Bachelor of Biotechnology

The Bachelor of Biotechnology provides students with a broad knowledge of modern biotechnology and its applications. Algal biofuels, stem cell therapy and new methods of disease diagnosis are just a few projects that biotechnologists are working on today. This course provides students with a good understanding of biological processes of living organisms and the skills required to manipulate these processes in the development of new medicines, environmental management, data analysis and biosensor technology. Students gain broad knowledge of modern biotechnology and practical skills in ethics, law and business processes.

Biotechnology is a key science of the future and graduates have high employment rates due to the course's strong professional and industry focus. Graduates of this course gain a professional qualification in biological science and a strong foundation in the commercial aspects of biotechnology.

Students choose one from the following four majors:

• medical biotechnology – students gain knowledge and skills to work in both the biotechnology industry and biomedical science research. It is an exciting and rapidly evolving area, leading to development of a new generation of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, hormones and anti-inflammatory agents using this technology.
• environmental biotechnology – students gain knowledge and skills to address environmental issues, such as the removal of pollution, renewable energy generation or biomass production, by exploiting biological processes. Students learn how to remediate contaminated sites, develop more sustainable products (such as converting algae to fuel) or use microbes to manage waste.
• computational biotechnology – bioinformatics or computational biotechnologists are in demand due to their combined expertise in biological sciences, statistics, mathematical modelling and database design. Students gain knowledge and skills in analysing and interpreting data, using mathematical modelling and technology, to translate data and help make informed decisions.
• biosensor technology – a biosensor is an analytical device that detects biological samples and then converts these responses into measureable data. An example of a biosensor application is the glucose meters, where a vast majority are developed based on electrochemical biosensor technology. In this major, students gain knowledge and skills in how to develop innovative products and technology to improve the quality of people's lives, such as user-friendly diagnostic tools for alcohol and drug testing, and water and food safety testing.