DBS Summer Course 2024 – Chemistry of Life | 7 – 20 July 2024

The DBS Summer Course 2024 – Chemistry of Life offered by the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS), National University of Singapore (NUS), is a two-week intensive training course customized to expose students to a broad range of modern biological knowledge and techniques currently used in research laboratories and industries. Students have a chance to immerse themselves in research and learning experience in one of the top universities in the world and make friends with peer students from all around the world.

Our research-led teaching is internationally renowned which comprise lectures, practical classes, group discussion and scientific tour and excursions to make the Summer Course as informative and fun as possible. The DBS Summer Course will be covering major fields in modern biology, such as cell and molecular biology, protein and proteomics, molecular genetics with direct relevance to biomedical research, pharmaceutical sciences, and agriculture.

Through this intensive Summer Program, we aim to help students:

 

    • develop skills and confidence important for achieving success in a laboratory.
    • develop skills and confidence to engage in productive collaborations – working in groups.
    • meet students from other universities all around the world.
    • gain an international academic experience in a top university; and
    • truly experience the Singapore culture.

 

The DBS Summer Course is offered annually for 2 weeks in July-August. Registration and application are open in January each year.

The DBS Summer Course for the year 2024 will run from 7 – 20 July 2024.

The application deadline is Friday, 22 March 2024.

Course Description

A module of “Chemistry in Life” is offered for the DBS Summer Course 2024.

The objective of this course is to provide the students with an understanding of basic principles and techniques in biological chemistry, biophysics, and molecular genetics, with direct relevance to biomedical research, pharmaceutical sciences, and agriculture.

DBS Summer Course is conducted in a boot-camp style, with the lectures, tutorials, practical classes, research seminars, group discussions, and social activities, all scheduled within 2 weeks. The Course comprised of lecture classes in the morning and practical and tutorial classes in the afternoon. Lecture classes are interactive and often include lectures and group discussions, and hands-on sessions are project-based with intensive technique-learning processes. The evaluation may include assignments, group projects, reports, and examinations.

With the uncertainty in public health guidelines in the year that may still affect classroom teaching, and with the safety, health and wellbeing of our students and staff as our primary concern, we cap student numbers for the DBS Summer Course 2024 at a maximum of 50 students since we will have very intensive interaction and communication between students and teachers during the lectures and practical classes.

 

Activities:

Classroom teaching, lab practical, research seminars, and social activities.

 

Course Materials:

Students will receive a hard copy of a coursebook and lab manuals with detailed contents of lectures and instructions for each of the labs. Softcopies of the coursebook and lab manuals will also be made available to students.

 

Evaluation:

  • Presentation and communication
  • Class and lab participation
  • Examination

 

Certification:

Students will be awarded a Certificate by the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, upon successful completion of the Summer Course.

The Summer Course is not eligible for the award of NUS credit, but an examination report and completion certificate will be issued by the Department of Biological Sciences, NUS; and the credit may be granted by the student’s home university at their discretion.

Entry Requirement

To enroll in the DBS Summer Course 2024, a student should

  • be currently enrolled in an accredited university in the home country.
  • be nominated by the home university.
  • be proficient in the English language.

Registration

Students who wish to apply for the DBS Summer Course 2024 are required to do their groundwork to ensure they meet the minimum entry requirements and have finances and prerequisites from their home university.

To register, students should contact their home university’s Department or International Office. We encourage earlier registration as a quota is set on the class size. Registration will be closed when it is full.

The registration deadline for the DBS Summer Course 2024 is Friday, 22 March 2024.

Course Fee

The Course fee per student is $4000 SGD for the DBS Summer Course 2024 and includes:

  • Tuition fee
  • Registration fee
  • Administration fee
  • Course materials
  • Group airport transport and city tour and transport service if staying off-campus hostels.
  • Shared accommodation
  • Orientation and farewell events
  • Social activities

The course fee must be received before the commencement of the Course to confirm enrolment in the Summer Course.

Successful registration will receive confirmation of their participation along with instructions on the mode of payment.

Accommodation

Shared bedrooms accommodation will be arranged.

Academic Coordinators

Associate Professor Low Boon Chuan
Department of Biological Sciences
National University of Singapore

Associate Professor Cynthia He
Department of Biological Sciences
National University of Singapore

Associate Professor Liou Yih Cherng
Department of Biological Sciences
National University of Singapore

Contact Details

For enquries, please contact:

Ms Wang Xianhui

Administrative Coordinator
Department of Biological Sciences
Tel: +65 6516 4594
Email: dbswxh@nus.edu.sg