Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the application of biological systems, living organisms and their cellular or molecular processes to develop products, technologies and solutions that benefit medicine, agriculture, industry and the environment. It sits at the intersection of genetics, molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry, drawing on these sciences to design and produce everything from pharmaceuticals and vaccines to agricultural innovations, biofuels and biosensors. The field is one of the fastest-growing areas of science and technology, and the demand for graduates with both theoretical understanding and practical laboratory skills is consistently strong.
At Edge Hill University this three-year programme develops your knowledge of genetic engineering, biomedicine, molecular biology, microbiology and the industrial applications of biotechnology through extensive practical laboratory work alongside academic study. You will learn to use the tools and techniques that professional biotechnology work requires, including recombinant DNA technology, cell culture, fermentation and analytical methods, developing both technical competence and the ability to design and interpret experiments. A sandwich year and work placements give you substantial professional experience in the industry before you graduate, and a year abroad is built in, broadening your scientific perspective and developing your professional network in a genuinely global industry.
Graduates work in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in roles including research and development, quality assurance, process development and regulatory affairs. Agricultural biotechnology, food technology, environmental biotechnology and clinical diagnostics are further sectors. The NHS and healthcare sector employ biotechnology graduates in laboratory and clinical science roles.
Some graduates go on to postgraduate study or doctoral research in molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedical science or a related specialism, deepening their expertise and moving into research leadership. The combination of theoretical depth and practical industrial experience that a biotechnology degree with sandwich year provides makes graduates competitive across a growing and internationally significant sector.