The Higher National Certificate in Applied Sciences (Biology) develops students underpinning knowledge of the subject. It enables students to enter employment with the qualities necessary for job roles requiring personal responsibility.
This course has been designed to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes essential for learners to be successful on the programme whilst providing flexibility for those with other commitments such as work and/or family.
Our Blended Learning delivery will see a third of the course delivered remotely. These sessions, delivered on Wednesdays, will be a mixture of live online delivery, and guided learning tasks from the tutors. Units are delivered via interactive sessions with mentored independent study, allowing students to control their own learning and study. The remainder of the course will be delivered face-to-face at Reading College on Thursdays and Fridays.
Students will gain a wide range of knowledge tied to practical skills gained through research, independent study, directed study, laboratory work and workplace scenarios. Students are involved in vocational activities that help them develop vocational behaviours (the attitudes and approaches required for competence) and transferable skills.
The qualification also aims to widen access to and participation in higher education and enhance the career prospects of those undertaking it.
Below are some examples of job roles that this qualification could lead to:
- Technician Scientist
- Laboratory Technician
- Research Technician
- Quality Support Technician
- Technologist
- Science Technician
What you'll learn
The course is structured to be delivered over one academic year, consisting of 32 weeks split into two semesters of 16 weeks each.
To successfully complete the programme, students must complete each unit to be awarded the specified number of credits for that unit. One credit corresponds to approximately ten hours of ‘learning time’ (including all classes, private study and research).
You will study the following units:
1: Fundamentals of Laboratory Techniques (core)
2: Scientific Data Handling Approaches and Techniques (Core)
3: Regulation and Quality in the Applied Sciences (Core)
4: Cell Biology (Specialist unit)
5: Fundamentals of Chemistry (Specialist unit)
6: Anatomy and Human Physiology (Specialist unit)
17: Fundamentals of Biochemistry
25: Personal and Professional Development for Scientists
You will gain several transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, research and analysis, which are highly valued in higher education and the workplace.
How you'll learn and be assessed
Delivery
Students will benefit from face-to-face delivery and tutorials, which provide interactive teaching and learning. Attendance on campus provides the opportunity to engage with campus communities and resources. Learners will have two days of on-campus delivery, totalling 11 hours of face-to-face delivery and tutorials. This will take place on Thursdays and Fridays at Reading College.
Partially studying remotely via distance learning will allow students to adapt their learning approach and enhance their digital skills, as well as provide the opportunity to ‘work from home’ for part of their programme. Learners will have one five-hour day of live remote delivery via our ALO platform on Wednesdays. These sessions will combine live online delivery with guided learning tasks from the tutors, and all sessions will be recorded.
Assessment Strategy
The course uses a variety of modes of assessment. Assessments are designed to replicate the kind of activity students would be expected to undertake in the workplace wherever possible.
The following tools are therefore employed:
- Written assignments
- Individual presentations
- Group presentations
- Group assessments
- Peer assessment
- Portfolio assessment (including learning logs)
This multi-dimensional approach has the benefit that, as in work, students have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in various ways. Also, students’ written, oral, and online communication skills will be tested, along with their capacity to work in a team and individually to set deadlines.
Feedback
Students will receive regular formative feedback, typically as part of the academic feedback sessions during the term. During the sessions, feedback will be provided verbally and in written form. Draft presentations and assignments will also be formatively assessed, and feedback will be provided before the summative assessment. Students will receive feedback on summative assessment within 15 working days of their submission deadline.?
The Virtual Learning Environment
Students are supported by a wide range of learning resources made available via the Virtual Learning Environment (Activate Learning Online, ALO) enabling them to study wherever and whenever they want, on their laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Through Activate Learning Online (ALO) students can access a variety of high-quality study materials designed to support their learning. These include all essential reading including textbooks, articles and multimedia content such as videos. In addition:
- Recommended reading is available in electronic format, which can be read online or downloaded onto student devices for offline reading.
- All lectures are recorded and available online so that students can watch them on their laptops, tablets or smartphones, pause and review subject matter that they find difficult to understand and watch them again as revision.
