Undergraduate Diploma in Evolutionary Biology

What will I be studying?

The course begins by focusing on the early events in evolution, the origin of life itself and the advent of multicellularity. It goes on to investigate the challenges and opportunities that multicelled life forms had to face and how these were met in different ways by the major kingdoms. The last unit of the course focuses on three of the most important and diverse groups of organisms: the arthropods, the flowering plants and the vertebrates. It explains what these groups can tell us about evolution and explores key innovations that have allowed them to become so successful.

The teaching for this course will take place over three units, each containing five teaching sessions.  

Unit 1: Life: the first four billion years

4 Days Schools on Saturday 29th October 2022, Saturday 12th November 2022, Saturday 26th November 2022 and Saturday 10th December 2022

This unit introduces the process of evolution on the grandest scale – the big transitions that gave rise to wholly new ways of life. We cover the early events in the evolution of life, from its origin to the invention of multicellularity, to give students an understanding of how the cumulative process of natural selection opened doors to the existence of ever more elaborate kinds of organism.

Unit 2: Kingdom-building

4 Day Schools on Saturday 14th January 2023, Saturday 28th January 2023, Saturday 11th February 2023 and Saturday 25th February 2023

This unit shows how the origin of multicellularity raised new physical and biological challenges, and investigates how these challenges were met by the major kingdoms: plants, animals and fungi. The chief aim is to give students a deeper understanding of why these kingdoms are the way they are, and in particular why their solutions to the problems of multicellular life are so different. 

Unit 3: Success stories

4 Day Schools on Saturday 15th April 2023, Saturday 29th April 2023, Saturday 13th May 2023 and Saturday 27th May 2023

The final unit takes a more in-depth look at the evolution of three particularly important and diverse groups of organisms – the arthropods, flowering plants and the vertebrates – to uncover the secrets of their evolutionary success. Students learn about the concept of key innovations – critical transitions that opened doors to previously unexplored evolutionary possibilities – and come to understand how and why the unique vertebrate solution to life's challenges gave rise to humanity.

What can I go on to do?

You may be interested in our Certificate courses in Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Genetics, as well as our recently developed Diploma in Genetics.

Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice

Students who have successfully completed an Undergraduate Diploma in Evolutionary Biology course might be interested in progressing their studies further and apply to join the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice (60 credits at FHEQ level 6) which will offer an Biological Sciences strand. Students on this course will have the opportunity to work closely and collaboratively with qualified researchers in their field and will be introduced to a research community where they will begin to forge an identity as a researcher in their own right.

Credit awarded by the Institute may also be transferred into the degree programmes of other higher education providers. However the volume of credit and the curriculum which can be transferred into degree programmes varies from institution to institution and is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course will normally have studied and passed a FHEQ level 4 qualification (or international equivalent) in this or a closely related field.

There is provision to accept non-standard applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criterion. Such applicants must produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their suitability for the course.

All applications are reviewed by the Course or Academic Director and acceptance onto the course is at the discretion of the Institute.

Please be aware that the course is taught at second year university level and you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

English language requirement: If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements pages for further information.

Technical requirements 

For the 2022-2023 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge, although there is an expectation that you will attend synchronous teaching sessions. The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through the use of video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). 

You will therefore need to have access to: 

• the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device.  
• speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material 
• a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available 

Once you are logged into the VLE you can familiarise yourself with the learning environment. There is also guidance about how to access course materials and activities.  

Fees

The fee for this course is £2,500.

You can pay in two ways:

• in full on enrolment by credit or debit card
• in three equal instalments by credit or debit card: the first on enrolment, the second on 1 January and the third and final instalment on 1 April. The exact dates will be confirmed in the student’s individual booking details

Please note, your place on the course is not secured until payment is received by the Institute of Continuing Education accompanied by any necessary documentation, i.e. proof of English language proficiency.

ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy 

Information on sources of funding, bursaries and Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) 

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified one week after the application deadline if the course is not going to be running at which point students will be offered to transfer their application to another course or receive a refund of the fees they have paid so far (please see our ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy). 

Applying

Please apply via the link at the top of this page. Your application will be assessed and you will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis.

Closing date for applications

Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on Monday 5 September 2022. If you are offered a place on the course, we will ask you to complete your booking within a limited time and to pay the fees or if paying fees by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place.

If you would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, please contact the Course Director, Dr Tom Monie: tpm22@cam.ac.uk