Graduate Diploma 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 Diploma 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 one 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.
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.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Research experience
- 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 developer
- Pharmaceutical producer
- Industry researcher
- Venture capital consultant
- Plant breeding, engineering, cropping or horticulture specialist
- Plant and animal geneticist
- Agricultural advisory board member
- Business plan analyst
Average annual salary range
Microbiologist
seek.com.au
Average annual salary range
Biomedical Engineer
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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.
Events
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7 April
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30 June
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Stories
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UQ people
Science skills + business savvy = biotech success
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Careers
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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
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these 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.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Graduate Diploma 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.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$9,120
2025
$9,120
2025
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $53,760
2025
AUD $53,760
2025
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.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Graduate Diploma 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.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology is 5119.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology is 5119.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
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.
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