What You Need to Know About Studying the Biotechnology Degree UCSI University
Course Information for the BSc. (Hons) Biotechnology Degree Programme at UCSI University
Course Information for the BSc. (Hons) Biotechnology Degree Programme at UCSI University
- Duration for UCSI Biotechnology degree is 3 Years (14 weeks per semester, 7 weeks per short semester)
- It is a full time programme with intakes in January, May and September of each year
- Scholarships and PTPTN Loan is available for the BSc. (Hons) Biotechnology at UCSI. To apply for the course, please fill up the Enquiry Form
UCSI University is one of the first Biotechnology education providers in the Malaysian private higher education sector, thus they have numerous strategic tie-ups with some of the world’s biggest companies in science. This opens doors for students and staff through technology transfers, internship opportunities, numerous site visits, industry talks on campus, and, of course, job opportunities. Versatility is a hallmark of the programme.
To differentiate from other institutions of higher learning offering the same degree programme, UCSI students are well-equipped for the workforce before graduation. UCSI’s Biotechnology programme is a homegrown B.Sc. degree and is tailored to incorporate Co-Op training in year 1, 2 and 3 of study. The students have the opportunity of working for two months at the end of each of the three academic years on their Co-Operative Placements in a company in the related industries.
This means they would have more than six months of real world working experience before they graduate. The Co-Op aims to develop not only students’ communications and soft skills, but also help students to relate theory with practical and working experience in the Biotechnology industry in Malaysia. It also aims to provide students with technical and analytical skills to carry out life science research and prepares them to pursue postgraduate studies in a range of disciplines.
As a student of this programme, you will be addressing critical issues in biotechnology through the study of genetic engineering, pharmacology, fermentation technology, among others. You will complement your abiding interests in science with the market sense to translate academic mastery into business opportunities. And with a firm footing in both fields, doors will open wherever you go.
High Quality Biotechnology Degree at Top Ranked UCSI University
Designed with the aid of leading members in the biotechnology field, the 3-year programme helps to bridge the gap between industry and academia.
The course content is aimed at providing students with a good foundation of knowledge and hands-on practical experience of the different fields of biotechnology for their future careers which include Pharmacology, Physiological Sciences, Metabolic Biochemistry, Molecular Cell Biology, Human Molecular Genetics, Animal and Plant Cell Culture, Microbial Biotechnology, Enzyme Technology, Fermentation Technology and Downstream processing, Bioprocess Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology.
The course at UCSI University aims to produce competent, confident and consummate graduates in the field of Biotechnology who are internationally employable and who are equipped with various valuable transferable skills like presentation techniques, communication skills, exposure to problem solving, teamwork and the use of information technology.
In addition, students will be made to realize the ethical issues and the impact of biotechnology on society, as well as trained to be bioentrepreneurs / technopreneurs that would enable them to translate research outcomes into business opportunities.
Assessments
Coursework percentage: 60%, written examination percentage: 40%
Education Pathway
Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels interested in a career in Biotechnology can go for the Foundation in Science at top ranked UCSI University before continuing on to the 3-year BSc (Hons) Biotechnology Degree programme.
Students who have completed a Pre-University programme in Malaysia can enter directly into the BSc (Hons) Biotechnology degree at UCSI University with the relevant results.
Does the UCSI University degree provide opportunities for me to develop my career abroad?
The career opportunities for a biotech graduates range across many industry sectors due to the wide applications of biotechnology. These include the food and agricultural sector, medical and bio-pharmaceutical sector, industrial and environmental sector as well as the animal and aquaculture sectors. UCSI University graduates have gone on to pursue careers overseas such as in Singapore where they found employment as researchers, both in private and government research centres.
What facilities does UCSI University provide for Biotechnology programme compare with others?
Jia Loon, Biotechnology Graduate UCSI University
Biotechnology programme is a multi-disciplinary science based programme which cannot be run without good laboratory facilities. The specially designed and purpose-built laboratories at UCSI university include Basic Chemistry and Biology laboratory, Microbiology laboratory, Physiology and Pharmacology laboratory, Molecular Biology laboratory, Enzyme Technology laboratory, Fermentation and scale-up laboratory, and Animal and Plant Cell Culture Laboratory.
All these laboratories were built to ensure that our students were given the best facilities and real hands-on practical experience in the different fields of Biotechnology which is important for their future careers. The laboratories are equipped with high-value equipments such as Bioreactor, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometry and such.
All our students will have to carry out a final Research Project at the end of their third academic year in these laboratories under the supervision of our highly qualified academic staff. Each student will gain invaluable experience from their final project as they are given a chance to plan, exhibit and experience real hands-on laboratory practical work.
State-of-the-art Biotechnology labs at UCSI University
The specially designed and purpose-built laboratories at UCSI university include Basic Chemistry and Biology laboratory, Microbiology laboratory, Physiology and Pharmacology laboratory, Molecular Biology laboratory, Enzyme Technology laboratory, Fermentation and scale-up laboratory, and Animal and Plant Cell Culture Laboratory.
All these laboratories were built to ensure that our students were given the best facilities and real hands-on practical experience in the different fields of Biotechnology which is important for their future careers. The laboratories are equipped with high-value equipments such as Bioreactor, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometry and such.
All UCSI University students will have to carry out a final Research Project at the end of their third academic year in these laboratories under the supervision of our highly qualified academic staff.
