MSc Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, with a strong background in molecular biology. You should also have a strong background in one or more of the following areas: biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics or related sciences, with evidence of quantitative and computer science skills.

We may also consider your application if you have a background in engineering (particularly bioengineering), physics or mathematics and can show evidence of molecular biology knowledge.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

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Compulsory courses
Semester 1
Tools for Synthetic Biology (20 credits)
Semester 2
Research Project Proposal (Biotechnology) (10 credits)
Engineering Biology (10 credits)
Social Dimensions of Systems and Synthetic Biology (10 or 20 credit option)
Semester 1 or 2
You must also take at least one lab course, choosing from:

Automation and Industry (10 credits) - Semester 1
Principles of Biotechnology (10 credits) - Semester 1
Metagenomics (10 credits) - Semester 2
It is not possible to take both 'Principles of Biotechnology' and 'Metagenomics'.

Dissertation
MSc Project and Dissertation (Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology) (60 credits)
Option courses
You can choose from a variety of option courses in biological areas beyond the core synthetic biology and biotechnology theme, allowing you to tailor your degree to your personal interests and future plans. This can include courses focusing on:

drug discovery
biochemistry
bioinformatics
genomics