Welcome Week - Postgraduate Programmes in the Department of Biosciences

Important: Attendance at Welcome Week Events

Welcome Week for September 2024 will take place from 23^rd – 27^th September 2024, with a range of events taking place each day. Effort should be made by you to attend all events listed within the below timetable.

Events are a chance to gain insight to your chosen degree programme, ask questions and get to know both staff and students in your department. We look forward to meeting you!

Welcome Messages from your Department

Welcome from the Biosciences Programme Director

I would like to wish you all a very warm welcome to Swansea and the Biosciences Department. We are looking forward to getting to know you all, and I hope you are excited to be here and starting the next important stage of your lives.

There will be lots going on around the department and university during your Induction Week, but your induction talks are one of the most important sources of information relating to your course, so don’t miss these. During the talks you will also be able to meet some of your lecturers and other key staff members, but most importantly you’ll meet each other. We have arranged lunch and activities as extra opportunities for you to get settled and get to know each other a little more. In between all this, don’t forget to join some societies – Swansea has a lot to offer for every interest you care to name!

We know university learning can be challenging, so we will be signposting key places for support throughout Induction Week, but remember that we are here to help any time. The Reception team, your academic tutor, your lecturers, or our Mental Health First Aiders can always be approached to provide you with support and guidance.

I look forward to meeting you in in your induction talks, and wish you the very best for your time in Swansea.

Dr Ed Pope, Biosciences Programme Director

Welcome from the MRes Programme Director

A warm welcome to the ‘Masters by Research’ Postgraduate Research Programme in Biosciences. Postgraduate research studies are very different to your experience at university so far as you will be working much more independently to develop your research skills that then lead you to a dissertation and viva. Therefore, whether you have been an undergraduate student at Swansea University or come from further afield, our induction programme will be invaluable to help guide your understanding of the MRes degree programme and how to obtain help from different academic and administrative departments in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE).

The induction talks set out your roadmap for the next 12 months of study. Immediately after induction, students start three taught modules to provide them with a range of core science skills (including research methods, data analysis and scientific writing) that underpin selection and decision-making in December to design and conduct a 9 month research project from January-September.

Please ensure you attend all scheduled induction activities and especially my programme induction talk, the student support talk and introduction to online learning platforms, health and safety to help prepare for project work and, most importantly, the social get-together to meet your course mates and academic staff. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your research interests to kick start your project discussions with potential supervisors.

Dr Nicole Esteban

Programme Director, MRes Bioscience

Your Welcome Timetable

Please see below for a list of events organised by your Faculty and new Department. For some sessions, there are multiple opporutnities to attend. If you don’t think you can make it to the session we have recommended for your programme, make sure to check if there is another chance during the week.

Need help finding your way around? Please see the Singleton Campus and Bay Campus maps to help you find the locations of each session.

Additional Opportunities to attend

This timetable is relevant for those beginning an MSc, MRes or PhD in the Department of Biosciences.

25^th September

11:30 - 13:30 - Diversifying Voices - Wallace Landings , Wallace Building

Join the Faculty EDI team for pizza and Zine making as you receive an introduction to the diverse community you are joining within Science and Engineering.

13:00 - 16:00 - All Faculties Welcome Fayre - Create (Ground Floor Space), Taliesin

Find out more about ways to get involved, access support when you need it and make sure you have everything you need in place for your first week of teaching. There’ll also be chance to take part in competitions and get some freebies.

26^th September

This day has been kept free to provide you an opportunity to attend the Student Union Fresher’s Fayre. Please note, this Fayre is taking place at the Swansea Bay Sports Park on Sketty Lane, not at the Bay Campus.
Book your spot via the Student Union What’s On pages.

27^th September

09:00 - 10:30 - Postgraduate Taught Welcome Talk (MSc and MRes) - 218, Wallace Building

Key Academic Staff will lead this introductory session for your programme and provide you with key information you need to know about your studies.

This session applies to those enrolling on the below programmes:

MSc Global Biodiversity and Conservation
MRes Behavioural Ecology and Evolution
MRes Biodiversity and Ecosystems
MRes Marine and Freshwater Systems
MRes Natural Products and Environmental Resources

10:30 - 11:30 - MSc and MRes Enrolment Module Selection Session - 218, Wallace Building

An opportunity to ask questions and select your modules for this academic year.

11:30 - 12:30 - An Essential Guide to Your Studies - Wallace Lecture Theatre, Wallace Building

Come and meet your Faculty Student Experience and Information Team who are here to support you throughout your studies. This session is an opportunity to explore the support available to you as a student and any questions you may have about studying at the University.

14:30 - 16:30 - Biosciences and Geography - Postgraduate Welcome Reception - Landings, Wallace Building

Join staff from your department and your peers for a reception to welcome all new Postgraduate students. As part of this session, we will be providing light catering to include a variety of options for those with dietary requirements including Vegetarian, Vegan and Halal. If you have an allergy (e.g. nuts, gluten), please let us know by no later than 12pm on the 18th September by completing this short Microsoft Form.

Before you arrive, make sure to explore what else is happening outside of your department, and the ways you can get ready for your programme once you enrol. Top tip: bookmark the three pages below to get started!

Fuel your Mind

Once you've enrolled, bookmark your Canvas Hub - we'll be using this to hold important resources after welcome week!

Get Prepared

Your teaching sessions are a key ingredient to success. Get to know your teaching timetables as soon as they're ready!

Fill Your Plate

There's lots going on throughout Welcome Week, find out 'What's On' the Menu via the Student Union Webpages!