University of Technology Sydney

C10172v7 Bachelor of Biotechnology

Award(s): Bachelor of Biotechnology (BBiotech)
UAC code: 607045 (Autumn session, Spring session)
CRICOS code: 026806C
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 144
Course EFTSL: 3
Location: City campus

Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Pathway course
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Honours
Other information

Overview

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 and environmental management. 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 two 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.

Career options

Career options vary according to the chosen major.

  • Medical biotechnology: positions in laboratories or research labs developing new vaccines and medicines for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals, pathology and biomedical firms, universities, and research institutes.
  • Environmental biotechnology: typical jobs include research associate, consultant, field scientist, microbiologist, conservation officer, environment officer, biotechnologist, and employment across a wide range of industries, creating new products or processes to conserve the environment.

Course intended learning outcomes

1.1 Apply: Employ current and emerging technologies for the discovery, research, and development of biotechnology processes and products.
1.2 Analyse: Evaluate economic and scientific strategies that influence the research and development of a biotechnology product.
1.3 Synthesise: Integrate biotechnology and business to translate a product from a research lab to the marketplace.
2.1 Apply: Explore data sets from a variety of angles to determine hidden weaknesses, trends, and/or opportunities.
2.2 Analyse: Critically evaluate information from sources such as databases and literature to identify novel research questions.
2.3 Synthesise: Apply critical, strategic and creative reasoning to articulate issues related to biotechnology.
3.1 Apply: Display knowledge of risk management, accurate record keeping, and an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements in biotechnology.
3.2 Analyse: Examine the global risk perceptions of biotechnology.
3.3 Synthesise: Articulate how science underpins society, in particular the role and place of bio-business in the economy.
4.1 Apply: Identify the social, disciplinary, economic and contextual barriers and enablers of innovation.
4.2 Analyse: Question new and evolving concepts, ethics, and applications in biotechnology and research them further.
4.3 Synthesise: Identify opportunities to innovate and develop strategies to achieve meaningful outcomes.
5.1 Apply: Display communication skills using a variety of methods (oral, written, visual) to communicate with scientists, business, and the general public.
5.2 Analyse: Develop the capacity to communicate applied research and creative critical analysis to generate defensible, convincing arguments.
5.3 Synthesise: Communicate as an effective member or leader of diverse teams within a multi-disciplinary setting.
6.1 Apply: Describe the contribution that indigenous fermentation technology has made to global practises in food biotechnology.
6.2 Analyse: Articulate ethical issues associated with the appropriation of Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants.
6.3 Synthesise: Integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, as both experience and analysis, into professional practice.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Pathway course

Successful completion of the Insearch:

  • Diploma of Engineering with a WAM of at least 60 per cent without any failures guarantees entry into the course with 36 credit points recognition of prior learning
  • Diploma of Science (Life Science) guarantees entry into the course with 48 credit points of recognition of prior learning.

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics; any two units of English; any two units of Science.

Chemistry, Mathematics Extension 1 is recommended.

Course duration and attendance

Students can complete the course over three years of full-time or six years of part-time study. Part-time students are required to attend some classes in daytime hours.

Course structure

Students must complete a total of 144 credit points, made up of 54 credit points of core subjects, a 66-credit-point major and 24 credit points of electives.

Industrial training/professional practice

Students studying this course have an opportunity to undertake an internship subject and receive academic credit for their placement off campus (an external business or research institute) or on campus (UTS research institutes or departments), in a capacity relevant to their academic studies.

Course completion requirements

STM91191 Core subjects (Biotechnology) 54cp
CBK91236 Major choice (Biotechnology) 66cp
CBK90232 Electives (Science UG) 24cp
Total 144cp

Course diagram

Course diagram: C10172

Course program

Typical course programs are shown below.

Medical Biotechnology major, Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
60001 Principles of Scientific Practice   6cp
65111 Chemistry 1   6cp
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics   6cp
33116 Statistical Design and Analysis   6cp
Spring session
91132 Molecular Biology 1   6cp
65212 Chemistry 2   6cp
91401 Immunology 1   6cp
91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology   6cp
Year 2
Autumn session
91320 Metabolic Biochemistry   6cp
91314 General Microbiology   6cp
91142 Biotechnology   6cp
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature   6cp
Spring session
91178 Applications of Molecular Biology   6cp
79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation   6cp
26100 Integrating Business Perspectives   6cp
91180 Immunology and Human Health   6cp
Year 3
Autumn session
Select 24 credit points of options   24cp
Spring session
91817 Medical Biotechnology   6cp
91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing   6cp
91705 Medical Devices and Diagnostics   6cp
91369 Biobusiness   6cp
Medical Biotechnology major, Spring commencing, full time
Year 1
Spring session
65111 Chemistry 1   6cp
91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology   6cp
60001 Principles of Scientific Practice   6cp
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics   6cp
Summer session
91401 Immunology 1   6cp
Year 2
Autumn session
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature   6cp
33116 Statistical Design and Analysis   6cp
91142 Biotechnology   6cp
91314 General Microbiology   6cp
Spring session
91180 Immunology and Human Health   6cp
91132 Molecular Biology 1   6cp
91817 Medical Biotechnology   6cp
79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation   6cp
Summer session
65212 Chemistry 2   6cp
Year 3
Autumn session
91320 Metabolic Biochemistry   6cp
26100 Integrating Business Perspectives   6cp
Select 12 credit points of options   12cp
Spring session
91178 Applications of Molecular Biology   6cp
91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing   6cp
91705 Medical Devices and Diagnostics   6cp
91369 Biobusiness   6cp
Year 4
Autumn session
Select 12 credit points of options   12cp
Environmental Biotechnology major, Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
60001 Principles of Scientific Practice   6cp
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics   6cp
33116 Statistical Design and Analysis   6cp
91107 The Biosphere   6cp
Spring session
91132 Molecular Biology 1   6cp
91123 Biocomplexity   6cp
65111 Chemistry 1   6cp
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature   6cp
Year 2
Autumn session
26100 Integrating Business Perspectives   6cp
91314 General Microbiology   6cp
91142 Biotechnology   6cp
91154 Ecology   6cp
Spring session
91159 Environmental Remediation   6cp
79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation   6cp
65621 Environmental Chemistry   6cp
91178 Applications of Molecular Biology   6cp
Year 3
Autumn session
Select 18 credit points of options   18cp
91145 Environmental Protection and Management   6cp
Spring session
91818 Environmental Biotechnology   6cp
91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing   6cp
91369 Biobusiness   6cp
Select 6 credit points of options   6cp
Environmental Biotechnology major, Spring commencing, full time
Year 1
Spring session
65111 Chemistry 1   6cp
91123 Biocomplexity   6cp
60001 Principles of Scientific Practice   6cp
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics   6cp
Year 2
Autumn session
33116 Statistical Design and Analysis   6cp
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature   6cp
91107 The Biosphere   6cp
91314 General Microbiology   6cp
Spring session
65621 Environmental Chemistry   6cp
91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing   6cp
91132 Molecular Biology 1   6cp
79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation   6cp
Year 3
Autumn session
91154 Ecology   6cp
91142 Biotechnology   6cp
26100 Integrating Business Perspectives   6cp
91145 Environmental Protection and Management   6cp
Spring session
91818 Environmental Biotechnology   6cp
91178 Applications of Molecular Biology   6cp
91369 Biobusiness   6cp
91159 Environmental Remediation   6cp
Year 4
Autumn session
Select 24 credit points of options   24cp

Honours

The Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) (C09022) is available to eligible students with an additional one year of full-time study.

Other information

Further information is available from:

UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS