Biotechnology

Overview

From medicine to environmental protection to advances in food and agriculture production, the world needs sustainable solutions. You could help create them. Work as a professional in one of the most exciting growth areas in science – Biotechnology.

This course covers all aspects of biotechnology, enabling you to formulate solutions to global challenges and help drive new advances in the biotechnology industry. You will graduate with the knowledge and transferrable skills for a rewarding career in advanced manufacturing, bioinformatics, and sustainable bioproduct development and commercialisation.

You will acquire the capability to research and analyse market needs and could create the next generation of novel foods, biopolymers for applications in medicine, packaging, and safe disposables.

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Courses

Master of Biotechnology

Duration: 2 years

Delivery mode: In person

Availability:
Full-time
Part-time

Location:
Bedford Park

Start dates:
March
July

SATAC code: 2CM059

Annual indicative fees (2025):
$37,260 (Full fee paying)

Further information on fees listed

Apply via SATAC

Why study biotechnology at Flinders

Practical lab sessions provide hands-on training, and job-ready skills
Build opportunities for commercialisation, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and patents in the global market
Offers research project placements within the University, Flinders Medical Centre, and the biotechnology industry
Research is fully supported by Industry
Develop transferable skills in project management including team-based problem solving, and oral and written communication skills with diverse stakeholders
Assessment is based on a combination of course work, project work, formal examination, and a dissertation

Your career

Master of Biotechnology graduates pursue careers in fields such as medicine, food production, agriculture and advanced manufacturing. Skills developed enable you to pursue career opportunities that require project management, commercialisation, and government policy development.

Potential occupations include:

Pharma/biotechnology (research assurance officer)
Production associate for novel bioactives
Medical informatics associate
Food and beverage industry
Research scientist
Trainee patent attorney
Medical sales representative
Water quality associate
Environmental consultant
Agriculture technologist
Entrepreneur-start-up business

Potential employers include:

BioCena
Bionomics
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
CSL, DuPont, Novozymes
University research departments
CSIRO, Hospitals
SA Water
SAHMRI
SARDI
Biosensis
Clinpath
GlaxoSmithKline
CMAX (clinical trials)

What you will study

Theoretical scientific knowledge is complemented by relevant practical laboratory training and backed up by business training in financial, marketing and management skills. The law, ethics, society and the environment have great relevance in biotechnology and all are examined.

Core topics cover areas such as DNA to genome; protein to proteome; molecular biotechnology; legal, ethical and social aspects of bioscience; and professional skills for biotechnology. Application topics cover industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology; environmental biotechnology; and plant and food biotechnology.

Practical experience

The Master of Biotechnology degree provides you with practical experience that prepares you for the workplace:

Undertake research laboratory placements
Participate in one-on-one mentoring sessions with industry and biomedical research leaders
Choose to complete a nine-month research project in industry, research organisations or appropriately accredited institutions nationally

View study program

Master of Biotechnology

Industry partners

We partner with industry (multinationals and local start-up companies), government, university, and researchers with interests in biotechnology product development.

We are working with international industries that have interest in developing functional foods, proteins, and animal free fats to meet potential emerging market demands.

Some of our partners are:

Industry partners in the green manufacturing industry transformation centre: Jujube Growers Association of SA, Wonderful Capital Biotech Group, Nourish Ingredients Pvt Ltd.
Government research organisations including: CSIRO, SARDI, and FRDC
International: Manipal University, ICT Mumbai India

Our Research

Our research, conducted by an internationally renowned faculty, addresses major global problems facing humanity. More than 90% of our research was rated as “world standard” in the 2018 ERA assessment.

Research work in the second year of MBTL has impact in the following biotechnology areas:

Industrial Biotechnology; bioprocessing, biocatalysis and bioproducts
Medical Biotechnology; health and safety, product validation
Food and Agriculture Biotechnology; food sustainability, antimicrobials and marine biotechnology

Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development

Leading a new wave in marine biotechnology application, industry enhancement and environmental protection for sustainable industries of the future.

Find out more