La Trobe science degrees now in S'pore

Students interested in the rapidly growing biotechnology sector can now pursue a programme from one of Australia's top research universities.

La Trobe University, which has its main campus in Melbourne, Australia, will offer some of its most popular science degree programmes in Singapore through PSB Academy.

The collaboration was launched at PSB Academy on Nov 12, and the programmes start next September.

La Trobe University is ranked as Australia's best university for research in microbiology and equal best in biochemistry and cell biology, according to the Excellence in Research for Australia 2012 rankings.

PSB Academy offers more than 80 programmes across many subjects, including life & physical sciences, accounting and finance, business and communications, engineering and IT.

Professor Jane Long, La Trobe University's deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president (Academic), said: "I had good past working experiences with PSB Academy and was aware of its track record and quality of its programmes. I also knew PSB Academy was looking to increase its repertoire of science-related full-time and part-time degree programmes, and we had suitable courses and research to offer to the partnership."

Mr Evan Law, chief executive officer of PSB Academy, said: "In the past, our programmes have catered mainly to part time students.

"But the La Trobe programmes will enable us to make them available to working adults and now to full-time students as well. A-level holders and polytechnic diploma holders are eligible to apply for these courses."

'HANDS-ON' APPROACH

He added that PSB Academy's fully equipped science laboratories would enable the theoretical knowledge from the programmes to be quickly put into practice, a "hands-on" approach with "working results".

Dr Martin Grünert, head of School of Life and Physical Sciences at PSB Academy, said: "Australian science university programmes have a large practical component. PSB Academy's fully-equipped science labs enable students to go immediately from a lecture to a practical session to test out what they have learnt, thereby equipping them with skills that will enable them to be employed in these areas."

Professor Graham Schaffer, pro-vice chancellor, La Trobe University, said the programmes offered through PSB Academy would be taught by PSB Academy lecturers and a mix of Australia-based and Singapore-based La Trobe University lecturers.

He said the degrees would be the same as those offered on campus in Australia, and added: "The programmes are relevant to the growing biotechnology sector in Singapore and designed to feed highly-skilled staff into that sector. Thus, graduates will be highly employable in that sector."

Degree programmes available

La Trobe University also has the following rankings:

• Ranked in the top 100 emerging universities in the world (Times Higher Education, The 100 Under 50 Universities,2014)

• Australia's best university for research in microbiology and equal best in biochemistry and cell biology, and veterinary science (Excellence in Research for Australia rankings)

• Ranked 38th in the world for its courses in history (including archaeology) and in the top 100 for communication, media studies, linguistics and sociology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2013)

The following La Trobe programmes will be available at PSB Academy:

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science

• Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology)

• Bachelor of Science (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Academic requirements:

• Holders of relevant polytechnic diplomas can enter straight into Year 2 of the programmes and can expect to graduate within two to three years (part-time)

• A-level holders and PSB Academy Foundation Diploma holders can expect to graduate after four years (part-time) or two years (full time)