Course summary

Study how biotechnology is applied in health, agriculture and environmental contexts. Develop scientific knowledge and practical lab skills, with opportunities to focus on areas such as molecular biology, industrial biotechnology or vaccinology through project work and exposure to current research within the integrated master’s year. Study a lab-focused course that blends theory with hands-on experience, helping you develop scientific, analytical and communication skills that could be useful in solving real-world challenges and preparing for diverse roles in biotechnology.

• Build foundations: explore how life works from the smallest molecules to whole-body systems. Learn about DNA and RNA, how genes are switched on and off, and how cells use energy. Study about bioinformatics, using maths and statistics to analyse real biological data.

• Real-world focus: understand how biotechnology helps create safe, sustainable food, clean up pollution, produce useful materials on a large scale and develop greener solutions for the environment.

• Explore cutting-edge topics: learn about areas like genomics, personalised medicine, CRISPR and gene therapy in disease treatment. Learn how biotech breakthroughs are brought to market, and develop skills in areas including computational biology.

• Learn digital and analytical skills: develop bioinformatics and computational biology skills, learning how to analyse large data sets, interpret omics data and use programming tools to support breakthroughs in genomics and personalised medicine.

• Study the science that’s changing lives: from tackling antibiotic resistance to advancing cancer therapies, explore how biotechnology is solving real-world health and environmental challenges, preparing you for a meaningful career at the forefront of innovation.

• Opt for the master’s route: you may choose to extend your studies with the MSci route (subject to meeting progression requirements). Deepen your expertise with a final year focused on advanced research, which could give you an edge when applying for specialist roles.

• Contemporary facilities: apply theory through lab sessions and projects, giving you real-world experience with techniques like PCR, gene editing (CRISPR) and cell culture which are vital in research and industry.

• Learn from research-active experts and global case studies: learn from academic staff with industry experience in biotech research (staff may be subject to change). Study real-world examples from around the world, helping you understand how innovation works in different regulatory, ethical and commercial environments.