Master of Biotechnology

Imagine bringing a new cancer diagnostic test from the lab safely to market, via patent applications, through regulatory and quality assurance systems, capital raising, marketing and finally sales.

Each step requires advanced technical skills but also business acumen and communications skills.

Biotechnology uses fundamental biological and medical knowledge to develop new processes and products in health, agribusiness, food and other areas of human technology.

The Master of Biotechnology gives you the opportunity to study all aspects of the biotechnology product pipeline, and you'll have the chance to put your knowledge into practice with one of our industry partners.

The Master of Biotechnology is a 200-point program, made up of:

• Core subjects (125 points), including either the Industry Project in Biotechnolog or the Business Project in Biotechnology (25 points)
• Elective subjects (75 points), selecting from science, business, finance, accounting, bioethics, communication and law subjects.

In your first year, you'll study core subjects in science, commercialisation and professional skills, as well as biotechnology elective subjects.

In your second year, you'll complete your core and elective subjects, and undertake either the Industry Project in Biotechnology or the Business Project in Biotechnology. (If you enter the course mid-year, you'll start the project in your first year.) The Industry Project in Biotechnology is for students with a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75 per cent across all subjects in the course. Students with a WAM of more than 80 per cent may be able to undertake a research project as their elective study.

A 100-point program is available for students who have completed an honours degree in biological science or chemistry.

If you commenced this course before 2021, the previous course structure will apply.

"I chose to study Biotechnology because I'm interested in learning how these techniques can be applied to fields like medicine and agriculture. The subjects have fascinated me because I've realised what wonders can be done with the latest technologies - I've learned about CRISPR, gene drives and gene therapy."

Biotechnology is one of the key industries of the 21st century, and demand for specialists in the area is strong and growing.

Our graduates go on to work as biochemical engineers, biotech manufacturing professionals, entrepreneurs, investment analysts, patent consultants, policy analysts, product managers, production managers, project managers, quality assurance professionals, research scientists, and sales or business development managers.

Employers in this field include:

• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies such as CSL, Roche and GSK
• Government departments of defence, health, innovation, agriculture, environment and economic development
• Medical research institutes such as WEHI, the Florey Institute, the Burnet Institute and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
• Research hospitals such as Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
• Universities and public research institutions such as the CSIRO.

Start-year Intake
Timely applications: 30 November 2021

Mid-year Intake
Timely applications: 31 May 2021

Note: Commonwealth Support Places (CSPs) will be allocated in timely application rounds, you will need to have submitted your full application prior to the timely application deadline to ensure you have the best chance to obtain a CSP.