Coursework programs

Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics with Honours – Melbourne (Bundoora) (SHMBB)

The two year (four semesters) Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics with Honours is a unique laboratory-based course that provides individuals with the broad range of skills required to flourish in the rapidly developing field of biotechnology. The course has a strong research focus, with students working in a specially designed research laboratory with computer access.

The aim of the course is to train students in the key elements of biotechnology and the manipulation of molecular biological data to qualify individuals to be able to work in nascent biotechnology enterprises in Australia and overseas, in countries such as Singapore, India, and the Middle East.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have the equivalent of an Australian Bachelor’s degree containing at least two years of biology. There is a quota on the number of students to be enrolled at each course intake. As an understanding of molecular biology is important for admission to this course, the best applicants will be selected, based on their provision of a curriculum vitae and their academic record.

The course commencement date is teaching period one and two in each academic year.

Students should note that they may take out the award for the Postgraduate Diploma in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics after completing the first year of the Masters course only if they decide not to proceed to the second year of the Masters course.

Course structure

The two-year course requires the completion of 240 credit points.

First year core subjects (90 credit points)


Teaching period	Subject name	Subject code	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	Bio-Business Management	BIO5BBM	15
TE-SEM-1	Techniques in Biotechnology	BIO5TEC	15
TE-SEM-1	Proteomics and Genomics	BIO5PAG	15
TE-SEM-1	Bio Informatics	BIO5INF	15
TE-SEM-2	Topics in Biotechnology	BIO5TIB	20
TE-SEM-2	Advanced Science Communication	BIO5ASC	10

First year elective subjects (30 credit points)


Teaching period	Subject name	Subject code	Credit points
TE-SEM-2	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3B	BCH3BMB	30
TE-SEM-2	Molecular Biotechnology	BIO5MBT	30

Or other approved elective subjects following discussion with the course coordinator.

Second year core subjects (120 credit points)


Teaching period	Subject name	Subject code	Credit points
TE-SEM-1 or 2	Thesis A	BIO5THA	30
TE-SEM-1 or 2	Thesis B	BIO5THB	30
TE-SEM-1 or 2	Thesis C	BIO5THC	30
TE-SEM-1 or 2	Thesis D	BIO5THD	30