of AHEAD is to enable you to develop the skills, confidence and qualifications necessary to progress on to a higher education course. Ongoing guidance and support is built in to help you make informed choices about future options after completing AHEAD. In addition to providing new subject knowledge and transferable learning skills, successful completion enables entry to a range of degree courses at the University. Access courses at further education colleges are also widely available. The most popular delivered by Scottish colleges are SWAP courses. These are generally full-time, one-year courses designed for people returning to study after a break, to equip you with the general skills required to make a success of your studies at university and to give you a foundation of subject knowledge. These access courses are also considered as suitable for entry to a range of our degree courses.
Making the right choice Every year the University holds an Open Day, specifically designed for those thinking about applying to study with us. The Open Day is held in September to allow you to visit before making your UCAS application. Everyone who receives an offer from us is automatically invited to our Applicant Information Days. Offered by each of our schools in March/April, these days offer you
Coming from care?
Getting ready to start your studies We offer a range of preparation courses in the weeks before the start of the academic year. The University Preparation (UP) Programme is designed for new students coming into year 1 of their course who want to boost their confidence and be better prepared for starting university. The University Preparation Programme combines practice to improve your research, study and IT skills with an introduction to the topics you will cover in your first term. Our Abertay College Transition (ACT) Programme is especially popular with students coming from college who want additional support to make the transition between learning environments, and students joining us through UCAS Clearing who want to increase their confidence. Both the University Preparation Programme and the Abertay College Transition Programme run during the fortnight before term starts. You can select the combination of workshops that will be most useful for you and that fit with your schedule. Booking opens via the Applicant’s Portal each spring once you have received an offer of a place on a course. You can find out more about both courses by visiting http://www.abertay.ac.uk/courses/ ug/ and get in touch with StudentAcademicSupport@abertay.ac.uk if you have any questions.
NOT SURE YOU ARE READY FOR UNIVERSITY
If you are thinking about studying with us, but you’re not sure whether you’re qualified. Or you want more information or just some additional support before you start, then read on!
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General advice and guidance
OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH US
If you would like to discuss the options available to you, or if you require more information than is included in this Prospectus, our team of Student Recruitment staff are always happy to assist. You can contact the Student Recruitment team by telephone, email, or in person. We also offer a range of Skype sessions, which are promoted on our website abertay.ac.uk/ courses/skype/
Open Days If you are considering applying to us, then attending an organised visit such as our Open Day is a great way to get a feel for the University and to see what’s on offer. Our Open Day includes an opportunity to find out more about the course you are interested in, see our facilities and talk to staff. The Open Day follows a drop-in format and throughout the day there will be staff available to offer advice and information about our courses and answer any questions you may have about life as a student at Abertay University.
Applicant Information Days Our Applicant Information Days are tailored specifically for those who have made an application, to provide information on the courses you have chosen. You will automatically be invited to attend one of our Applicant Information Days if you have applied through UCAS and have had an offer. Invitations are sent out from January onwards. If you haven’t yet applied but are interested in visiting the University before the next Open Day, then you are also welcome to attend our Applicant Information Day.
Individual and group visits Wherever possible, we encourage you to attend one of our organised days such as the Open Day or Applicant Information Days, however if you are unable to attend then we can also arrange an individual or group visit. Visits, usually, include a campus tour and an opportunity to speak to the programme tutor of your chosen course.
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Can’t visit us?
Our Student Recruitment team gives presentations to many schools and colleges on a number of topics related to higher education. Our staff can provide presentations on general topics such as choosing and applying to university, or a specific presentation on Abertay University. If you would like a presentation for your school or college, please contact the Student Recruitment Office to discuss your requirements.
A range of films is available through our website or on our dedicated YouTube channel.
Higher education and careers conventions
t: +44 (0)1382 308080
The Student Recruitment team also attend a large number of higher education fairs and careers conventions across the UK and internationally. Staff attending such events are able to provide advice and guidance on our range of courses and facilities, and can assist you in making your choice of what to study with us.
e: sro@abertay.ac.uk
Follow us
AbertayTV
Want more information? Student Recruitment Office
Get our app
If you are uncertain about what you’d like to study and are looking for some inspiration, then why not download our course finder app? Currently available for iPhone and Android, the app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play by searching for ‘Abertay’.
@AbertayUni
Want to keep up to date or meet other applicants?
