Getting Ready
There are several things that you should think about or start to organise before you arrive:
Books
Students taking BL1101 Biology 1 require regular access to these principal texts:
- Biology (8th or 9th edition) by Campbell, Reece & Mitchell
- Practical Skills in Biology (4th edition) by Jones, Reed & Weyers
- Asking Questions in Biology (3rd edition) by Barnard, Gilbert & McGregor
- The Double Helix by James D. Watson
Copies of these texts are available on short-term loan from the University Library, and a pack containing all four is available in the University Bookstore in St Andrews.
It is highly recommend that you obtain at the least your own copy of the The Double Helix in order to refer to it while writing your essay.
Secondhand copies are definitely acceptable and the BioSoc has a second-hand book sale in Week 1.
Getting Ready
There are several things that you should think about or start to organise before you arrive:
Equipment
There are several items of equipment which you will need, most of these can be bought in St Andrews.
- Dissection kit - purchase in advance through the on-line shop and collect your kit from the Biology Teaching Lab after you meet your adviser of studies
- Laboratory fees - pay these in advance through the on-line shop
- Lab coat - all students studying Biology will need a labcoat which you can purchase at BESS - the St Andrews Student’s Union shop - they often have second hand ones for sale
- Lab book - you will need a lab book to make notes and records in during your practical classes - a hard bound one is a good idea so that everything stays together in one place
- Filing system for lecture notes - you will need a file in which to store your lecture notes
- Calculator - we recommend a Casio fx-85-ES calculator but the important feature is that it has no memory so that you can use it in exams.
- Laptop - many students use a laptop during lectures and in their rooms. Please remember that, during teaching, it is only acceptable to use laptops to access course material.
You can also find out more about which modules may form part of each degree programme by using the biology degree browser or, if you prefer to work your way from individual modules to degree titles, you can do this using the biology module browser.
Getting Ready
There are several things that you should think about or start to organise before you arrive:
Advising
The process of helping you to choose the best modules for you is called advising. This happens in a meeting with your Adviser of Studies during Orientation Week.
Before advising, you should visit the pre-advising web page - read the information and then select your modules on-line.
Don’t worry too much! Your Adviser of Studies will help validate these when you meet.
Orientation Week
Monday
Some time during the day make your way to the Medical and Biological Sciences Building (MBSB) at the North Haugh, (see locations) and follow signs inside the building to Biology Teaching Laboratories on the ground floor.
Sign up there for an appointment to meet your Adviser of Studies on Tuesday of Orientation Week. Before then, you should have
Prepared for Advising
See also University Orientation Week Events Diary
Orientation Week
Tuesday
- 9.00 am
Attend a Biology Welcome talk from Dr Martin Milner, your Admissions Officer and Dr Clare Peddie, your Director of Teaching in the Medical and Biological Sciences Building Lecture Theatre (see locations).
- Meet your adviser of studies in the Biology Teaching Laboratory at the time that you have signed up for.
- Immediately after your meeting with your Adviser of Studies enrol in your Biology module and collect the module handbooks.
- Find out exactly where each of your lectures will be held and perhaps go on a recce to check the location - Monday morning at the start of term will be busy!
See also University Orientation Week Events Diary
Orientation Week
Thursday
- Morning
Visiting students (non-graduating or junior semester/year abroad students)
meet your Adviser of Studies - Dr Iain Matthews at the Gateway Building (University Map).
- 1.00pm
Come to the BioSoc Barbecue the Bute Secret Garden (University Map) and meet some like-minded Biology Students...
- ...and afterwards into the nearby Bell-Pettigrew museum for fudge doughnuts and coffee to meet the Biology staff.
- Visiting students (non-graduating or junior semester/year abroad students) meet your Adviser of Studies - Dr Iain Matthews.
See also University Orientation Week Events Diary
Helpful Advice
- Start as you mean to go on -
attend all your lectures and practical classes and then you are on the road to success!
- Plan ahead - start work early on any assignments where possible.
- Create a study plan and build in reward time having fun.
- Seek help sooner rather than later if you start to have a problem.
You can ask your Adviser of Studies or any member of Biology staff
or you can ask at the University Advice and Support Centre (ASC)
There is lots more information, news and links on the Biology current student pages