- Interactive topic reviews are provided to help students self-assess their understanding of a subject at the start or end of a topic to help embed learning.
- Discussion forums for online discussion and debate are provided.
In addition to learning resources ALO also provides students with a gateway to a wide range of other resources to help them with their studies including news and announcements, timetables, support and guidance.
Library resources include full access to an online library that contains access to academic books and journals across a range of business-related subjects, disciplines and databases.
Progression
After studying for a Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Applied Sciences (Biology), students will have sound knowledge of the underpinning scientific concepts required for higher study and/or work in the sector. They will be competent in a range of subject-specific skills as well as general skills and qualities relevant to key areas of science and written communication.
Students who successfully achieve 120 credits on the HNC will be eligible to progress onto the top up HND (diploma) year, with a further option of a final year (level 6) of a degree programme. Higher education providers recognise the Level 5Higher National Diploma as meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses, for example:
- BSc (Hons) Life Sciences
- BSc (Hons) Biology / Biological Sciences / Human Biology
- BSc (Hons) Biochemistry / Biotechnology
- BSc (Hons) Ecology and Environmental Biology
- BSc (Hons) Microbiology / Molecular Biology
- BSc (Hons) Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science / Conservation Biology
- BSc (Hons) Chemistry / Biochemistry
- BSc (Hons) Environmental Science / Chemistry
- BSc (Hons) Medicinal Chemistry
- BSc (Hons) Pharmacology / Pharmaceutical Science
- BSc (Hons) Food Science / Technology / Studies
- BSc (Hons) Forensic Science / Chemistry / Biology
- BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Dietetics
- BSc (Hons) Hydrology / Water Science
- BSc (Hons) Environmental Science / Health
Applied science graduates also have access to a range of career opportunities, including access to pharmaceuticals, biomedical science, animal science, laboratory science and research, and health and life sciences.
Entry requirements
You will need to have achieved a full level 3 qualification in science. This could be from 3 A levels (at least two science subjects), an Extended Diploma in Science, Science T level or an Access to HE programme including at least two science subjects.
Your qualification, worth at least 96 UCAS points, can be gained through either:
- Three C grades at A level in at least 2 science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths
- MMM grades in a BTEC/UAL/equivalent National Extended Diploma in a science- related qualification (e.g. Extended Diploma in Applied Science or Forensic Science, T Level Science, etc.)
- Minimum of 15 credits at Merit on a full Access to HE Diploma with at least 2 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths
- Qualifications obtained outside the UK will be considered individually (all qualifications will be subject to ECCTIS checks).
Applicants will also be required to have achieved at least a grade 4/C in GCSE English language and maths.
A typical applicant might be expected to demonstrate at the commencement of his/her studies the following:
- a general interest in scientific theory and application of scientific knowledge
- a strong interest in developing their career
- a willingness to work collaboratively with others
- good oral and written communication skills
- a willingness to build knowledge and explore multiple scientific disciplines
- appropriate levels of numeracy and literacy
Additional information
Support for Students and their Learning
Academic and pastoral support:
- At the beginning of the course, students will be allocated a personal tutor, who will effectively act as their academic mentor.
- Personal Tutors will provide ongoing advice on academic and pastoral matters (in partnership with academic tutors in other modules). They will act as students’ first port of call for support during their studies.
- In the first few weeks of their studies, students will have an initial one-to-one meeting with their personal tutor as part of a settling-in process. During this meeting, any early issues of an academic or pastoral nature may be addressed.
- Students’ academic progress will be formally reviewed three times per academic year by their Personal Tutor through progress review meetings.
- If a student experiences issues or problems with their Personal Tutor, the student may contact the faculty management team.
Learning support:
- Students with specific learning support needs will be directed to our GLS team to obtain support, advice and guidance on progressing through their studies. This includes addressing any special needs requirements. Further information is available in the Student Handbook.
- All students will be able to access the drop-in services of a Study Support Tutor regardless of whether they have a specific learning support need.
- Personal tutors/academic teachers will collaborate with the support team and GLS to provide holistic support to learners.
