About Biotechnology (BSc) and Biotechnology & Commerce (BSc/BCom)

Biotechnology is an applied, multi-disciplinary science which focuses on developing biologically-based products or processes. Biotechnology applies the techniques and scientific principles of microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology and chemical engineering to industry, medicine, agriculture and to the environment. As such, it utilises genetic engineering, fermentation and chemical separation technologies to develop new biological processes of commercial importance.

Biotechnological processes include beer, wine and cheese making; the utilisation of bacteria and algae to produce drugs, hormones, antibiotics and enzymes; the production of diagnostic medical kits and antibodies; the generation of energy through the biodegradation of waste materials; the use of micro-organisms to clean up oil spills or to extract minerals from ores; and the use of genetic engineering to increase agricultural productivity of both plants and animals. Though biotechnology often uses the tools of molecular biology such as genetic engineering, it is unique in that it focuses on the generation of commercial products of benefit to medicine, agriculture and industry.

Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing areas of science. According to Larry Ellison, the Chief Executive of Oracle, one of the largest software and internet companies in the world, the horizons of biotechnology are more extensive than those of computer technology!

The Biotechnology degree at Murdoch University was the first of its kind in Australia. The Bachelor of Science degree can be completed in 3 years; the Honours degree in 4 years.

On campus we host the Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABC) - one of the largest and most research-active Centres for agricultural biotechnology in Australia. The Centre conducts research into the genetic engineering of crop plants of commercial importance so as to increase their productivity and to enhance their disease-resistance. The Centre also conducts research into animal health again using the techniques of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry. Many of these research projects are available in the SABC as Honours projects for Biotechnology graduates.

What can you do with a Biotechnology / Biotechnology & Commerce degree?

Industries including pharmaceuticals and food industries, as well as companies producing agricultural and medical products are all areas where you may wish to focus your career.

Taking a double degree with Commerce will allow you to further streamline your career into a more commercial role, whether this is a straight management role in one of these industries or you act in a sales, import/export or development capacity.

• Download the flyer for this course.

How to apply

Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.

Domestic student applications:

If you would like to apply for this course you can now:

• Apply online
• Apply through TISC
• Download an application form

International student applications:

If you would like to apply for this course you can now:

• Apply online
• Download an application form

Course Details

Length of course	3 years (BSc) or 4 years (BSc/BCom) full time or internal study or part time equivalent Please note that international students can only study full-time
International fee information	$21,000 indicative annual fee
Location	South Street Campus
Murdoch course code	B1032 (BSc); B1191 (BSc/BCom)
TISC code	MUNJC (Biotechnology) MUNMC (Biotechnology/Commerce)
TER cut off for 2008	Biotechnology 72.30 or country equivalent Biotechnology/Commerce 94.30 or country equivalent
STAT score	>145
Information on course units	Link to handbook entry BSc ; Link to handbook entry Bsc/BCom)

Recommended subjects

The following recommended subjects will provide you with a useful background of furthering your study: Maths and Chemistry.

We don’t have prerequisite subjects for any of our courses as we are a strong promoter of a well rounded education. However, remember that you will also need to demonstrate competence in English, normally through passing either English or English Literature or by getting a sufficiently high score in ESL.

Course Structure

Year 1

Foundation Unit

All new first year students take a Foundation Unit. These are designed so you have some idea what’s going on, because, let’s face it, you may never have been to uni before!

Core Units

You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.

• Chemistry for Biological Sciences- (Students without a strong background in chemistry will be required to take Introduction to Chemistry as a prerequisite.) 
• Environmental Biology 
• Cell Biology 
• Statistical Data Analysis and Databases 

General Electives

You must take these units to have enough units to graduate. General electives give you the flexibility to learn from a variety of different areas. Select three units offered by the University, subject to individual unit prerequisites.

• Download our flyer for course structure information.

Suggested Double Majors

To take a double major, students simply take the core units from another major in place of their general elective units. Further details on double majors are available in the Prospectus. Some recommended double majors are:

• Biological Sciences
• Molecular Biology
• Chemistry - A double major with Chemistry can be completed in three years of full-time study, which provides full accreditation from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
• If you choose to take the Biotechnology/Commerce double degree program you automatically combine your Biotechnology course with the Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Management, or Marketing Management degrees.

What are my Career Options?

The expansion of our knowledge in molecular genetics has taken genetic engineering out of the realm of science fiction and made it a reality. As a Murdoch graduate in Biotechnology or Molecular Biology, your employment outlook is brilliant, especially if you combine it with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your Murdoch degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. The following are some professions to consider, including extra majors and minors that will improve your prospects of achieving them. 

Professions	What they do	Suggested Double Majors
Forensic Biologist	Forensic Biologists investigate crimes by collecting and analysing physical evidence. Often, they specialise in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination, performing tests on weapons or on substances such as fibre, glass, hair, tissue, and body fluids to determine their significance to the investigation. Proper collection and storage methods are important to protect the evidence. They also prepare reports to document their findings and the laboratory techniques used, and they may provide information and expert opinion to investigators. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians often give testimony, as expert witnesses, on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime.	Criminology Forensic Biology and Toxicology Chemistry
Food Science Technician	Food Science Technicians may conduct tests on food additives and preservatives to ensure compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations regarding colour, texture, and nutrients.	Forensic Biology and Toxicology Chemistry Animal Science
Medicinal Chemist	Medicinal Chemists study the structural properties of compounds intended for applications to human medicine	Forensic Biology and Toxicology Biomedical Science Chemistry
Biological Scientist/ Biotechnologist	Today, many Biological Scientists (Biotechnologists) are involved in Biotechnology. Research using biotechnology techniques, such as recombining DNA, has led to the production of important substances, including human insulin and growth hormone. Molecular Biologists work on the Human Genome Project to isolate genes and determine their function. This work continues to lead to the discovery of the genes associated with specific diseases and inherited traits, such as certain types of cancer or obesity. These advances in biotechnology have created research opportunities in almost all areas of biology, with commercial applications in the food industry, agriculture, and environmental remediation, and in other emerging areas such as DNA fingerprinting.	Biomedical Science Nanoscience Forensic Biology and Toxicology

• See our careers sheet for a full list of career option for this study area.