Plant Sciences with Placement Year BSc

Our BSc Plant Sciences with Placement Year course allows you to do a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree. You'll pay reduced fees for the year you're on placement and you'll have the support you need from our departmental placement tutor and the University. Most students earn salaries during their placements and many are offered a graduate-level job at the end.Previous students have found placements within industry, charities or government at organisations that include Atkins Environmental Consulting, Food and Environment Research Agency and Kew Gardens. It’s a great opportunity to test out a career path that you're considering - whether that's in the lab or applying your scientific knowledge and transferable skills in industry.This course spans fundamental plant biology, exploring evolution, developmental biology, photosynthesis and disease whilst considering the role of plants in solving global food and energy shortages, and developing green technologies. You’ll cover two main themes at Sheffield: plant physiology - how plants harvest light energy, acquire nutrients from the soil and convert this in order to sustain growth, and plant ecology - how plants interact with each other and their non-living environment. You might even add an extra year of research experience with an integrated masters.All of our students study an essential set of core modules designed to give you the skills that every professional plant scientist needs. Alongside these you'll have the opportunity to study optional modules that span ecology and conservation biology and zoology. You can mix and match these modules, covering photosynthesis, global warming and vegetation, climate change and pollution impacts on plant communities, underpinned by the latest research discoveries from our experts.In your first year you’ll spend your first week on a field course in Sheffield, collecting and analysing data throughout the city’s green spaces and out to the edge of the Peak District. Throughout the year you’ll develop practical skills in the lab, including microscopy and genetics, complemented by regular field trips to zoos, aquariums and nature reserves. You’ll also have lectures and take part in small group tutorials where you’ll enhance your writing, data analysis and presentation skills as you learn about the latest research findings from our world-leading academics.In your second year, your modules will cover more advanced scientific topics and techniques across plant science. Some students choose to take our science communication module ‘Talking the Talk: Getting Science on Film’ where you’ll get the chance to make your own factual science documentaries, with support and advice from professional filmmakers. All of our zoology students receive training in modern data analysis techniques and get the opportunity to go on an optional two-week long field course between second and third year, giving you the chance to design and carry out your own research and develop an understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of different habitats across the globe.Once you return from your placement, in your third year you'll complete a research project and dissertation in an area of plant science that interests you alongside your chosen specialist modules. Conducted under the supervision of one of our world experts, you'll work in a small group to define questions, develop experimental protocols, conduct the research, analyse the data and ultimately produce a written report in the form of a scientific publication.Each year our graduates join conservation and environmental consultancies, wildlife trusts, museums, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and local, national and international government. Many also go on to do PhDs. There are excellent career oppor