UniversityofAbertayDundee
Abertay has a presence on Facebook and Twitter, so why not follow us?
abertay.ac.uk/courses/skype
OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH US
Presentations to schools and colleges
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Going to university is an investment in your future, so it’s important to plan ahead and be aware of the costs involved in advance. This information is provided as a brief introduction to what financial support is available. Further advice and guidance is available by contacting our Advisory Service.
The types of financial support available to you will depend on where you live, what you study, your family circumstances, whether you have previously received funding and whether you plan to study full or part-time.
Scottish students
FUNDING YOUR STUDIES
Tuition fees and the types of financial support available to help with living costs will vary depending on where you are from and whether you plan to study full or part-time.
Students from Scotland can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for a student loan, plus any available supplementary grants to cover living costs. Applicants must apply online through the SAAS website by the appropriate deadline. Scottish students who do not wish, or are not eligible, to take out a Student Loan and who do not qualify for any other supplementary grants, are still required to complete the SAAS Application Form for tuition fees.
TUITION FEES
EU students
The costs involved in attending university fall into two main areas – tuition fees and living costs.
All students studying at university are liable to pay tuition fees. The tuition fee you pay will depend on your fee status and the course you are studying. Please refer to our website for details of current tuition fees.
Scottish/EU students Scottish undergraduate students studying full-time at a Scottish university benefit from the Scottish government’s decision that the Students Awards Agency for Scotland will pay the undergraduate tuition fees for all eligible Scottish domiciled students provided that they are not repeating a period of study or currently hold a first degree qualification.
Students from the rest of the UK Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of tuition fees by applying online to Student Finance Online Services. The fee loan is not means tested. You should seek advice from the relevant student finance organisation depending on where you live.
International (non-EU) students If you are an international student from outside of the EU, then you are likely to pay overseas tuition fee rates and will not be entitled to help with tuition fees or living costs. You will also be expected to have sufficient funds available to cover your tuition fees and living costs prior to starting each academic year.
If you have lived in the UK or have immediate family living or working in the UK, you should contact our Advisory Service to discuss your case as you may be eligible to obtain additional support.
Students from the rest of the UK Students from the rest of the UK can apply for a range of support depending on their circumstances including a maintenance loan for living costs like rent (full-time students only), a maintenance grant (students from Wales and Northern Ireland only) and extra financial help if you have a disability, a partner on a low income or dependent children. Abertay University also offer RUK Bursaries to support students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland where household income (assessed by the Student Loans Company) is less than £34,000 per annum.
Students studying nursing degrees Funding arrangements for nursing students are different to other courses. For students undertaking a degree in Nursing/Mental Health Nursing all students from the UK must apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for the Nursing and Midwifery Students’ Bursary Scheme (NMSB). A non means-tested bursary is available to all students from the UK. UK students who are eligible under the Nursing and Midwifery Students’ Bursary Scheme (NMSB) will also have the cost of their tuition fees met.
International (non-EU) students
As an undergraduate student, we understand that you’ll want to know what tuition fee you’ll need to pay in advance. This is why we offer a fee guarantee – the published tuition fee at the time of entry is the same you will pay for each year of your undergraduate degree.
International (non-EU) students are not eligible to apply for UK based student support. However, there are a range of scholarships and bursaries available and details can be found on our website.
LIVING COSTS
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Living costs are likely to include accommodation (including utilities such as electricity), food, travel, books and equipment, and personal expenditure including social or sporting activities.
A part-time fee grant is available to eligible students studying on a part time basis. Application forms are available at www.saas.gov.uk from June.
Students studying on a part-time basis are liable to pay tuition fees for their course.
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Want to know more?
There are many trusts and charities that offer non-repayable financial support to students under various criteria. Identifying and applying for grants from alternative sources will take time but as the support is nonrepayable it is worth considering. More information can be found on our website:
Student Funding Advisor: Sarah Fleming t: 01382 308051 e: advisory@abertay.ac.uk
abertay.ac.uk/studying/money-fees-funding/funding-studies/ alternative-funding/
DISCRETIONARY AND CHILDCARE FUND (UK STUDENTS ONLY) These funds are administered by the University and the full student loan entitlement must be taken before consideration is given to students applying. These non-repayable means-tested awards are for help towards childcare, accommodation and financial hardship.
Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) w: saas.gov.uk Student Finance England w: gov.uk/student-finance Student Finance NI (Northern Ireland) w: studentfinanceni.co.uk Student Finance Wales w: studentfinancewales.co.uk
FEES AND FUNDING
EDUCATIONAL TRUSTS AND CHARITIES
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ACADEMIC YEAR
Our academic year consists of three terms with vacations at Christmas and spring. Undergraduate courses consist of modules that are structured into two terms, or three terms for our portfolio of accelerated degrees. All courses commence in September each year. Stage
Credits per stage
Total credits
Award eligibility
1
120 @ SCQF level 7
120
Certificate of Higher Education
2
120 @ SCQF level 8
240
Diploma of Higher Education
3
120 @ SCQF level 9
360
Degree
4
120 @ SCQF level 10
480
Honours Degree
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Undergraduate courses typically consist of four stages, each taking one academic year of full-time study. To complete each stage you will need to achieve 120 credits at the appropriate level (see table). These credits are part of a recognised national system of credit called the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). At the end of each stage successful students are eligible for exit awards (see an example in the table) which means you can leave with a qualification even if you do not complete all stages of a course.
study for as few (perhaps only one) modules as you like depending on your aspirations. If you study in part-time mode it will normally take at least two years to complete each stage of your course. Studying in this way involves attending classes during the day. Each module will take approximately three hours of university attendance per week (e.g. one hour of lecture and two hours of laboratory or tutorial time).
Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework
From 2016-17 entry, all our undergraduate modules will be based upon a 20 credit system and students will take six modules per year. Our modular system is designed to give you maximum flexibility during your study with us. As well as the modules that form the core of your course, many courses have optional modules that allow you to tailor your course to meet your interests and career aspirations.
Mainstream Scottish qualifications are part of a single unifying framework known as the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). In this Framework, qualifications are described in terms of their level and their credit value as defined by a number of SCQF credit points. These qualifications provide the foundations of a learning and credit transfer framework that has been implemented and embedded throughout Scotland’s education and training provision. You can find out more about the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework from the website scqf.org.uk.
Progressing through your course
Bologna Process
Modules may be assessed by coursework, a combination of coursework and examinations or occasionally by examinations only. Coursework assessments are particularly important because they allow you to find out how well you are progressing and what you need to do to get better grades in future. Normally the assessment of each module is completed within a semester, and any exceptions will be clearly stated to students.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF), all of our programmes are Bologna compliant. The Bologna Process intends to harmonise academic degree standards and quality assurance standards throughout Europe.
To progress to the next stage of a course you will be expected to have passed all the modules in your current stage, although it may be possible to carry a limited number of credits of module failure into the next stage. You will normally be given an opportunity to be reassessed in any attempted assessments if you don’t achieve a pass grade at the first attempt.
Flexible and part-time study Our modular scheme opens up a wide range of opportunities for part-time learning. Many of our undergraduate courses can be studied on a part-time basis during the day by studying individual modules to suit your needs. The flexibility of the University’s modular scheme means that you can
As a result, every student who graduates after 2005, receives a Diploma Supplement with their degree/diploma certificate as part of their Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). The Supplement describes the qualification in a format that is easy to understand and compare, improving international transparency and facilitating recognition of the qualification by both academics and professionals.
Higher Education Achievement Report Since July 2015, all students graduate with an electronic Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), which provides a comprehensive record of a student’s achievements. The HEAR incorporates information on all academic achievement plus institutionally-verifiable co-curricular achievements e.g. sports awards, prizes, volunteering, Principal’s (Employability) Award, etc. Further information on the HEAR is available at www.abertay.ac.uk/courses/hear.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Undergraduate courses and modules
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USEFUL CONTACTS Support Enquiry Zone (SEZ) For all current student enquiries: t: +44 (0) 1382 308833 e: sez@abertay.ac.uk University Switchboard For enquiries of a general nature: t: +44 (0) 1382 308000 f: +44 (0) 1382 308877 Prospectus Order Line To order additional copies of the Prospectus: t: +44 (0) 1382 308080 f: +44 (0) 1382 308081 e: sro@abertay.ac.uk
Student Recruitment Office Pre-admission enquiries including entrance requirements, application procedures, Open Days, international student enquiries: t: +44 (0) 1382 308080 f: +44 (0) 1382 308081 e: sro@abertay.ac.uk Residences Office For enquiries regarding university accommodation: t: +44 (0) 1382 308049 e: residences@abertay.ac.uk
Central Admissions For enquiries relating to a submitted application for entry to a course, and UCAS procedures: t: +44 (0) 1382 308045 f: +44 (0) 1382 308081 e: admissions@abertay.ac.uk
Accessible formats Information is available in other formats such as large print, braille, audio tape or on disk, if required. Contact the Student Recruitment Office +44 (0)1382 308080 to discuss your requirements.
