Course Duration : 4 Years
Minimum Entry Qualification : Three (3) ‘S’ passes at the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination in one and the same sitting (Biological Science stream or Bio System Technology stream)
Employability : When considering the Biotechnology degrees, one common biotechnology career path, laboratory work is not the sole choice. The Biotechnology field and its careers span over other functional areas that are just as integral parts in getting a meaningful biotechnology product to market through areas such as research and development, quality assurance/regulatory affairs, manufacturing, clinical research, policymaking, food, animal and environmental science, sales and technical support, business and project management sectors. Medical Scientists, Biochemists, Microbiologists, Biomanufacturing Specialists, Business Development Managers, Entrepreneurs, Academia are few examples of the most in-demand biotechnology careers that are shaping the student’s future.

This degree program provides students with a broad knowledge of modern biotechnology providing 120 credits. The degree focuses on the multidisciplinary nature of the subject, with bringing in expertise from other areas to supplement a traditional study of biotechnology. In addition, it applies cutting-edge technologies to biotechnological procedures in new creative ways.

There are six major subfields of Biotechnology targeting from this degree, based on the higher study opportunities and emerging career pathways. Genetics & Molecular Biology covers essential topics in cell structure, gene inheritance and manipulations, recombinant DNA technologies, PCR techniques, bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics studies, forensics with a broad overview of contemporary theories as well as extensive practical. Plant Cell & Tissue Culture is an essential area which educates on plant regeneration and micropropagation, metabolomics studies, particularly in modern Plant Biotechnology, as a tool in research and commercial application. Pharmaceuticals & Natural Product Biotechnology involves an interdisciplinary approach of coursework and research spanning many aspects of basic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology with a common theme of drug discovery. Food & Nutrition Biotechnology extends on a competitive and knowledgeable specialisation in food production and processing technologies, nutrition and health, quality and innovation, entrepreneurship and marketing management of food industries. Microbial Biotechnology answers to the significance of microbes as processors of life and the environment by providing an interface between fundamental molecular, medical and environmental microbiology. Environmental Biotechnology is an applied discipline that explains the likely hood of exploiting living organisms or products of their vital functions to resolve the issues in ecosystems. Further, biodiversity conservation and management studies could be considered as the state-of-the-art life science in this degree program which is full of field practical excursions and nature explorations.

The final year project entails students researching on a topic of their choice, engaging with the scholarly debates in the relevant disciplines that enhance the independent thinking and analytical skills. Finally, there is an opportunity to work in an industrial environment (6-month internship) with different professionals to gain experience, apply and explore the knowledge acquired in the classroom.