Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an applied science that uses living systems, from bacteria and yeast to plant and animal cells, to develop products and processes of benefit to human health, agriculture, industry and the environment. It is a field in which fundamental biological knowledge is combined with engineering principles and commercial awareness to translate scientific discovery into practical application. Pharmaceutical biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, industrial fermentation, genetic engineering, and the emerging field of synthetic biology are all areas in which biotechnologists work, and the breadth of the discipline means graduates are genuinely versatile.

At the University of Nottingham this three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, a sandwich year, a year abroad and embedded work placement opportunities, making it one of the more structurally rich degree programmes available in the subject. The foundation year provides a thorough grounding in the biological and chemical sciences before you advance to the full degree, making the programme accessible to students whose prior qualifications may not meet standard entry requirements but who have the aptitude and commitment to succeed. The sandwich year and placements ensure that your scientific education is connected throughout to the realities of biotechnology practice in industry and research organisations.

You will study molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, bioprocess engineering and the regulatory and commercial frameworks within which biotechnology operates. Practical laboratory skills and the ability to design and evaluate biological experiments are central to the programme.

Graduates pursue careers in pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology startups, food and drink production, agricultural science, environmental technology, medical devices and government regulatory agencies. Many go on to postgraduate study in biotechnology, biochemistry, molecular biology or biopharmaceutical sciences, and some move into research careers in academic or industrial settings. The foundation year means you can begin this path even without the standard A-level profile, provided you have the motivation to succeed.