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Master of Biotechnology

Overview

Equip yourself with advanced scientific skills and the business, legal and regulatory understanding needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

The Master of Biotechnology program is designed for scientists who want to update their technical skills in core areas such as molecular biology, protein technology or bioinformatics, or acquire research laboratory experience. The program also suits legal or business professionals with some scientific background who want to learn about the latest technological developments.

You'll select from more than 30 courses, allowing you to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career goals.

Specialise in Agricultural Biotechnology to discover how to meet environmental and food security challenges with gene editing, genomics, proteomics, recombinant DNA technology, bioinformatics and disease diagnostics. Alternatively, you can choose electives in molecular genetics, food microbiology, entrepreneurship and strategy, intellectual property, drug discovery and development, immunology and infectious diseases, and more.

You'll also have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through internships, placements and international study options that focus on research and development, commercialisation, marketing and the business of science.

With more than 400 biotechnology companies and some 600 medical device companies in Australia alone, graduates are highly sought after for roles in health, agriculture, diagnostics, the environment, forestry, law and commerce.

Location
St Lucia
Duration
1 Year full-time (or part-time equivalent)
1.5 Years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
2 Years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
Start Semester
Semester 1 (19 Feb, 2024), Semester 2 (22 Jul, 2024)
Program Code
5599
AQF
Level 9
Location
St Lucia
Fees
A$48160
Duration
1 Year full-time (only available as full-time study)
1.5 Years full-time (only available as full-time study)
2 Years full-time (only available as full-time study)
Start Semester
Semester 1 (19 Feb, 2024), Semester 2 (22 Jul, 2024)
Program Code
5599
CRICOS Code
082611E
AQF
Level 9

Program highlights

Program highlights

  • Gain an internationally recognised qualification through UQ's Masters of Biotechnology Program, accredited by the US Council of Graduate Schools (Washington DC) as a Professional Science Master's program.
  • Learn from entrepreneurial scientists who have successfully commercialised their scientific discoveries.
  • Take advantage of a large suite of electives in science that underpin new biotechnologies.

1 in Australia for biotechnology

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023

10 in the world for biotechnology

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023

Watch What is biotechnology? It's where science meets entrepreneurship on YouTube.

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

  • Animal Agricultural Biotechnology
  • Medical Biotechnology
  • Plant Agricultural Biotechnology
  • Synthetic Biology and Industrial Biotechnology

How you'll learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Work placements
  • Research experience
  • Laboratory work
  • Workshops

What you'll study

Career possibilities

Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Depending on which field you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

  • Nanotechnology and biosensor application specialist
  • Diagnostic test developer
  • Business plan analyst
  • Pharmaceutical producer
  • University researcher
  • Venture capital consultant
  • Plant breeding, engineering, cropping or horticulture specialist
  • Plant and animal geneticist
  • Agricultural advisory board member

Graduate salary

Science and mathematics (postgraduate)

$81K–$100K

compared.edu.au

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

It's possible to complete this degree in 2 years, 1.5 years or 1 year depending on your qualifications and experience.

You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements. You may also be eligible to apply for credit or exemptions to shorten your degree further. You'll graduate with the same qualification no matter how long you take to complete the degree.

2-year degree (32 units of study)

To be eligible to complete the degree in 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:

  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
  • a graduate certificate or graduate diploma (or equivalent) in biotechnology, or
  • to have successfully completed 3 years of study towards an approved qualification at an overseas partner institution, with a formal pathway to the Master of Biotechnology.

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

1.5-year degree (24 units of study)

If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.

To be eligible to complete the degree in 1.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:

  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in biomedical science, biotechnology, science, bioinformatics, pharmacy or engineering.


You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

1-year degree (16 units of study)

If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.

To be eligible to complete the degree in 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:

  • a bachelor honours degree (or equivalent) in biomedical science, biotechnology, science, bioinformatics, pharmacy or engineering, including a minimum of one semester of full-time research (or equivalent).


