Course details

Summary

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) is an opportunity for Bachelor of Science graduates to advance their qualifications.

Biology is a science which is concerned with the study of life. Its scope is extensive, covering the structure and function of all living organisms, their relationships and evolutionary origins, and their interactions with each other and with the physical and chemical worlds about them.

The School of Biological Sciences covers a wide range of disciplines from biotechnology and biomedical science to marine biology and terrestrial ecology. Broad research areas include cell biology and biochemistry, ecology, evolution and behaviour, microbiology, molecular genetics and development, plant sciences, proteomics and biomedicine and structural biology.

There are opportunities for work on projects jointly supervised by staff in other departments in the Faculty of Science, as well as cross-faculty collaborations. Research projects can also be undertaken by joint supervision with staff in the biotechnology company Protemix Corporation and the AgResearch Laboratory for Structural Biology, at various Crown Research Institutes, the Department of Conservation, the Auckland Museum and other outside organisations.

Requirements:

• At least 90 points from BIOINF 701, BIOSCI 724-741, 749-761
• Up to 30 points from 600 or 700 level courses in a related subject

Career opportunities

Careers in biological sciences reflect the various branches of biology which you may choose to study.

Those who opt for an ecological path will find employment in the agencies which have a responsibility for monitoring the environment such as the Department of Conservation, Ministry for Education, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as large companies such as those in the fisheries industry, or eco-tourism. Much work is done in monitoring species and in conservation ecology.

The growth in biotechnology options mean that well-qualified people are in demand in fields such as gene technology and microbiology. Biochemists find work in the food industry and medical research.

Developmental biology is an important field in opening up opportunities to work with and investigate the origins of developmental abnormalities in plants and animals, including such human conditions as Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

Further study options

• Master of Science
• Master of Speech Language Therapy Practice
• Master of Bioscience Enterprise
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Entry criteria

The prerequisite is a major in Biological Sciences, or equivalent as approved by the Director.

English language requirements: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL (iBT) 90; TOEFL (paper-based) 575; CAE or CPE 176; PTE 58; MELAB 85.