Program Requirements

The Master of Biotechnology requires the completion of 96 units, of which:

A minimum of 24 units must come from completion of 8000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of: 

24 units from completion of the following foundational courses:

BIOL6161 Genes: Replication and Expression (6 units)

BIOL6162 Molecular Gene Technology (6 units)

CHEM6208 Chemical Biology 2 (6 units)

CHEM6211 Chemical Biology 1 (6 units)

24 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

BIOL8291 Research Presentation Skills (6 units)

BIOL8700 Research Proposal (6 units)

BIOL8707 Biotechnology Practicum (12 units)

 A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 units from completion of Science and Society Courses from the following list:

BIOL6191 Bioethics and Society (6 units)

ENVS6013 Society and Environmental Change (6 units)

SCOM6001 Foundations of Science Communication and Engagement (6 units)

SCOM6007 From Creativity to Impact: Science Communication Project Design (6 units)

SCOM6012 Communicating Science Online (6 units)

SCOM6015 Public Speaking About Science (6 units)

SCOM6016 Science, Journalism and Society (6 units)

SCOM6027 Science Politics (6 units)

SCOM6029 Science Communication and Planetary Crises (6 units)

SCOM6031 Misinformation, Disinformation, and Risk (6 units)

SCOM6032 Making Modern Science (6 units)

SCOM6501 Science Communication Strategy and Leadership (6 units)

SCOM8014 Communicating Science with the Public (6 units)

A minimum of 18 and a maximum of 42 units from from courses in one or more of the following thematic lists:

Synthetic Biology:

BIOL6006 Genetics (6 units)

BIOL6106 Biosecurity (6 units)

BIOL6107 Advanced Molecular Biology and Biochemistry: From Human Health to Plant Science  (6 units)

BIOL6117 Cell Biology (6 units)

BIOL6142 General Microbiology (6 units)

BIOL6163 Genomics and its Applications (6 units)

BIOL6188 ANU SynBio Challenge Team Project (6 units)

BIOL6177 Advances in Molecular Plant Science (6 units)

BIOL6243 Bioinformatics and Its Applications (6 units)

CHEM6213 Soft Matter (6 units)

CHEM6324 Advanced Protein Technology (6 units)

CHEM6327 Topics in Chemical Biology (6 units)

MATH6100 Bioinformatics and Biological Modelling (6 units)

MATH6208 Advanced Mathematical Bioinformatics (6 units)

Medicinal Chemistry

BIOL6171 Biochemistry and Nutrition (6 units)

BIOL6174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease (6 units)

CHEM6201 Synthetic Aspects of Medicinal Chemistry (6 units)

CHEM6203 Chemical Structure and Reactivity 2 (6 units)

CHEM6204 Chemical Structure and Reactivity 1 (6 units)

CHEM6206 Catalysis in Chemistry (6 units)

CHEM6210 Structure Elucidation in Chemistry (6 units)

CHEM6327 Topics in Chemical and Synthetic Biology (6 units)

MEDN6001 Health and Medical Physiology (6 units)

MEDN6002 Pathogenesis of Human Disease (6 units)

MEDN6820 Biomedical Imaging: Principles, Technologies and Applications in Health Sciences (6 units)

Medical Biotechnology

BIOL6107 Advances in Medical and Plant Biochemistry (6 units)

BIOL6108 Hallmarks of Cancer (6 units)

BIOL6117 Cell Biology (6 units)

BIOL6141 Infection and Immunity (6 units)

BIOL6142 General Microbiology (6 units)

BIOL6144 Advanced and Applied Immunology (6 units)

BIOL6171 Biochemistry and Nutrition (6 units)

BIOL6174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease (6 units)

BIOL6204 Genetics of Human Disease 1 (6 units)

BIOL6205 Genetics of Human Disease 2 (6 units)

MEDN8007 Computational Biomedicine Project (6 units)

A maximum of 24 units from completion of 6000- and 8000-level courses from the following subject areas:

CHEM Chemistry

BIOL Biology

NEUR Neuroscience

MATH Mathematics

MEDN Medicine

Note: BIOL8707 Research Practicum (12 units) - represents the capstone requirement. This course must be taken in a single semester.

