MSc Biotechnology and Enterprise / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Our MSc Biotechnology and Enterprise course will show you how to perform state-of-the-art scientific discoveries into commercial products using a combination of research skills and business knowledge.

Jointly delivered by the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health and Alliance Manchester Business School, this master's course will also show you how discoveries can translate into a business plan for start-up technologies or innovative processes for commercial applications.

You will cover topics including commercialisation and intellectual property, advanced biotechnology and synthetic biology through taught units, before carrying out a lab-based research project.

The combination of research skills and business knowledge will ensure you are well-equipped for career opportunities in the global biotechnology market.

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

Special features

Wide range of teaching expertise

Learn from experts from the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Alliance Manchester Business School to combine your scientific and business knowledge and skills.

Teaching and learning

We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, seminars and workshops. This involves working individually and in teams.

Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment is by written reports, oral presentations and written exams.

Course unit details

This course starts in September and runs for 12 months. You require 180 credits to complete the course, of which:

  • 90 credits are from taught course units
  • 90 credits are from the research project

All students will be required to register on an academic literacy programme at the start of the course, which is designed specifically to help you write for a scientific audience.

The course has three main components.

Core Entrepreneurial Skills (taught units)

Workshops, lectures and group sessions focus on intellectual property and knowledge transfer and commercialisation in the life sciences. You will prepare a business plan for a virtual company and take part in a business pitch to describe the value and potential of your product.

  • Commercialisation in the Life Sciences including strategic business planning (45 credits, mandatory)
  • Intellectual Property in the Life Sciences (15 credits, optional)

Core Scientific Skills (taught units)

You will undertake laboratory work, lectures, seminars and workshops which will support you in your chosen area of research.

  • Advanced Biotechnology I: Expression systems for biopharmaceutical and industrial proteins (15 credits)
  • Advanced Biotechnology II: Synthetic Biology (15 credits, mandatory)
  • Disease modelling and genome engineering (15 credits, optional)

Research project

You will undertake one full-time project, starting with a literature review in October and progressing to lab work in February. The final dissertation report will be presented in a format suitable for publication in a biotechnology journal.

Research Skills - Lab-based research project (90 credits, mandatory).

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Commercialisation in the Life Sciences BIOL60760 45 Mandatory
Research Skills (Lab-based Research Project) BIOL60770 90 Mandatory
Advanced Biotechnology I: expression systems for biopharmaceutical & industrial proteins BIOL60771 15 Mandatory
Advanced Biotechnology II: Synthetic Biology BIOL64351 15 Mandatory
Intellectual Property in the Life Sciences BIOL60781 15 Optional
Disease Modelling and Genome Engineering BIOL67672 15 Optional

Scholarships and bursaries

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

What our students say

The course has really shaped the way I look at science. Nowadays, when I see science, I see a business concept.

Temitope (Nikkie) Adeyemi

Read more from our students on highlights of the course in 2019 on the Biology, Medicine and Health Student Blog .

Facilities

You will be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .