Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2012

Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Course code/s: SMBB - Melbourne

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 (120 credit points)
Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 Techniques in Biotechnology BIO5TEC 15
TE-SEM-1 Protein Chemistry BIO5PRO 15
TE-SEM-1 BioBusiness Management BIO5BBM 15
TE-SEM-1 Scientific Communication Skills BIO5SCS 15
TE-SEM-2 Proteomics and Genomics BIO5PAG 15
TE-SEM-2 Skills in Science BIO5SIS 15
TE-SEM-2 Practical Biotechnology BIO5PRC 15
TE-SEM-2 Bioinformatics BIO5INF 15

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

Please note: Some of these subjects may not be offered in the current year. For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, teaching period and availability, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, please click on the appropriate Subject Code or refer to the Subject/Unit Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public