PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (PDP) - 2026/7

Module Overview

- The module aims to equip students with the tools, knowledge and opportunity to enable them to thrive both personally and professionally during their university journey and beyond, empowering students to develop as well-rounded individuals who are confident about their future and how to navigate life after graduation.

- Through this module, students will have the opportunity to participate in sessions and activities that support the development of academic and social self-efficacy, metacognitive strategies, self-regulation and resilience, while creating the conditions and environment for students to develop a sense of belonging to their programme of study and wider university.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.

Module provider

School of Biosciences

Module Leader

TRINDER Sarah (Biosciences)

Number of Credits: 0

ECTS Credits: 0

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes units covering:

- Understanding yourself and others

- Introduction to Academia

- Making the most out of university

- Introduction to Industry

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to:
- Develop self-awareness, provide opportunity for students to reflect on their skill development and articulate their experiences.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

- A portfolio of students¿ development and a reflection on their experiences both on this module and through their wider university studies and activity, including responsibilities outside of the university such as part-time work, caring responsibilities and volunteering. The portfolio will enable students to utilise a range of techniques that best suit them. addresses learning outcomes: 1 to 6.

- Attendance - students required to attend 80% of sessions.

Formative assessment:
- Formative assessment is conducted throughout the module during seminars and workshops where students have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities and to receive both peer and tutor feedback, with the aim of allowing students to assess their progress week by week. In class quizzes, using polling software, provide an opportunity to understand and monitor your progress and level of understanding of module content.

Feedback:
- In class in group/pair exercises, from their School AHE, SPT or from their Student Success Coach.

Module aims

• Develop students' confidence and resilience to negotiate the challenge of university life.
• ¿ Enhance students' ability to navigate higher education, make critically informed choices and set and achieve personal goals by utilising available opportunities and resources.
• ¿ Increase students' knowledge and awareness of the benefits of higher education including study options, the Students¿ Union, extra-curricular activity, and career opportunities for students.
• ¿ Improve students' study skills and capacity for academic attainment by applying existing and developing knowledge to broader contexts.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- Provide students with an opportunity to practise skills and knowledge through problem-based/experiential learning. Students have the opportunity to apply skills in practice, reflect on them and have an experience they can use to demonstrate their skill development in preparation for their own CV and interview development.

- Ensure consistent content that is customisable by subject area, developed by subject experts and delivered in a timely way to ensure students have the awareness, information and access to opportunity, to make confident informed decisions about their studies and their future.

The learning and teaching methods include:

- Units which include a mixture of small group work facilitated by a peer mentor and whole cohort sessions.
- Opportunities to engage with external speakers such as Alumni, employers and other students.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS1068

Other information

The School of Biosciences is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas: Digital capabilities: Developing digital literacy and responsible use of AI. Employability: Developing transferable skills, understanding the labour market and understanding and confidence in job search, application and interview. Global and cultural capabilities: Understanding themselves and others, and developing cultural literacy and confidence. Resourcefulness and Resilience: Developing self-awareness and self-regulation and proactive wellbeing approaches.