Programme Name Postgraduate Diploma in Biology
Programme Description
Aim and Objectives:
Postgraduate programs in biology are structured such that students have options to acquire incremental knowledge, skills and attributes while earning Postgraduate Diplomas, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees by course work and/or research dissertation. The program aims to mould leaders in their chosen field of study and research, whether be it in academics, in industrial settings or in wider society roles. They would be trained to handle ethical, social and cultural issues in the exercise of their professional duties with tact and empathy.  
Most of the courses and laboratory/project training modules that make up the biology postgraduate programs are unique in Fiji and bridge the critical expert-level skill and training gap in Fiji. FNU as a national university aims to impart high-quality PG Biology education in Fiji, besides providing a benchmark and instituting a healthy competition between postgraduate biology education providers. 
Biology is an integral part of life in modern society. Every day we face new challenges in terms of analysis, interpretation, and demand for solutions or the development of new applications. These challenges are widespread in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, our environment and surrounding, things we use, and everywhere. Most of these areas require hard-core biology and related subject knowledge and skills. However, there exists a wide skill gap when it comes to handling such new challenges, in their scientific analysis, particularly in the local context and very often we are dependent on our neighbouring countries for help and interpretation. 

There is a great need for suitably trained biology personnel with postgraduate qualifications to serve in primary and secondary industries, government, policy planning, monitoring and supervision, quality control and quality assurance etc. Biology encompasses various sub-disciplines viz., Botany, Zoology, Animal and Plant Physiology, Genetics and Evolution, Embryology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Conservation Biology, Entomology, Microbiology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology etc. The biology department aims to impart comprehensive quality knowledge and training in experimental skills in the wider areas of biology so as to produce postgraduates with critical thinking as well as independent planning, critical thinking, organization, decision making and problem-solving skills.

Over 60% of biology graduates in Fiji are employed in the teaching profession within the country and in the region. However, the quality of students produced in the school system in Fiji and in Pacific Island Countries is not very encouraging as the majority of them lack basic concepts in sciences, i.e., biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. This leads to poor quality of student input to medicine and engineering programs, thereby compromising their quality of output. Scientific knowledge is fast expanding and there exists a growing understanding that school teachers particularly those teaching Form-6 and Form-7 should acquire master-level knowledge in their subjects in order to be able to explain the concepts and maintain students’ interest in science and mathematics subjects.  Fiji needs to keep pace with newer developments in Science, Technology and Medicine for its survival and for well the being of its people. Diseases and technology do not discriminate against Fiji and neither do they empathize with it. Knowledge-based society must maintain a step ahead of them.

Graduate Profile: 
After obtaining the postgraduate qualification in biology, students will become leaders in their chosen field of study and research, whether be it in academics, in industrial settings or in wider society roles. They would handle the ethical, social and cultural issues in the exercise of their professional duties with tact and empathy.
After obtaining the postgraduate qualification(s) in biology, candidates will be able to: 
•Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills grounded in appropriate research and creative practical methods.
•Demonstrate a sound knowledge of biology, as evidenced by the arguments presented in the thesis, research publications or creative works.
•Identify cause-effect relations in normal life situations involving biology and its broader contexts.
•Identify and interpret cause-effect relations in advanced industrial and laboratory settings.
•Discover new information, formulate and defend new theories, innovate re-interpret the known data and/or established ideas.
•Apply deeper knowledge of the subject in teaching at various levels and conducting research relevant to the region.
•Conceive, design and execute research projects that lead to a contribution to knowledge and/or to the production of a body of creative solutions for the stakeholders’ problems.
•Prepare reports from the data collected.
•Demonstrated biology communication skills in explaining biological knowledge to students, the public and opinion-makers. 
•Apply generic skills in ethics, teamwork, punctuality, OHS etc. to professional work.
•Demonstrate career and leadership readiness using skills of a high order in the use of contemporary technologies.

Graduate Destinations:
Government and non-governmental jobs, and Research organizations. Students can be employed under job titles listed below but not be limited to these;
•Ministry of Education
•Ministry of Health
•Fiji Sugar Cooperation
•Ministry of Energy
•Tertiary Education 
•Department of Environment
•Ministry of Waterways and Environment.
•Food Processing Industries
•Pharmaceutical Industries
•Laboratory Analyst
•Research and Development Officer
•Quality Assurance Labs 
•Quality Control and Monitoring
•Ministry of Agriculture
•Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry
•Fiji Private Sector - Statistician, Research Officer 
•Public sector –Risk Assessment Officer, Marketing Research Analyst
•Academia- Instructors, Lecturer, Researcher, Course Developer
•Non-Government Organization
•Banks
•Entrepreneurs
Majors Biology (All Areas)
Minimum Requirement
The minimum entry requirement for the postgraduate programme is a grade point average of 3 out of 5 which is a letter grade of B and above in BSc or equivalent. Those candidates who do not meet the minimum grade point average requirement must have served in relevant areas (teaching, research, industry) for at least TWO years and would have gained sufficient knowledge and developed aptitude to undertake higher studies.
Programme Type Postgraduate Diploma
Credit Points Required 120
Campus Lautoka,Nabua
Duration 1 Year
Estimated Tution Fees - Local (FJD) $5,018.00
Estimated Tution Fees - Regional $15,054.48
Note
Year 1
Core Units Offered In
SAS801 - Research Methodologies (Compulsory) Semester 1
Electives
BIO822 - Biodiversity and Conservation Biology , BIO823 - Advanced Ecosystem and Ecology , BIO824 - Island Biogeography , BIO825 - Advanced Microbiology , BIO826 - Current Topics in Biology 1 , - Select any ONE unit for Year 1, Semester 1. As for Year 1, Semester 2: select any TWO (not selected in Semester 1).