Access to Higher Education (Veterinary Science and Zoology)

Research is a fundamental skill in higher education and in this unit we explore the different approaches to academic research and how you can use it in your work to add depth and evidence to points you make. We also look at how to properly credit original authors and use Harvard referencing to show where important information has come from.

In this unit we explore the idea of chemical equilibria both in terms of dynamic equilibria where a reaction can proceed both forwards and backwards as well as the behaviour and reactions of acids and bases. We explore the nature of buffer solutions and identify that the dissociation of water is an example of a homogenous equilibrium.

In this unit we look at the energy changes that accompany all chemical reactions and identify exothermic and endothermic examples. We introduce the concept of enthalpy and use the Born-Haber cycle to understand and describe enthalpy changes in reactions.

This unit introduces the fundamentals organic chemistry, the chemistry of compounds based primarily on carbon. We look at  the system we use for naming and describing these compounds and we compare different homologous series and their reactions and properties and explain the similarities and differences.

The periodic table is vital in our understanding of the known chemical elements. In this unit we look at the information it provides us and how we can use it to identify trends and patterns in behaviour amongst the groups and periods.

In this unit we explore the different ways in which we calculate and compare amounts of substance. We explain the idea of the mole and demonstrate then methods used in acid-base titrations, following the volumes and pHs and temperature changes involved.

In this unit we look to explain some of the most important chemical properties as a result of the structure of the atom and the subatomic particles it contains. We look at how different elements have different numbers of electrons, protons and neutrons and how this impacts their properties, and we explain the different types of bonding that can occur between elements.

In this unit we explore the human immune system and how the body is equipped with adaptations to protect itself from disease. We consider the role of pathogens as the cause of infectious diseases and contrast specific and non-specific defences against disease.

This unit looks at a group of complex molecules we collectively refer to as biological molecules – carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. We consider the vital role of each and the building blocks from which they are made.

This unit focusses on the different body systems that allow the exchange and transport of gases including the circulatory and respiratory system. We explore the close relationship between the two, identifying the crucial organs and their roles in ensuring the body’s cells are supplied with oxygen and relieved of carbon dioxide.