Accreditation Assessment Criteria
To achieve accreditation for a programme, Universities will need to provide robust evidence in support of their application, which will be judged by peer review against the standard metrics listed below. The evidence should show how the intended learning outcomes are being achieved through appropriate assessment strategies.
Further information can be found in the Accreditation Handbook which should be used as the main source of reference.
General criteria
Evidence is required to show how the degree programmes meet the following:
A graduating level capstone experience
This should include the analysis and critical evaluation of data within an independently produced piece of work.
Demonstration of the acquisition of technical skills
Students should learn in a hands-on, practical environment in a progressive process.
Development and use of transferable skills
This should cover skills including word processing, finding and citing information, and project management.
Foundation in mathematics, statistics, chemistry and physics
This should be in sufficient depth and breadth for the students to appreciate and apply these subjects with a biological context.
Specific skills and knowledge
This should include general knowledge of the basic fundamentals of biology appropriate to the degree title.
Developing Creativity and Innovation
Students are given the opportunity to apply original or unconventional ideas and to be imaginative.
Subject specific criteria
Accredited programmes will be expected to adhere to the guidance for the Typical Standard of the current Biosciences Benchmark and Biomedical Sciences Benchmark as appropriate, and to any subject-specific guidance developed by the appropriate Learned Society written specifically for accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology. Follow the links below to access the subject specific criteria:
Following consultation with stakeholders in the sector, accreditation spans three broad areas
of biology, and applications must be made to a specific stream chosen by the institution.
These are:
— Molecular Aspects of Biology
— Whole Organism Biology
— Ecological and Environmental Sciences