Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management (MSc) (2024 Entry)
Explore our Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management taught Master's degree.
The Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management MSc combines expertise in scientific knowledge and business acumen. With 90% of our research rated as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent' in the REF 2021 assessment, Warwick's School of Life Sciences will equip you with the relevant science, production and business tools through a multidisciplinary approach.
Course overview
The bioprocessing and biotechnology industries are major components of global industrialised economies with impacts in medicine, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and the food sector. Management of change requires a new calibre of technical specialist who will have business acumen and a scientific knowledge base.
This master’s course equips you with the necessary tools and expertise to become an entrepreneur, offering key business information and industrially relevant knowledge. Leading centres of expertise, including staff from Life Sciences and Warwick Business School (WBS), form a multidisciplinary teaching faculty. The course is delivered by lecturers with internationally acknowledged academic, industrial and government expertise.
Skills from this degree
You will gain:
- The ability to understand the scientific, technical and financial basis of biotechnology systems
- The ability to understand the operation and management of biotechnology industries
- The ability to appraise and analyse financial and business implications in a global context
- Transferable skills including team working, communicating with peers and sector specialists, organising, planning and oral presentation
- Research skills including scientific report writing, numerical skills, logical reasoning, critical analysis and project work
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). Candidates must have obtained at least a second class honours degree, or an equivalent qualification, in Life Sciences, Engineering or Business Studies (students from an engineering or business background must be a high class student and demonstrate an interest in biological science).
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:
- Band B
- 7.0 overall with minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Core modules
- The Fundamentals of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
- Biochemical Engineering
- Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
- Bioproduct Plant Design and Economic Analysis
- Dissertation/Project
- Drug Discovery and Biopharmaceutical Development
- Marketing Management
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Business Strategy
Read more about our core modules on our Life Sciences website.
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- Environmental Protection, Risk Assessment and Safety
- Innovations to Prevent and Treat Infectious Disease
- Essentials of Medical Genomics
- Microbiomics and Metagenomics
Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date. You can find the most up to date list on the Life Sciences website.
Teaching
You'll be taught by expert scientists who undertake research in solving major global challenges in areas such as food security, disease control, bioenergy, systems biology, neurobiology and climate change. Also, external professional experts teach on selected modules giving a vital extra dimension to your teaching experience.
Teaching is typically by facilitated sessions, including interactive lectures, short Q&A sessions and small group interactive workshops/tutorials. Individual and team learning will be used for case study analysis and workshop activities. Your project dissertation will be 15,000 words in length, non-laboratory based and generally undertaken at the University of Warwick under the supervision of an approved tutor. Every student has the opportunity to source their own work-based placement.
Class sizes
Class sizes for this course vary between 30 to 90 students.
Typical contact hours
Depending on the module contact hours vary between 15-25 per week.
Assessment
Assessments take place during or shortly after completion of each module and include essays, seminar presentations, poster presentations, short answer in-module tests and assessed group work. One third of your final mark will be derived from the project dissertation which is 15,000 words in length. Two thirds of your final mark will be derived from assessment of the eight core and two elective modules.
Additional Course Costs
All students in Life Sciences are strongly encouraged to buy a computer, at an approximate cost of £600. Students are expected to have suitable clothing for field trips, including waterproof footwear.
Your timetable
Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.
Your career
Graduates from the School of Life Sciences taught Masters courses have gone on to work for employers including:
- Pfizer
- Severn Trent Water
- Eurofins Agroscience Services
- Novartis
- Philips Healthcare
- Rothamstead Research
- NGO Client Earth
- Public Health England
They have pursued roles such as: research associate, science editor, regulatory affairs officer, marketing manager, business and financial project management professionals, environmental health professionals, agronomist, and climate change consultant.
Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
- Careers in Life Sciences Networking Event
- Careers in Science
- Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
- Mock Interviews for Life Sciences students
- Interested in Careers in Scientific Publishing
Life Sciences at Warwick
Warwick Life Sciences is an international centre of excellence with more than 90% of our research rated as 'world leading or internationally excellent' in the REF 2021 assessment. Our focus is in excellent teaching and research with impact.
Find out more about us on our websiteLink opens in a new window
Our Postgraduate Taught courses
- Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management (MSc)
- Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate (MSc)
- Food Security (MSc)
- Medical Biotechnology and Business Management (MSc)
- Sustainable Crop Production: Agronomy for the 21st Century (MSc)
Our Postgraduate Research courses
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.
Fee Status Guidance
The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.
If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website.
Additional course costs
Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:
- Core text books
- Printer credits
- Dissertation binding
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.
How to apply
The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.
Applications will close on 2 August 2024 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.
How to apply for a postgraduate taught course
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