C10172v8 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
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
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.
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
Transdisciplinarity and Innovation at UTSAll UTS students have the opportunity to develop distinctive capabilities around transdisciplinary thinking and innovation through the TD School. Transdisciplinary education at UTS brings together great minds from different disciplines to explore ideas that improve the way we live and work in the world. These offerings are unique to UTS and directly translate to many existing and emerging roles and careers.
Diploma in InnovationThe Diploma in Innovation (C20060) teaches innovation, supports personal transformation and provides the hard skills needed to support the inventors and inventions of the future. Students come out of the Diploma in Innovation, with the hard skills to create and support sectoral and societal transformation. Graduates are able to fluently integrate ideas, across professional disciplines and are inventors of the future.
All UTS undergraduate students (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation) can apply for the Diploma in Innovation upon admission in their chosen undergraduate degree. It is a complete degree program that runs in parallel to any undergraduate degree. The course is offered on a three-year, part-time basis, with subjects running in 3-week long intensive blocks in July, December and February sessions. More information including a link to apply is available at https://dipinn.uts.edu.au.
Transdisciplinary electives programTransdisciplinary electives broaden students' horizons and supercharge their problem-solving skills, helping them to learn outside, beyond and across their degrees. In 2022, students enrolled in an undergraduate course that includes electives can choose to take a transdisciplinary subject (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation). From 2023, all students enrolled in most undergraduate courses will complete a transdisciplinary subject as part of their course of study. More information about the TD Electives program is available here.
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 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
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 UTS College:
- 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
| CBK92139 Stream Choice (Biotechnology) | 144cp | |
| Total | 144cp |
Course diagram
Course program
Typical course programs are shown below.
| Medical Biotechnology major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 60006 Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91132 Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| 91123 Nature and Evolution | 6cp | |
| 91400 Human Anatomy and Physiology | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91314 General Microbiology | 6cp | |
| 91142 Biotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91707 Pharmacology 1 | 6cp | |
| 91500 Histology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91178 Applications of Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| 79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation | 6cp | |
| 91401 Immunology | 6cp | |
| 91705 Medical Devices and Diagnostics | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| CBK90579 Elective 1 | 6cp | |
| CBK90580 Elective 2 | 6cp | |
| CBK90581 Elective 3 | 6cp | |
| CBK92069 Transdisciplinary Electives (6cp subject choice) | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91817 Medical Biotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing | 6cp | |
| 91180 Immunology and Human Health | 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 | |
| 60006 Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues | 6cp | |
| 91123 Nature and Evolution | 6cp | |
| Summer session | ||
| 65212 Chemistry 2 | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 91142 Biotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91314 General Microbiology | 6cp | |
| 91500 Histology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91705 Medical Devices and Diagnostics | 6cp | |
| 91132 Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| 91817 Medical Biotechnology | 6cp | |
| 79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation | 6cp | |
| Summer session | ||
| 91401 Immunology | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91707 Pharmacology 1 | 6cp | |
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 6cp | |
| CBK92069 Transdisciplinary Electives (6cp subject choice) | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91178 Applications of Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| 91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing | 6cp | |
| 91180 Immunology and Human Health | 6cp | |
| 91369 Biobusiness | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| CBK90579 Elective 1 | 6cp | |
| CBK90580 Elective 2 | 6cp | |
| CBK90581 Elective 3 | 6cp | |
| Environmental Biotechnology major, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 6cp | |
| 91107 The Biosphere | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91132 Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| 91123 Nature and Evolution | 6cp | |
| 60006 Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues | 6cp | |
| 65621 Environmental Chemistry | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91168 Ecological Genetics | 6cp | |
| 91314 General Microbiology | 6cp | |
| 91142 Biotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91154 Ecology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91159 Environmental Remediation | 6cp | |
| 79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation | 6cp | |
| CBK92069 Transdisciplinary Electives (6cp subject choice) | 6cp | |
| 91178 Applications of Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 18 credit points of options | 18cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 91145 Environmental Protection and Management | 6cp | |
| 91156 Ocean Systems and Climate Change | 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 Nature and Evolution | 6cp | |
| 60006 Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 33116 Design, Data, and Decisions | 6cp | |
| 91142 Biotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91107 The Biosphere | 6cp | |
| 91314 General Microbiology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 65621 Environmental Chemistry | 6cp | |
| 91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing | 6cp | |
| 91132 Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| 79006 Intellectual Property Commercialisation | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91154 Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91168 Ecological Genetics | 6cp | |
| CBK92069 Transdisciplinary Electives (6cp subject choice) | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91818 Environmental Biotechnology | 6cp | |
| 91178 Applications of Molecular Biology | 6cp | |
| 91369 Biobusiness | 6cp | |
| 91159 Environmental Remediation | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91145 Environmental Protection and Management | 6cp | |
| Select 18 credit points of options | 18cp | |
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