Whichever unit you decide to follow you need to select two elements in the Autumn Term and two in the Spring Term. All students also follow a Concepts and Techniques Course provided jointly by the Departments of Physiology and Anatomy and also taken by Level 3 students in Anatomical or Equine Science and by Neuroscience students registered in the Anatomy Department. This course comprises seminars on concepts and techniques common to the various Programmes mentioned and occupies one morning each week. It includes teaching on ethical issues, philosophy of science, the concept of feedback, experimental design, widely used laboratory methods and lab safety issues. Also, data interpretation, problem solving and paper review sessions, information technology and statistical sessions and sessions on career management.
Units is an experimental research project.
Students have a choice, typically from fifteen to twenty projects offered in the department or the nearby University hospital. The experimental work for the project runs over fourteen weeks, working an average of two full days a week. Initially a review essay is written on the aims and background of the experiment, and a short talk on the background and methods is given to the department. At the end, the work has to be written up as a Research Report and a poster is also presented for staff and colleagues. In the booklet that describes all the projects on offer, some are identified as Neuroscience, some as Physiological Science and some as suitable for either Unit.