Biotechnology

Biotechnology applies the principles of biology, chemistry, and engineering to develop new products and processes that benefit human health, agriculture, the environment, and industry. It encompasses the genetic engineering of organisms, the development of new medicines and diagnostics, the use of microorganisms in fermentation and biofuel production, and the application of molecular biology to improve crops, develop vaccines, and create materials with novel properties. It is one of the fastest-growing areas of science, and the techniques and knowledge it develops are directly applicable to some of the most significant challenges and opportunities of our time.

At Edge Hill you will learn to use industrial techniques in genetic engineering, biomedicine, molecular biology, and microbiology, supported by extensive practical laboratory work. The programme covers cell biology, genetics, molecular techniques, microbiology, biochemistry, and the engineering principles that allow biological processes to be scaled for industrial application. You will develop both the experimental skills that laboratory science requires and the conceptual understanding to design and evaluate biological systems.

The programme is offered part-time, making it accessible to students who need flexibility, and it includes a sandwich placement year with a work placement and a year abroad, giving you direct professional experience in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or research environment and an international perspective on the field.

Graduates go on to careers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agrochemical industries, in clinical and public health laboratories, in food and environmental science, and in academic and industrial research. Many continue to postgraduate research degrees in molecular biology, biotechnology, or related fields, which are an important route into the research-intensive sectors of the industry.