Biotechnology (Sustainable Biotechnologies) MSc

Keen to make an impact on some of the planet's biggest sustainability challenges?

Designed in consultation with industry, the course combines cutting-edge research with hands-on experience, giving you the skills to tackle real-world problems in areas such as energy, materials and chemical processes.

Course specifics

With the flexibility to choose optional units such as Manufacturing with Microbes and Food Security and the Environment, you can shape your learning around the issues you're most passionate about. You'll also take a unit focussing on the wider challenges of global environmental sustainability, giving you the opportunity to develop and use skills in entrepreneurship, teaching, media and communication and or public engagement.

You'll also take a unit focussing on the wider challenges of global environmental sustainability, giving you the opportunity to develop and use skills in entrepreneurship, teaching, media and communication, or public engagement.

Research projects

As a key part of the course, you'll undertake two research projects:

* Research project 1 is a group project based in the lab working with colleagues on the course and using cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas 9 gene editing techniques.

* Research project 2 is a more in-depth individual project running for the summer semester.

Examples of final projects offered to our current Molecular Biosciences with Biotechnology stream include:

* Characterisation of N. benthamiana genes involved in Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus cell-to-cell movement for novel resistance development.

* Establishing the use of environmental yeasts as biocontrol agents against toxigenic cereal pathogens.

Course highlights

* Study at a consistently ranked Top 10 University (The Guardian, Complete University Guide, The Times and The Sunday Times) on a course designed in consultation with industry partners to give you the skills employers need.

* Gain extensive research, collaboration and practical experience by carrying out two separate research projects including working alongside a researcher from one of our world-renowned research groups within the Faculty of Science or Engineering.

* Access our dedicated postgraduate labs, giving you the laboratory exposure and specialist skills required by industry and academia.

* Get support from your dedicated Academic Advisor for the duration of the course and get help and support for course work from our friendly team of lecturers and researchers.

Career prospects

With strong industry links and the option of a professional placement, you'll build the expertise and perspective to stand out and drive innovation in the sector. Graduates are equipped for careers across biotechnology, sustainability, research and innovation, with recent alumni progressing into roles such as Bioanalytical Scientist and Data Consultant. Our dedicated careers team is on hand to offer individual guidance and help you choose between employment and further study.

Who is this course for?

This course is for you if you’ve graduated from any bioscience, medical, veterinary or related discipline and you’re interested in specialising in a career using sustainable biotechnologies.

We also offer the course with the option to specialise in healthcare technologies or with Entrepreneurship, and we have an MSc in Molecular Biosciences with specialisms offered in microbiology, bioinformatics and medical biosciences.