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Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology

Overview

Equip yourself with the scientific skills and business, legal and regulatory understanding needed to translate discoveries from the laboratory to real life.

The Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology integrates practical scientific training with commercialisation and innovation, giving you a dynamic mix of skills that are highly sought after across biotechnology and a broad range of industries in Australia and overseas.

This flexible program is designed for scientists who want to update their technical skills in core areas such as molecular biology, protein technology or bioinformatics, or acquire research laboratory experience.

For your half year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) studies, you'll select from over 30 courses, allowing you to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career goals.

Choose electives in molecular genetics, food microbiology, business planning, intellectual property, drug discovery and development, immunology and infectious diseases, and more.

You’ll learn from leading experts in this rapidly emerging industry and receive hands-on training applying cutting-edge techniques in state-of-the-art laboratory and research facilities similar to professional working environments.

Location
St Lucia
Duration
Half Year (or part time equivalent)
Start Semester
Semester 1 (24 Feb, 2025), Semester 2 (28 Jul, 2025)
Program Code
5013
AQF
Level 8
Location
St Lucia
Fees
A$26880
Duration
Half Year
Start Semester
Semester 1 (24 Feb, 2025), Semester 2 (28 Jul, 2025)
Semester dates for 2026 are yet to be confirmed
Program Code
5013
CRICOS Code
034026J
AQF
Level 8

Program highlights

Program highlights

  • Learn from entrepreneurial scientists who have successfully commercialised their scientific discoveries.
  • Choose from a large suite of electives in science that underpin new biotechnologies.
  • Take advantage of UQ’s strong links to industry, government and the research community to build your professional network, skills and experience.

1 in Australia for biotechnology

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023

10 in the world for biotechnology

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023

Watch What is biotechnology? It's where science meets entrepreneurship on YouTube.

How you'll learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Laboratory work

What you'll study

At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:

  • Quality Management Systems in Biotechnology
  • Biologics
  • Issues in Biotechnology
  • Business Planning in Biotechnology

Career possibilities

Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

  • Nanotechnology and biosensor application specialist
  • Diagnostic test designer
  • Business plan analyst
  • Pharmaceutical developer
  • University researcher
  • Venture capital consultant
  • Plant breeding, engineering, cropping or horticulture specialist
  • Plant and animal geneticist
  • Quality control manager
  • Regulatory affairs manager

Graduate salary

Science and mathematics (postgraduate)

$81K–$100K

compared.edu.au

Next steps after graduation

Graduates from this program can pursue a diverse range of scientific, technical or leadership opportunities in Australia or overseas, including in:

  • research institutes
  • biotechnology startups or commercial companies
  • biopharmaceutical companies
  • vaccine manufacturing
  • diagnostics laboratories
  • government
  • venture capital
  • IP management firms
  • regulatory or advisory bodies
  • top universities worldwide.

Our graduates have stepped into roles such as quality assurance manager, quality control microbiologist, biochemical engineer, biomanufacturing professional, researcher, policy advisor, investment analyst, production manager, entrepreneur, start-up founder, and more.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
  • 2 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in biomedical science, biotechnology, science, bioinformatics, pharmacy or engineering.

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
  • 2 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in biomedical science, biotechnology, science, bioinformatics, pharmacy or engineering.

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

Related programs

English language requirements

IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ

TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.

PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.

BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.

CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.

OET is not accepted.

 

There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.

Learn how to meet the English language requirements

Student visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).

There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.

Learn more about student visas

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative annual fee

Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

$4,400

2024

Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.

$4,400

2025

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

AUD $26,880

2024

Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.

AUD $26,880

2025

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Government assistance

Financial aid

As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.

Learn more about financial aid

HECS-HELP

Domestic places in the Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.

Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.

HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Centrelink support

Scholarships

You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:

How to apply

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Contact the ATSIS Unit

Explore other programs

Biotechnology

Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology

St Lucia
1 Year full-time (or part-time equivalent)1 Year full-time
Biotechnology

Master of Biotechnology

St Lucia
Multiple durations availableMultiple durations available
Molecular Biology

Graduate Certificate in Molecular Biology

St Lucia
Half Year full-timeHalf Year full-time
(or part time equivalent)
Bioinformatics

Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics

St Lucia
Half Year full-timeHalf Year full-time
(or part time equivalent)

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