BSc in Biology
- GenBESTARI
- 3 years
- 120 MC
- September intake
The Biological Sciences programme at the UBD Faculty of Science offers an undergraduate BSc with a major in Biology, alongside M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees. The undergraduate curriculum combines fundamental core modules with a wide selection of option modules in the second and fourth years, allowing students to tailor their studies to their career ambitions and personal interests. Additionally, students complete a supervised research project, gaining professional lab-based and field-based techniques that foster essential scientific, analytical, and research skills for future employment or graduate studies.
Degree Structure
The degree totals 120 modular credits: 60 MC of Programme Modules in Biology, 20 MC of Advanced Specialisation, the 8-MC Lestari Pathway, 12 MC of Gateway Modules, and a 20-MC Discovery Year taken in Semester 4.
Programme Modules — 60 MC
| # | Code | Module | MC | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPB-1201 | Diversity of Life | 4 | Major Core |
| 2 | SPB-1202 | Organisms and Environment | 4 | Major Core |
| 3 | SPB-1203 | Skills in Biological Sciences | 4 | Major Core |
| 4 | SPB-2201 | Animal Form and Function | 4 | Major Core |
| 5 | SPB-2202 | Cells, Biomolecules and Microbiology | 4 | Major Core |
| 6 | SPB-2203 | Plant Form and Function | 4 | Major Core |
| 7 | SPB-2204 | Genetics | 4 | Major Core |
| 8 | SPB-2205 | Population Genetics, Systematics and Evolution | 4 | Major Core |
| 9 | SPB-2206 | Animal Physiology | 4 | Major Core |
| 10 | SPB-2207 | Plant Physiology | 4 | Major Core |
| 11 | SPB-2208 | Principles of Biochemistry | 4 | Major Core |
| 12 | SPB-3201 | Research Project | 8 | Major Core |
Choose two of the following — 8MC
Advanced Specialisation — 20 MC
| # | Code | Module | MC | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | SPB-3401 | Aquaculture | 4 | Elective |
| 17 | SPB-3402 | Bioinspiration | 4 | Elective |
| 18 | SPB-3403 | Developmental Biology | 4 | Elective |
| 19 | SPB-3404 | Entomology | 4 | Elective |
| 20 | SPB-3405 | Mycology | 4 | Elective |
| 21 | SPB-3406 | Principles of Oceanography | 4 | Elective |
| 22 | SPB-3407 | Tropical Parasitology | 4 | Elective |
| 23 | SPB-3408 | Tropical Tree Ecology and Conservation | 4 | Elective |
| 24 | SPB-3409 | Advanced Biochemistry | 4 | Elective |
| 25 | SPB-3410 | Animal Behaviour | 4 | Elective |
| 26 | SPB-3411 | Ichthyology | 4 | Elective |
| 27 | SPB-3412 | Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology | 4 | Elective |
| 28 | SPB-3413 | Molecular Genetics | 4 | Elective |
| 29 | SPB-3414 | Molecular Plant Biology and Biochemistry | 4 | Elective |
| 30 | SPB-3415 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 | Elective |
| 31 | SPB-3416 | Seed Plant Taxonomy and Diversity | 4 | Elective |
| 32 | SPB-3417 | Soil Science | 4 | Elective |
| 33 | SPB-3418 | Vegetation of Southeast Asia | 4 | Elective |
Elective modules for other UBD students
Teaching and assessment
Students become involved in fundamental biological principles through quality learning in the classroom (lectures, tutorials, seminars) and hands-on activities and experiences (field trips and practical classes). Field trips and field courses complement classroom learning by providing in-depth environmental awareness and engagement with the broader community. Expertise in microbiology, biotechnology, botany, zoology, plant science, conservation and tropical ecology (terrestrial and marine), combined with excellent laboratory and outdoor field facilities, such as electron microscope, gene sequence analyzer, plant and animal houses, plant and soil analytical equipment and a field studies centre in the heart of the tropical rainforest, integrate teaching and research in the broad field of biology.
Assessment methods vary depending on the modules taken but most modules involve both coursework-based assessment (such as practical reports, assignments, tests, group work and seminar presentations) and examination. In the final semester, students are expected to conduct research projects with academic staff as part of their major core requirement.
Facilities
The Biological Sciences section is equipped with many facilities and modern scientific equipment and instruments to provide the students with hands-on experiences during practical classes, field courses and final year projects.Â
The facilities include a herbarium (UBDH), museum (UBDM), Physiology lab, Ecology lab, Plant and soil lab, sterile lab, animal and plant houses, general teaching and research laboratories. The laboratories are equipped with Microwave digestor, Block digestor, Flow Injector Analyser, Atomic absorption Spectrometer, growth incubators and ovens, UV-visible spectrophotometer, microscopes (dissecting, compound, monocular, inverted, stereo), ultra-low freezer, centrifuge (high performance, ultra), autoclave, thermal cycler, winRHIZO, LICOR, porometer, R:FR sensor, light meter, muffle furnace, microtome, ball mill and grinders, sieve shaker, freeze dryer, DNA sequencer, PCR, microplate reader and washer, pressure bomb, leaf area meter, chlorophyll fluorescence meter, chlorophyll meter, GPS and many more field and lab equipment.
Careers
Our BSc in Biological sciences graduates are working in either Government or Private sectors. We have our students who are working as Research, Scientific, Technical and Administrative officers and teaching staff in many ministries and government departments in Brunei, such as Ministry of Industries and Primary Resources (Forestry, Fisheries, Halal unit, Agriculture and Agrifood, Wildlife, BioRic), Ministry of Health (hospitals, labs, clinics, Scientific Services), Ministry of Education (as teachers, lecturers, technical staff), Ministry of Development (JASTRE), Ministry of Defence (Army officer), Ministry of Home Affairs (Narcotic Control Bureau, Police officer), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei Museums), Ministry of Religious Affairs (Halal Section) and many others.Â
Some graduates prefer to work in private sectors, such as in oil and gas industries, environmental consultancy companies, pharmaceutical companies, as well as private clinics and schools. A few others become research assistants in UBD before pursuing graduate studies in UBD or overseas.
Entry requirements and how to apply
Admission to all five FOS Major Programmes uses the same entry and English-language requirements, and students declare their Major by Week 8 of the first semester.