International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering

Academic English Skills supports students to develop their skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, with a particular focus on the language uses that will prove most useful throughout their studies at Durham University. This critical module runs throughout each term at the International Study Centre, and features particular emphasis on grammar and language skills for those requiring a boost in this area, whilst also allowing able students to stretch themselves in their written and spoken work.

This module looks to provide students with a background in academic conventions and expectations in Science and Engineering to prepare them to join the Community of Practice of their chosen discipline. The module also aspires: to provide students with a grounding in study skills and their supporting technology; to support students in developing an academic voice; and to develop critical analysis.

This module will allow students to pursue and develop subject specific interests, and encourages students to work independently with supervision in some depth. This module will also allow students to develop methods of research and analysis appropriate to their specific progression route.

Biological Sciences

• Lab Skills
• Foundation Biology
• Foundation Chemistry
• Advanced Biology
• Advanced Chemistry

Chemistry

• Lab Skills
• Foundation Chemistry
• Core Foundation Mathematics
• Pure Mathematics and Mechanics
• Advanced Chemistry
  

• Human Health and Disease
• Core Foundation Mathematics
• Foundations of Psychology
• Foundations of Statistics

Advanced Biology

This module seeks to develop the knowledge of biological sciences among students to the level required prior to entering an undergraduate course in that subject. It will cover how cell communication processes share common features that reflect a shared evolutionary history, and the structures and functions of cells and organisms.

Advanced Chemistry

This module seeks to encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject. The module will extend the fundamental knowledge base in Chemistry to include physical processes and organic chemistry.

Advanced Physics

The aim of this module is to encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in problem solving, it will aim to develop further understanding of physics and engineering concepts. The module looks also to enhance confidence and ability in handling calculations, and to develop a toolkit of independent study skills. It will develop the student’s ability to perform an independent piece of research, which will prepare students for future studies in Higher Education. Students will become confident, competent and comfortable in using information technology in the context of academic environments.

Biology of the Environment

This module will encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject, and will develop students' learning skills. A basic bank of knowledge will be introduced, on which students can build either by the process of self study or in further courses of directed study.

Computer Science with Extended Research

This module is designed to encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in problem solving, and to develop further understanding of physics concepts. The module will enhance students' ability to apply computer science techniques to problem solving in the physical sciences, it will also enhance confidence and ability in handling calculations. Students will develop a toolkit of independent study skills, with the opportunity to perform an independent piece of research.

Core Foundation Maths

This module hopes to improve confidence in algebraic manipulation through the study of mathematical techniques and development of investigative skills. It will introduce and develop a knowledge of logarithms and their uses. The module also wishes to introduce and develop a knowledge of trigonometry, and to introduce and develop understanding of a range of standard techniques for differentiation and integration. The module will also include trigonometric and logarithmic functions.

Extended Research Project for Psychology

This module will allow students to pursue and develop subject specific interests, and encourages students to work independently with supervision in some depth. This module will also allow students to develop methods of research and analysis appropriate to their specific progression route.

Foundation Biology

This module will encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject; it works to develop students' learning skills. The module will introduce a basic bank of knowledge on which students can build either by the process of self study or in further courses of directed study. It will support students to develop confidence in a laboratory situation, and works to introduce a range of equipment, and develop observational and interpretative skills.

Foundation Chemistry

This module seeks to introduce a foundation of chemistry knowledge on which students can build either by the process of self-study or in further courses of directed study. It will encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject by developing their learning skills and observational and interpretive skills. It will introduce a range of lab equipment while also developing students’ confidence and ability in handling chemical calculations.

Foundations of Psychology

This module provides students with a general introduction to the psychological processes underlying human behaviour. It will provide an awareness of the diversity, applications and limitations of psychological knowledge. It will familiarise students with the scientific approach to collecting and interpreting data, furthermore it will provide students with an introduction to the psychological processes of thinking and learning, and will develop students' knowledge of theories of thinking and learning. Students will become familiar with methods used to assess thinking and learning.

Foundation Physics

This module will encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject, it will introduce and develop understanding of physics concepts, and will develop students' ability to apply physics concepts to problem solving. This course will develop confidence and ability in handling physics calculations, and will develop confidence in a laboratory situation, and observational and interpretive skills, as well as a problem solving approach. It will help to develop scientific report-writing, data handling and critical evaluation develop confidence and ability in handling physics calculations.

Foundation of Statistics

This module will introduce and develop understanding of basic statistical principles to provide a foundation for future study. It will also develop skills that help students to apply statistical tools to real life problems. Ultimately this module will encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in statistics.

Geology with Advanced Chemistry

This module will encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject, and will develop students' independent learning skills. It will extend the fundamental knowledge base in Chemistry to include physical processes and organic chemistry. The module will also extend the fundamental knowledge base in Geology in preparation for degree study in that area. Basic fieldwork skills and basic mapping and recording skills will be developed.

Human Health and Disease

This module will encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject, and will develop students' learning skills. A basic bank of knowledge will be introduced, on which students can build either by the process of self study or in further courses of directed study.

Programming Techniques

This module seeks to develop students in the Python programming language, including how to investigate and use programming paradigms and design and create efficient and maintainable code. Students will also develop an understanding of different operating systems (e.g. Linux).

Proof and Logic

This module works to provide the opportunity for students to engage in logical reasoning using mathematical notations. It will aim to develop mathematical thinking skills, and the skills of formulation of rigorous mathematical derivations and proofs. The module will focus to develop students' mathematical problem solving skills through the exploration of open ended problems.

Pure Maths and Decision

This module will provide the opportunity for students to engage in logical reasoning, algorithmic thinking and applications. It will introduce the concept of linear programming, and will extend knowledge of Cartesian coordinates to include equations of circles and lines. The module will extend understanding of a range of standard techniques for differentiation and integration, and it will introduce and develop a knowledge of first and second order differential equations and their applications Furthermore the module seeks to introduce and develop knowledge of complex numbers and polar coordinates, and aims to improve confidence in algebraic manipulation.

Pure Maths and Mechanics

This module seeks to extend knowledge of Cartesian coordinates in two and three dimensions to include equations of circles and lines, as well as to introduce and develop a knowledge of matrices and applications. It will look to develop a knowledge of vectors and their applications in two and three dimensions to include equations of lines, and also to improve confidence in algebraic and trigonometric manipulation. Students will find it will introduce and develop understanding of trigonometric formulae and their uses, and will also extend understanding of a range of standard techniques for differentiation and integration. The module will introduce and develop a knowledge of first and second order differential equations and their applications, also introducing and developing knowledge of complex numbers and the concept of polar coordinates. Students will have their own abilities to apply mathematics to problems based on physical situations enhanced. They will be provided with the opportunity for students to engage in logical reasoning, algorithmic thinking and applications. Some statistical techniques will also be introduced.