MSc Biotechnology Handbook

Welcome to the School of Biological Sciences, to the University of Edinburgh and to this Taught Masters programme. This webpage gives you the basic information about your programme, but a few important points should be emphasised.

The MSc in Biotechnology comprises taught courses followed by a dissertation project based in an academic research laboratory or external company. Placement in any project setting requires that you submit a literature review and project plan in semester two and finally a dissertation, in August, after 3-4 months’ work. The project is a key element in helping you decide where and how you wish to develop your career, or potentially continue formal academic research training by looking for a PhD position. Our aim is that this mixture of taught courses and project work should prepare you for either a career in industrial biotechnology or PhD-based research far more effectively than going directly on from an undergraduate degree.

All of you have already completed an undergraduate degree in some branch of science, usually biological sciences and sometimes in biotechnology itself. Masters level courses are designed to take you to the frontiers of published knowledge and critical scientific analysis and allow you to think about, discuss and write about real-world problems and potential biotechnology-based solutions. It is a good level to be studying at, and a good level to teach. I and the other staff look forward to working with you and having some interesting discussions. Developing interactions and building group cohesion by lively debate and discussion are important parts of the programme. It is a fact that biotechnology investors do not fund individuals, they invest in teams. You must talk, pool your skills and help each other.

For some of you, this is your first experience of working in a UK university and our ways of doing things may be rather different. One of our aims is to ensure that you appreciate international standards for scientific research and realise that the essence of becoming a scientist is learning to take initiatives and full responsibility for producing research and report work that is in essence based on your own original reasoning. Plagiarism and any form of wholesale cutting and pasting of other scientists’ work into your reports or essays is a serious academic offence and MSc level students are expected to have reached a stage of scientific independence and intellectual self-reliance where this does not occur.  

If you have coursework-related problems, you should first discuss them with the specific Course Organiser, but you can always contact me. If you have personal or domestic difficulties, contact your Student Adviser or the Programme Administrator and we will do what we can to help. The University has a comprehensive student welfare system to support all its students. You can access it. Remember that we are here to support you and to help you and that some problems are best faced quickly.

Finally, let me, on behalf of everyone associated with the programme, wish you every success and an enjoyable time here, and I will look forward to meeting you.

Dr Andrew Free

The Degree Programme Table (DPT) lists the compulsory and optional courses for your programme.

Biotechnology DPT

Students are not allowed to take more than a total of 30 credits below level 11.

An alternative appropriate course may be substituted with the permission of the Programme Director.

Information relating to assessments and their deadlines are detailed in the associated Course Learn Ultra page. Note that access to our Learn Ultra Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is restricted to current students only.

Personalised Timetables 

Information on your timetable can be accessed via MyEd.  

• This includes a personalised timetable service called MyTimetable. 
• Your personalised timetable also appears on Office 365 calendars, which you can view on your smartphone or other device. 

 Access your timetable on MyEd

Timetable information for students

As a member of the School of Biological Sciences, you are warmly welcome to visit the office or contact staff if you have a query. Staff who teach on the programme are leading academics in biotechnology, microbiology, plant science, gene and systems engineering, biochemistry, immunology, bioinformatics, and structural molecular biology.