For more than a century, The University of Queensland (UQ) has created positive change for society by delivering knowledge leadership for a better world.
UQ ranks among the world’s top universities and, with a strong focus on teaching excellence, UQ has won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university.
At UQ, we’re changing the way higher education is imagined and experienced. Our students enjoy innovative and flexible learning options, diverse and dynamic partnership opportunities, and an integrated digital and campus learning environment.
UQ’s 307,000 graduates are an engaged network of global alumni spanning more than 170 countries, and include more than 15,800 PhDs. More than 56,000 current students, including around 20,000 postgraduate students and approximately 21,000 international students from 142 countries, currently study across UQ’s three campuses in South East Queensland.
With a strong focus on teaching excellence, having won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university, UQ is committed to providing students with the best opportunities and practical experiences during their time with us, empowering them with transferable knowledge and skills that will prepare them to exceed expectations throughout their careers.
UQ’s six faculties, eight globally recognised research institutes and more than 100 research centres attract an interdisciplinary community of 1,500 scientists, social scientists and engineers, who champion research excellence and continue UQ’s tradition of research leadership. This is reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of Australian Research Council Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (452 awards worth $339 million).
UQ has an outstanding track record in commercialising innovation, with major technologies employed across the globe and gross product sales of more than US$44 billion.
Education
Biotechnology
Biotechnology considers how cellular and biomolecular processes can address real-world current global challenges. We apply foundational and cutting-edge scientific skills to create innovative solutions to medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental problems. Central to this field are development of business skills to successfully commercialise new inventions to benefit the end user. Biotechnology is an exciting interdisciplinary subject, whether you have strength in chemistry, biology, physics or engineering, there is a track to suit everyone.
Bachelor of Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a creative entrepreneurial field, where scientists design innovative products and technologies, pioneering new frontiers in health, agriculture, science, engineering and beyond.
Develop the skills and knowledge needed to translate innovative scientific ideas into commercially viable solutions. Learn real-world insights from educators who are at the frontier of emerging research fields in biotechnology.
You will combine theory and practice to examine biotechnology’s varied applications, from antibody engineering to fight disease and genetic plant engineering to increase agricultural yields, through to vaccine design, cell and tissue culture technologies, and more.
Deepen your understanding of the key issues within biotechnology such as intellectual property, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and quality control. Learn to apply quality management systems in biotechnology so that products and technologies are safe and reproducible.
Learn how to assess the market potential and financial viability of new products or technical services such as vaccines, diagnostics, biopharmaceutical drugs, transgenic plants or innovations in stem cell therapy.
Majors
Cultivate innovative solutions to enhance the sustainability, productivity and profitability of the global agricultural industry. Study agricultural biotechnology and undertake advanced-level study in areas such as plant and food science, biochemistry, plant and animal molecular biology, and genetics. Learn how to genetically engineer crops or livestock animals to enhance nutritional value, reduce susceptibility to disease, improve sustainability and enable them to thrive in hostile environments.
Chemical and Nano Biotechnology
Nanotechnology is the ability to manipulate individual atoms, molecules and groups of molecules to form new chemical or particle structures needed for the development of new medicines, materials or technologies. You'll combine theory and practice to explore how nanotechnology underpins new innovations in modern medicine, technology and renewable energy.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of organic and inorganic chemistry, analytical techniques, alongside aspects of microbiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. Gain hands-on experience in gene editing, recombinant DNA technology, bioinformatics and genomics in our world-class laboratories and computer facilities.
Medical biotechnology uses cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent, diagnose and treat current and emerging diseases. Though a combination of theory and practice, this study track will take you to the forefront of modern medicine.
You will learn how new therapeutics, diagnostic devices, wearable technologies and equipment are developed and used to accurately identify disease. You will examine how genetics underpins personalised medicine, leading to treatment tailored for the individual. Advance your knowledge of how therapies based on small molecules, biologics, stem cells and other technologies are identified, selected and developed through preclinical and clinical testing into market-ready therapeutics.
Molecular and Microbial Biotechnology
Advances in molecular and microbial biotechnology are revolutionising the way we live, providing healthier lifestyles and creating a more sustainable world. Molecular and microbial biotechnology involves transferring genetic information between human, plant or animal cells, or microscopic organisms to capitalise on existing biological processes to create new products or innovations.
It's an exciting field of science that combines applications from molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, genetics and microbiology to create products and innovations in areas as diverse as human and animal health, agriculture, food and sustainable energy production, and textiles.
Synthetic Biology and Industrial Biotechnology
Get ready to pioneer new frontiers in health, food science, conservation and beyond.
Synthetic biology is transforming how we develop new medicines, enhance human nutrition and create a more sustainable world. It is a growing field of science that applies engineering design principles to chemistry, bioinformatics and genetics. These principles allow scientists to create or modify biological processes in living organisms and then develop new innovations across agriculture, health, energy production and environmental management.
The Master of Biotechnology program is designed for scientists who want to update their technical skills in core areas such as molecular biology, protein technology or bioinformatics, acquire research laboratory experience and translate their discoveries into market ready products. The program also suits legal or business professionals with some scientific background who want to learn about the latest technological developments.
You'll also have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through internships, placements and international study options that focus on research and development, commercialisation, marketing and the business of science.
Master of Biotechnology Research Extensive
The Master of Biotechnology Research Extensive program is designed for scientists who wish to increase their technical and research skills in core areas of biotechnology, and to obtain a more extended laboratory immersion than is available in the MBiotech.
Through an independent research project, you will increase your technical and research skills working with the university’s researchers and academics, or in an industry setting. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in internships, placements and international study.
Masters-level fields of study
Cultivate innovative solutions to enhance the sustainability, productivity and profitability of the global agricultural industry.
Learn how to meet environmental and food security challenges with gene editing, genomics, proteomics, recombinant DNA technology, bioinformatics and disease diagnostics.
You will develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.
Medical biotechnology uses cutting-edge tools and techniques to prevent, diagnose and treat, current and emerging diseases.
This field of study will allow you to be at the forefront of modern medicine. Learn about advanced biopharmaceuticals, cell labelling and tracking, stem cells, immunology, diagnostic devices, gene therapy, artificial organs and other aspects of innovative health solutions.
You will develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.
Synthetic Biology and Industrial Biotechnology
Get ready to pioneer new frontiers in health, food science, conservation and beyond.
Learn how to create and re-engineer biological processes in living organisms. Develop cleaner sources of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, designer materials and other innovative products across agriculture, health, energy production and environmental management.
You will develop multidisciplinary research and business skills needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.