You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

Related programs

English language requirements

IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ

TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.

PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.

BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.

CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.

OET is not accepted.

 

There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.

Learn how to meet the English language requirements

Student visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Biotechnology are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).

There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.

Learn more about student visas

Fields of study

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

Develop the skills and knowledge required to aid and understand animals in an agricultural setting with this specialised field of study.

You’ll gain knowledge and skills in animal and molecular biology, genetic engineering, animal reproductive biotechnology, animal vaccines, disease diagnostic equipment, and more.

You’ll develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

As a graduate you’ll find research and development opportunities with animal breeding consultancies and companies, livestock industries, private or government veterinary animal diagnostic facilities, livestock biotechnology companies, and animal health companies, among others.

View

Medical biotechnology uses cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent, diagnose and treat current and emerging diseases.

This field of study will allow you to be at the forefront of modern medicine. Learn about advanced biopharmaceuticals, cell labelling and tracking, stem cells, immunology, diagnostic devices, gene therapy, artificial organs and other aspects of innovative health solutions.

You will develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

View

Cultivate innovative solutions to help solve global problems, with a qualification in plant agriculture biotechnology.

In this field of study, you’ll gain knowledge and skills in plant molecular biology, genetic engineering, nucleic acid sequencing, disease diagnostics, and much more.

You’ll develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

As a graduate you’ll find research and development opportunities with plant breeding and seed companies, government research labs and advisory bodies, agricultural diagnostic facilities, and more.

View

Get ready to pioneer new frontiers in health, food science, conservation and beyond.

Learn how to create and re-engineer biological processes in living organisms. Develop cleaner sources of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, designer materials and other innovative products across agriculture, health, energy production and environmental management.

You will develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

View

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

Develop the skills and knowledge required to aid and understand animals in an agricultural setting with this specialised field of study.

You’ll gain knowledge and skills in animal and molecular biology, genetic engineering, animal reproductive biotechnology, animal vaccines, disease diagnostic equipment, and more.

You’ll develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

As a graduate you’ll find research and development opportunities with animal breeding consultancies and companies, livestock industries, private or government veterinary animal diagnostic facilities, livestock biotechnology companies, and animal health companies, among others.

View

Medical biotechnology uses cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent, diagnose and treat current and emerging diseases.

This field of study will allow you to be at the forefront of modern medicine. Learn about advanced biopharmaceuticals, cell labelling and tracking, stem cells, immunology, diagnostic devices, gene therapy, artificial organs and other aspects of innovative health solutions.

You will develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

View

Cultivate innovative solutions to help solve global problems, with a qualification in plant agriculture biotechnology.

In this field of study, you’ll gain knowledge and skills in plant molecular biology, genetic engineering, nucleic acid sequencing, disease diagnostics, and much more.

You’ll develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

As a graduate you’ll find research and development opportunities with plant breeding and seed companies, government research labs and advisory bodies, agricultural diagnostic facilities, and more.

View

Get ready to pioneer new frontiers in health, food science, conservation and beyond.

Learn how to create and re-engineer biological processes in living organisms. Develop cleaner sources of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, designer materials and other innovative products across agriculture, health, energy production and environmental management.

You will develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

View

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative annual fee

Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

$8,800

2024

$8,800

2024

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

AUD $48,160

2024

AUD $48,160

2024

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Government assistance

Financial aid

As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.

Learn more about financial aid

HECS-HELP

Domestic places in the Master of Biotechnology are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.

Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.

HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Centrelink support

Scholarships

You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:

How to apply

Applying online

All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.

The program code for the Master of Biotechnology is 5599.

This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.

When you apply, select your preferred duration. If you don't meet the requirements for your first preference, we'll automatically consider you for entry into a longer duration.

Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study

Applying online

All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.

The program code for the Master of Biotechnology is 5599.

This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.

When you apply, select your preferred duration. You can also ask us to consider you for a longer duration if you don't meet the entry requirements for your first preference.

Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Contact the ATSIS Unit

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