All About Overseas Education

[doodbug]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2110344\" time=\"1686034686\" user_id=\"178749:

Biological Science is at NTU. At NUS, no Biological Science or Life Sciences. Closest related courses are probably Food Science and Tech or Pharmaceutical Science/Pharmacy....all need AAA/A.

Why are engineering courses so not in demand these days? Compared to last time when chem engineering was the next hardest course to get in after Law/Medicine/Dentistry.

https://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/lifesciences/

Please see the Life Science degree course offered by the NUS Department of Biological Sciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, NUS.

FST, Pharm Science and Pharmacy are all offered by NUS, via direct admissions to the programme, and not under the College of Humanities and Sciences common entry/admission. It is true that it is hard to get into FST/Pharm Science/Pharmacy. But do note that applicants get bonus points for their 1st choice course (excluding several courses like Med/Law/Dentistry).

Engineering - I think the course is very tough. Long hours, lab sessions. Hence kids (and people like me) would choose Business, Humanities, Social Sciences or even Computing or Maths, over Engineering.

Chem Engineering is no longer as popular as during my time. A far cry actually.

[newbieks]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2110343\" time=\"1686034502\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2110343 time=1686034502 user_id=53606]
Just chipping in as I used to be in that industry…life science bachelors degree has very poor prospects (pay is miserable & mostly contract basis tied to boss’ fixed-term research grant). Need to study till PhD level otherwise dun waste your time & money.[/quote]

Ya my impression of general science degree is like that.. continue to study until become prof or something like that. Even biotech or biochem degrees which were v popular 20-30 years ago(during Philip yeo’s time at EDB) also faded off.. food science is probably big now because the world needs more food (climate change, population increase, quest for healthier food etc) and more opportunities abound.

[doodbug]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2110343\" time=\"1686034502\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2110343 time=1686034502 user_id=53606]
Just chipping in as I used to be in that industry…life science bachelors degree has very poor prospects (pay is miserable & mostly contract basis tied to boss’ fixed-term research grant). Need to study till PhD level otherwise dun waste your time & money.[/quote]

You remind me of Mr Philip Yeo's famous quote on life science grads and washing test tubes, to drive home the point that you do need further qualifications in this field.

[newbieks]

doodbug\" post_id=\"2110345\" time=\"1686035006\" user_id=\"13281:

https://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/lifesciences/

Please see the Life Science degree course offered by the NUS Department of Biological Sciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, NUS.

FST, Pharm Science and Pharmacy are all offered by NUS, via direct admissions to the programme, and not under the College of Humanities and Sciences common entry/admission. It is true that it is hard to get into FST/Pharm Science/Pharmacy. But do note that applicants get bonus points for their 1st choice course (excluding several courses like Med/Law/Dentistry).

Engineering - I think the course is very tough. Long hours, lab sessions. Hence kids (and people like me) would choose Business, Humanities, Social Sciences or even Computing or Maths, over Engineering.

Chem Engineering is no longer as popular as during my time. A far cry actually.

During my time in Chem Eng, there were quite a number of rejects from medicine. It was also the only engineering course that does not go through the 1st year general engineering course. Computing was the dumping ground...as they say 'every dog has its day' lol...

[zac's mum]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2110346\" time=\"1686035273\" user_id=\"178749:

Ya my impression of general science degree is like that.. continue to study until become prof or something like that. Even biotech or biochem degrees which were v popular 20-30 years ago(during Philip yeo’s time at EDB) also faded off.. food science is probably big now because the world needs more food (climate change, population increase, quest for healthier food etc) and more opportunities abound.

“life sciences graduates are only fit to wash test tubes”

IMO just this quote alone killed off our Singaporean grads’ prospects in the industry. It’s not even an easy degree to get in the first place (mug like hell + all the 3-hour practicals).

[newbieks]

During PY’s time in EDB, many scholars were sent to do science related degrees in top UK uni, end up maybe many become civil servants…

[zac's mum]

(Pharmacy is another degree which is way under-respected in Singapore. Many of the local pharmacy grads I know migrated overseas & earning very well over there.)

[newbieks]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2110352\" time=\"1686037014\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2110352 time=1686037014 user_id=53606]
(Pharmacy is another degree which is way under-respected in Singapore. Many of the local pharmacy grads I know migrated overseas & earning very well over there.)[/quote]

Looking back, would you still study science for interest, or choose to study something else with better prospects?

[zac's mum]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2110355\" time=\"1686040395\" user_id=\"178749:

Looking back, would you still study science for interest, or choose to study something else with better prospects?

My interests (and abilities) were very strongly in Bio, so good question. I might have chosen to read Law instead, but nah, still can’t picture myself bearing with the whole course (there are certain aspects like criminal law which I don’t care for).

[zac's mum]

Oh and by the way, my parents were the ones who told me don’t bother spending the time & effort upgrading to PhD: “It will make a girl less marriageable!” And delay the appearance of grandchildren even further lol.