GenNEXT BSc Biology – 4 Years

The Environmental and Life Sciences programme in Faculty of Science offers B.Sc. with major in Biology at Undergraduate level and M.Sc. (By Research) and Ph.D. degrees in Biology, Biodiversity and Biotechnology. At the undergraduate level, students can major in Biology by studying a range of core and optional modules. The major core modules are fundamental and central to students learning of biological sciences providing them with the foundational knowledge in Biology. The exceptionally wide range of major option modules, distributed in their second and fourth years of studies allows students to choose the modules that are best suited to their personal interests and career ambitions. Students will also have the chance to undertake their own research project (supervised by an academic staff) to develop professional lab-based and field-based techniques and academic skills that are crucial for careers in the field of Biological Sciences. Completion of the major core modules and major optional modules will provide students with fundamental scientific, analytical and research skills and a deep understanding of the biological principles governing life and ecosystems and their applications. This will prepare students for careers in biology, environmental sciences and life sciences and equip students to further their academic qualification in graduate studies.

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 Environmental and Life 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. 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. 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.

Module information

• All modules are offered by the Environmental and Life Sciences Stream.

• Major Module requirement: not less than 72 MC with at least 24 MC of the SB-4000 undergradmodules.