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WATCH ABERTAY TV
Do you want to see what life at Abertay is like? Now you can do it from the comfort of your sofa. Check youtube.com/abertayTV to watch interviews with students, graduates and our staff, as well as tours of our accommodation, graduation ceremonies and some of the exciting events that take place throughout the year here at Abertay. youtube.com/AbertayTV
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HOW TO FIND US By Rail, Dundee Station We are a 10-15 minute walk from the train station. Taxis are available upon request from outside the station. For information on train operators and times visit National Rail Enquiries website www.nationalrail.co.uk.
By Bus We are just a short 10 minute walk from the bus station. Taxis are available in Trades Lane. By Air, Dundee Airport Taxis are available upon request from outside the airport and take approximately 10 minutes to arrive at our location.
Disclaimer
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Courses, the content of courses, entry requirements, regulations and related matters are under constant review in light of current circumstances and may change from time to time with some courses being altered, withdrawn or replaced. Circumstances out with the University’s control, such as industrial action or the departure of staff, may result in it not being possible or appropriate to continue to provide courses that were previously offered.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this Prospectus as at the time of publication. However, it has been published in advance of the academic year to which it relates and applicants are advised to visit the University’s website at www. abertay.ac.uk to check up to date course and other information. In particular, courses marked as “subject to approval” are proposed future courses of study and applicants are advised to refer to the University’s website where updated information on these courses will be posted as and when available.
Changes to your course 1. At the time of making an offer, the University will provide you with information on your programme title and core modules, and will endeavour not to change these other than in the circumstances described below. 2. A programme title may change, for example, to reflect developments in the subject. If the University intends to change the title of your programme, you will be informed of the proposed change, and will be entitled either to change to the new title, or to retain the original title. 3. Core modules are not expected to change during your programme of study, but the content will be updated. However, in some disciplines the subject develops rapidly, and so it is possible that core modules may need to be replaced to reflect the change. Your programme information indicates how likely this might be for your subject. 4. Option or elective modules will change over time; your programme information sets out possible elective modules, but the options or electives listed may not run in a given year, depending on staff availability and developments in the subject. 5. The University’s portfolio of programmes changes over time, with new programmes being introduced, and others being withdrawn. Where a decision is taken to withdraw a programme, a teaching-out arrangement will be put in place to enable those students already registered for the relevant programme to complete the programme within the normal period of study. 6. Where a programme is accredited by a professional body, the University may be required to change the programme to meet the professional body’s requirements. 7. In all cases, the University will communicate to students and applicants affected by a programme change as soon as it has been approved. In most cases, this will be in the academic year before the change happens. There are, however, limited circumstances, that generally cannot be anticipated, where changes may need to be made with less notice.
Abertay Students’ Association (AbertaySA) As required by the Education Act 1994, the University Court gives notice that a student has the right not to be a member of AbertaySA and that any student who exercises this right should not be unfairly disadvantaged in regard, for example, to the provision of the services offered by the AbertaySA. The University Court considers that it does not require to make alternative arrangements in respect of the services provided by AbertaySA.
Data Protection Any personal data provided by you may be processed by the University in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. The University holds information about you in order to manage student recruitment, admission, registration, study, examination, graduation and other student services such as accommodation and careers. Information is passed between various sections of the University for operational reasons and may also be disclosed to external agencies to which the University has obligations (for example: Council Tax Registration Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Statistics Agency, Student Loans Company and Research Councils). You should refer to the University’s Data Protection Policy www.abertay.ac.uk/media/ dataprotectionpolicy.pdf for more information. If you have any queries about data protection please contact secretariat@abertay.ac.uk.
UNESCO Disclaimer Abertay University is responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts and opinions in this prospectus, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organisation.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
As a result of this, the University reserves the right not to provide any particular course and to make alterations and modifications to courses and the delivery of courses if it reasonably considers such action to be necessary.
Student Recruitment Office Abertay University Bell Street Dundee Scotland DD1 1HG
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T H I N G S
D I F F E R E N T L Y
Abertay University is an operating name of the University of Abertay Dundee, a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC016040.
S E E
w: www.abertay.ac.uk t: +44 (0)1382 308080 f: +44 (0)1382 308081 e: sro@abertay.ac.uk
Equality Statement
The University believes that all employees and students have the right to expect, and that it has a responsibility to ensure, that no individual will be disadvantaged as a consequence of their age; disability; gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins); religion or belief; sex; or sexual orientation. The University Equality Policy can be found at: http://www.abertay.ac.uk/about/ theuni/diversity/