Course summary

Our integrated Masters in Biotechnology examines how microorganisms can be used to produce improved therapeutic drugs, and why an understanding of microbial evolution is important for controlling pathogens. This course is ideal if you want an interdisciplinary approach to Biotechnology. You will have a wide range of options to tailor the course to your developing interests. Microorganisms are an important but often overlooked form of life. They are causative agents of many diseases, but can also be harnessed to produce a wide range of useful products including antibiotics and other medicines. Microbes are vital for providing multiple ecosystem services and are crucial for agricultural systems, whether via the microbes in the soil, those associated with plants, or in the context of providing the basis for our understanding of genetic modification. They can be used to produce biofuels, provide the means to decontaminate polluted environments and act as important models for understanding biological processes. At York, you will learn about the practical application of biological knowledge to economically important areas, such as health, food and the environment. The integrated Masters course introduces a four-year programme that specifically focuses on the skills needed for a career as a research scientist. During this time you work with researchers within one of the UK’s top bioscience departments to learn specialised techniques; you will gain experience in a research lab doing pioneering work at the forefront of their field. You also undertake specialist research training and take Masters-level modules. Adding a year in industry or a year abroad are both an option with this course too, so you can benefit from the advantages that a year away can bring. The Department of Biology will provide you with the opportunity to learn in new, spacious and modern teaching laboratories which provide excellent facilities for practicals and small group project work, alongside our state-of-the-art computing facilities.