HKU RSB Accredited Programmes (144 credits)
The 6901 Bachelor of Science Programme, offered by the Faculty of Science, has been conferred accreditation of its Biological Sciences, Ecology & Biodiversity and Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Majors by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), UK, for the purpose of meeting in part the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).
The Ecology & Biodiversity Major is the first programme of its type accredited by RSB in Asia. Enhancement of the three Majors will be reflected in the curriculum starting from September 2018, and the intake of cohort 2018-19 will be able to apply for the accredited options of these two Majors.
The three Majors have been accredited by RSB following an independent and rigorous assessment. International Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills. Graduates from accredited programmes will receive one year of guest membership of the Royal Society of Biology at Associate level. This will help graduates to stay up to date with what is happening across the life sciences, gain additional recognition for their skills and experience, develop their professional network and demonstrate their support for the future of biology.
The Royal Society of Biology is the leading professional body for the biological sciences in the United Kingdom. The Society represents over 17,000 biologists from all areas of the life sciences, as well as over 100 organisations which make up the diverse landscape of biology in the UK and overseas. It offers members unique opportunities to engage with the life sciences and share their passion for biology.
Degree Accreditation for Students and Graduates
- Greater employability and enhanced competitiveness in a crowded global jobs market – The accreditation programme establishes an enhanced profile of key skills that bioscience employers can recognise in graduates from accredited degrees. Many employers use evidence-based recruitment processes, graduates will have evidence of education, training and assessment in many key subject-specific and transferable skills.
- Professional body accreditation of their degree – Stands out to employers, shows that degrees have been assessed and enhanced by the accreditation process, and provides additional evidence of graduates knowledge and skills.
- Free membership to the Royal Society of Biology upon graduation – Graduates from accredited programmes are entitled to free subscription to the Society for one year following graduation. This will expose graduates to a significant network of bioscience professionals, stay up-to date with biology-related developments (e.g. via the free weekly bulletin of key discoveries and initiatives and policies worldwide) and provide students with additional recognition of their skills and experiences. This is extremely beneficial to students particularly at a time when they are applying for their first employment. Membership of the Society gives students and graduates a feeling of belonging to a wide community of biologists, interested in biology for its own sake but also to contribute their knowledge and skills to help meet world challenges.
Students are reminded to declare Major/Minor during the course selection period, please contact Ms. Eva Tam evatam@hku.hk if you have further queries.