Study Options

Admission Requirements

Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent

• with a minimum GPA of at least 5.0/7.0
• with at least 8 courses in a cognate discipline, which must also have a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0.
• the program also has a chemistry/biochemistry pre-requisite which requires a minimum of 2 courses of undergraduate chemistry/biochemistry

The GPA requirement for this program must be met by both the program as a whole, as well as by the 8 courses in a cognate discipline. Where more than 8 cognate courses have been completed by the applicant, ANU will take the best 8 courses when assessing the cognate GPA.

The GPA for a Bachelor program will be calculated from (i) a completed Bachelor degree using all grades and/or (ii) a completed Bachelor degree using all grades other than those from the last semester (or equivalent study period) of the Bachelor degree. The higher of the two calculations will be used as the basis for admission.

Ranking and English language proficiency: At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry. In line with the University's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors. Applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of:

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or
• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

Further information: English language admission requirements and post-admission support

Diversity factors: As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.

Assessment of qualifications: Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.

Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au.

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications.

Credit Granted

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units (one semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit.

Cognate Disciplines

Biochemistry, molecular biology, gene technology, genetics, genomics, RNA biology, proteomics, protein engineering, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, bioinformatics and related disciplines.

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Employment Opportunities

The Master of Biotechnology provides a pathway for science graduates with background knowledge in biochemistry molecular biology and chemistry to acquire new knowledge, or extend and update your theoretical and practical understanding of modern biotechnology. 

You’ll be prepared to carry out research in basic, medical or agricultural sciences in university, industry or government research institutions. Opportunities exist in scientific, pharmaceutical and pathology companies, or in government and public service positions.

Completing a Master of Biotechnology (Advanced), with a research component, can also lead to a PhD.

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply knowledge in the area of biotechnology.
2. Synthesise, interpret and critically evaluate current literature of relevance to biotechnology.
3. Integrate data from interdisciplinary fields encompassed by biotechnology and independently apply this to new problems.
4. Refine and master theoretical and/or practical skills relevant to research and professional practice in biotechnology research.
5. Critique the ethical and social dimensions of biotechnology in society.
6. Articulate biotechnology knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is currently not available for this program

Further Information

Potential pathway to Masters (Advanced):

Students who are admitted to the Master of Biotechnology can explore the option of undertaking a significant research component. Please discuss this with the program convener before completion of the first 24 units of study at the Master level. Students have the option of applying to transfer to the Master of Biotechnology (Adv) and undertaking a 36-48 unit research project if they satisfy the following requirements:

• achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark in the initial 48 units of coursework,
• have the approval of an identified supervisor,
• have completed compulsory courses in the first 48 units of the Master Biotechnology (Advanced), and
• have satisfied the published admission requirements of the Master of Biotechnology (Advanced).

Vertical Double Degree pathway UGRD-PGRD

Students who are interested in pursuing a Vertical Double Degree pathway with this program, are advised to contact the College of Science Student Administration Office at students.cos@anu.edu.au and seek academic advice. Students who are already in an undergraduate degree offered by the College of Science or College of Health & Medicine should seek academic advice before completion of the first 72 units of their undergraduate studies.

This pathway is not available to students in an undergraduate Flexible Double Degree.

Recommended Study Pathways:

Students completing an Masters in Biotechnology are expected to complete four foundational courses (24 units) that cover key concepts underlying research in the biological and chemical sciences. In the remainder of the program students can organise enrolment choices through three thematic streams: i) Synthetic Biology; ii) Medicinal Chemistry; and iii) Medical Biotechnology. These three streams build a more sophisticated understanding of concepts across the spectrum of the discipline and, in particular, fosters integration of theoretical and applied knowledge across interdisciplinary and sub disciplinary contexts. A visual representation is available from this link.

Exit pathways:

Students who have completed 48 units and wish to exit the program have the option of transferring to graduate from a Graduate Diploma of Science.

Students who have completed 24 units and wish to exit the program have the option of transferring to graduate from a Graduate Certificate of Science.

Courses offered by the College of Science & Medicine:

An indicative list of courses offered by the College of Science & Medicine can be found under current students page on the College website via this link.