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.

In demand globally

By 2025 the biotechnology industry is predicted to have annual turnover of around $1 trillion.

Most jobs in biotechnology companies require both a scientific background and an understanding of the commercial requirements of the industry, and that’s why our graduates are in demand in the diverse and growing biotech industry.

Located in the heart of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct

Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who, and in this course you’ll be based in the heart of Melbourne’s Biomedical Precinct, learning from leading researchers in the field and benefiting from our extensive network of partners across the industry.

Work with industry on real-world problems

Taking our Industry Project in Biotechnology will put your skills to the test, solving a real biotechnology-related problem with one of our industry partners, which include CSL, Trajan Scientific and Sienna Cancer Diagnostics.

If you’d like to gain even more real-world experience, you can choose to complete an internship in a science or technology-related workplace for course credit.

More than just technical skills

We know that soft skills are important too, which is why we include subjects on business, scientific communication and leadership, to ensure you’ll be ready to enter the biotechnology industry with confidence.

Course structure

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

• Core subjects (125 points), including either the Industry Project in Biotechnology 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.

Career outcomes

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.

Technical and professional skills

Upon graduating you’ll have a broad understanding of the biotechnology industry, genomics and molecular biology.

Additionally, you’ll have strong professional skills in:

• Commercialisation of science
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Collaborative teamwork
• Scientific communication, both written and oral
• Leadership.

Further study

At the end of the course, if you successfully qualify for and complete the optional Biotechnology Research Project, you could qualify to undertake a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

To be considered for entry, you must have completed: An undergraduate degree in an appropriate scientific discipline with a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 65 per cent. Appropriate s

IELTS (academic English Only): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 + ; Writing 21; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 58 + no communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 176 + no skill below 169.