MSc Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology

Programme Director's Welcome

Welcome to the MSc in Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology programme at the University of Edinburgh. You have chosen to study synthetic biology (and rightly so!), a set of truly transformative technologies that are pioneering a revolution in the biological sciences. By combining biology, systems biology and engineering, synthetic biology (or ‘engineering biology’ as it is now referred to) allows us to tackle the greatest challenges that our world is facing. Synthetic biology is applied in very diverse sectors starting by the biotechnology industry. It is powering innovation in healthcare (with ground-breaking results in gene and cell therapies), agritech (pioneering solutions to improve food security), industry (towards more sustainable manufacturing practices), environment and energy (developing new bioenergy and bioremediation processes). 

As an MSc in Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology student, you will be trained in some of the newest and leading-edge areas in biology: you will learn about recent advances in synthetic biology, the various molecular tools that enable these advances, and how there are applied in the biotechnology sector and beyond. We offer flexibility in the structure of the programme, allowing you to select taught courses to suit your background and areas of interest: from practical lab skills, to the modelling of biological circuits, to exploring the social implications these novel tools have. Included within the MSc training is a three-month research project, which can be carried out in a university research laboratory or in industry. Throughout the year, you will be taught by experts in the field and our students really appreciate the opportunity to join their labs and take part in the ground-breaking research we do here at Edinburgh. Others may choose to join an established company in the biotech industry (specialising in bioenergy, bioremediation, distilling, pharmaceuticals, etc.) or a 'start-up’ or ‘spinout' (a young company seeking to develop novel ideas into innovative products and services). As a result, the MSc programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge that are attractive to prospective employers in the rapidly expanding biotechnology industry, as well as providing thorough training for further research at PhD level and beyond. 

I am looking forward to welcome you in September. 

- Dr Elise Cachat

Programme Director (MSc in Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology)