Education

Nanyang Technological University (NTU): Science: Biological Sciences

Category Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Science, Singapore, Undergraduate
Tags Biological, Nanyang Technological University, NTU, Science

The School of Biological Sciences was established in July 2001. In May 2004, the school moved to a purpose-built facility on the NTU campus with 30,000 m² of total floor space, containing 60 research laboratories, core instrumentation facilities and an adjoining two storey animal house.

The building also has state-of-the-art classrooms, computer suites and teaching laboratories equipped with the latest facilities and high-speed wireless internet access throughout. Our curriculum is intellectually rigorous and combines detailed study of the basic fundamentals whilst, at the same time, covering the most importance advances in cutting-edge research areas.

We aim to provide students with a high quality university education and training in the life sciences. Graduates from its undergraduate B.Sc.(Honours) course as well as from its graduate research programmes are expected to fill the rapidly increasing demand for a talent pool of high-quality workforce and researchers for the life sciences industry.

The field of life sciences has been widely acknowledged as the next major technological revolution after the Internet. New knowledge and discoveries generated as a result of genome and molecular biology research will have major impact on the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, healthcare, food and nutrition, people and the environment. Already, many governments, life sciences industries, universities and research organizations are already putting major resources into life sciences and building up their capabilities, research and infrastructure in this area.

Role of NTU

Singapore is already the regional medical and life sciences research centre. With our good base of life sciences players, highly skilled and educated workforce, excellent communication systems, good industry infrastructure and a stable government, Singapore has the potential and capability to become a major international medical and life sciences hub.

At NTU, we have already made a start in building a capability in the life sciences through our collaboration with the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in the field of biomedical engineering. Besides the liberty to chart new developmental plans outside the organizational structure and constraints of traditional schools of biological sciences and medicine, NTU’s technological focus will provide a good basis for developing new technologies and schools in life sciences.

This 4-year degree offers broad-based training in biological sciences and prepares graduates for challenging careers in Life Sciences research and industry. It provides a strong foundation in biological sciences that can include technology and business elements.

Students undertake compulsory core courses for 2.5 years during which time the combination of lectures, tutorials and practical classes allow all students to explore many different aspects of Life Sciences. Prescribed electives are offered during the following 2 semesters with students studying specific areas in more depth and with higher intensity. The Final Year Project, taken during the final semester, requires students to complete a full semester full time project in either laboratory research work or other areas of bioscience.

Key features:

• A core curriculum built on chemical, molecular, cellular, structural and computational biology, as well as genetics and genomics.
• Flexibility and a multi-discipline approach to allow exploration in specialized areas based on interests, strengths and career aspirations.
• Opportunity to focus on current topics relevant to today’s scientist such as neurobiology, immunology, stem cell biology and drug discovery and development.
• A full semester of the final year dedicated to a research project in either laboratory research work or other areas of bioscience. Projects are conducted either within the School or at approved institutions in Singapore or overseas.

To broaden the learning experience

• General Education Requirements allow students to take courses outside biological sciences.
• International Student Exchange Program (INSTEP) and Global Immersion Program (GIP) may be undertaken to spend a semester or more in an overseas university.
• Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) is available to enable early exposure to laboratory-based research.