Program Requirements

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

48 units must come from completion of the coursework component

48 units must come from completion of the research project

A minimum of 48 units must come from completion of 8000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of:

18 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

BIOL6162 Molecular Gene Technology (6 units)

BIOL8702 Advanced Research Techniques (12 units)

 A minimum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL8291 Research Presentation Skills (6 units)

BIOL8700 Research Proposal (12 units)

BIOL8704 Biology Literature Research Project (6 units)

 A maximum of 18 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL6006 Genetics (6 units)

BIOL6106 Biosecurity (6 units)

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)

BIOL6161 Genes: Replication and Expression (6 units)

BIOL6163 Genomics and its Applications (6 units)

BIOL6171 Biochemistry and Nutrition (6 units)

BIOL6174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease (6 units)

BIOL6177 Advances in Molecular Plant Science (6 units)

BIOL6191 Bioethics and Society (6 units)

BIOL6194 Biological Sciences in the Workplace (6 units)

BIOL6204 Genetics of Human Disease 1 (6 units)

BIOL6205 Genetics of Human Disease 2 (6 units)

BIOL6243 Bioinformatics and Its Applications (6 units)

MATH6100 Bioinformatics and Biological Modelling (6 units)

MATH6208 Advanced Mathematical Bioinformatics (6 units)

VCPG6001 Unravelling Complexity (6 units)

 A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses 6000- and 8000-level courses from the following subject areas:

CHEM Chemistry

NEUR Neuroscience

SCOM Science Communication

48 units from completion of the following research component:

Either:

48 units from completion of BIOL8701 Research Project, which must be undertaken twice, in consecutive periods

Or:

48 units from completion of MEDN8701 Medical Research Project, which must be undertaken twice, in consecutive periods

Students must achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark in the first 48 units of coursework and have the approval of an identified supervisor for the research project to remain enrolled in the Master of Biotechnology (Advanced). A condition of supervisor approval is that the research project is feasible and it should be noted that the majority of research projects will require on campus attendance.

Students who do not achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark or do not have approval of an identified supervisor will be transferred to the Master of Biotechnology or a Graduate Diploma of Science.

Master Research

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Master Research Training

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Capstone Courses

Study Options

Admission Requirements

Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent

• with a minimum GPA of at least 5.5/7.0
• with at least 8 courses in a cognate discipline, which must also have a minimum GPA of 5.5/7.0.
• 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.

Cognate Disciplines: Biochemistry, molecular biology and gene technology

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

Applications for course credit: 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 and gene technology

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.     Demonstrate high level knowledge in the area of biotechnology;

2.     Interpret, synthesize and critically analyse published literature of relevance to biotechnology;

3.     Perform experimental work, interpret and analyse results, write reports and collate data into a thesis;

4.     Clearly present theory and results in both written and oral formats.

Research Strengths

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is currently not available for this programme.

Further Information

Progression hurdle:

The Master of Biotechnology (Advanced) has a progression hurdle that must be satisfied in order to progress to the research project: Students must achieve a minimum 70% average mark in the first 48 units of coursework and have the approval of the supervisor for the research project. A condition of supervisor approval is that the research project is feasible and it should be noted that the majority of research projects will require on campus attendance.

Courses offered by the College of Science and College of Health and Medicine:

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