Each student will gain invaluable experience from their final project as they are given a chance to plan, exhibit and experience real hands-on laboratory practical work.
Internships a UCSI University
To differentiate from other institutions of higher learning offering the same degree programme, UCSI University students are well-equipped for the workforce before graduation. Their Biotechnology programme is a homegrown B.Sc. degree and is tailored to incorporate Co-Op training in year 1, 2 and 3 of study. UCSI students have the opportunity of working for two months at the end of each of the three academic years on their Co-Operative Placements in a company in the related industries.
This means they would have more than six months of real world working experience before they graduate. The Co-Op aims to develop not only students’ communications and soft skills, but also help students to relate theory with practical and working experience in the Biotechnology industry in Malaysia.
It also aims to provide students with technical and analytical skills to carry out life science research and prepares them to pursue postgraduate studies in a range of disciplines.
The career opportunities for a biotech graduates range across many industry sectors due to the wide applications of biotechnology. These include the food and agricultural sector, medical and bio-pharmaceutical sector, industrial and environmental sector as well as the animal and aquaculture sectors.
UCSI University graduates have gone on to pursue careers overseas such as in Singapore where they found employment as researchers, both in private and government research centres.
Biotechnology degree students at UCSI University may transfer to top universities overseas for the final part of their degree students such as the University of Queensland, Australia or Northumbria University, UK.
Entry Requirements for the BSc (Hons) Biotechnology at UCSI University
- UCSI Foundation in Science or equivalent in Malaysia
Minimum CGPA 2.00 and Possess SPM with 3 credits inclusive of Mathematics and one science subject - National matriculation
Minimum CGPA 2.00 and Possess SPM with 3 credits inclusive of Mathematics and one science subject - STPM
Minimum GPA 2.00 in any two (2) subjects and Possess SPM with 3 credits inclusive of Mathematics and one science subject - UEC
Minimum Grade B in five (5) subjects, inclusive of: - Mathematics
One Science subject
OR Minimum Grade B in 5 subjects and Possess SPM with 3 credits inclusive of Mathematics and one science subject - A-levels
Minimum Grade D in any two (2) subjects and Possess SPM with 3 credits inclusive of Mathematics and one science subject - Australian High/Secondary School Diploma (Grade 12) – SAM/AUSMAT/ SACE/ TEE/ NTCE/WACE
Minimum ATAR 60% or minimum 60% average in five (5) subjects inclusive of: - Mathematics
One Science subject
Canadian Grade 12 – CPU/CIMP
Minimum average of 60% in six (6) subjects, inclusive of: - Mathematics
One Science subject
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Minimum score of 26/42 from six (6) subjects, inclusive of: - Mathematics
One Science subject
Diploma/Advanced Diploma in related field
Minimum CGPA 2.00 - Other qualifications recognized by the Malaysian government
Admission: Case by case basis
Year 1 Subjects for the Biotechnology Degree at UCSI University
Year 1
- University Life (MPU-U2)
- Integriti dan Anti-Rasuah (Integrity and Anti-Corruption) (MPU-U2)
- Chemistry for Applied Sciences
- Biomolecular Structure & Function
- Fundamental Techniques in Applied Sciences
- Biochemistry: Principles & Experiments
- Microbiology
- Molecular Cell Biology
- Introduction to Biomaterials
- Extra-curricular Learning Experience 1 (MPU-U4)
- Co-Operative Placement 1
Year 2
- Analytical Chemistry
- Immunology
- Biocatalysts & Biosensors
- Research Methods & Data Analysis
- Animal Cell Culture Technology
- Plant Biotechnology & Genetics
- Introduction to Programming
- Pharmacology
- Extra-curricular Learning Experience 2 (MPU-U4)
- Co-Operative Placement 2
Elective 1 (Choose one)
- Food Chemistry
- Food Processing & Packaging
- Food Microbiology
- Entrepreneurship for Applied Sciences
- Fundamentals of Marketing
- Fundamental of Management
- Introduction to Public Speaking
- Ecology & Sustainability
- Environmental Monitoring & Assessment
- Conservation & Management of Aquatic Resources
- Current Topics in Aquatic Science
- Aquatic Pollution & Toxicology
Year 3
- Tools in Genetic Engineering
- Bioinformatics
- Environmental Biotechnology & Sustainability
- Human Genetics
- Bioeconomy & commercialization
- Fermentation Technology & Downstream Processing
- Bioprocess Engineering
- Extra-curricular Learning Experience 3 (MPU-U4)
- Co-Operative Placement 3
- Biotechnology Research Project 1
- Biotechnology Research Project 2
Elective 2 & 3 (Choose two)
- Food Chemistry
- Food Processing & Packaging
- Food Microbiology
- Entrepreneurship for Applied Sciences
- Fundamentals of Marketing
- Fundamental of Management
- Introduction to Public Speaking
- Ecology & Sustainability
- Environmental Monitoring & Assessment
- Conservation & Management of Aquatic Resources
- Current Topics in Aquatic Science
- Aquatic Pollution & Toxicology
Career Opportunities
Biotechnology is not a field that involves merely research on the bench, but runs the whole gamut from thoughts seeded in research, to realisation in development, feasibility in commercialisation studies and trials, and finally culminating in the production of branded products into the marketplace. Hence. holding a degree in Biotechnology does not mean that you will be just a researcher in a laboratory. In addition, the Biotechnology technical knowledge that students learned from this degree is applicable globally in various fields.
A biotechnology graduate can be a research and development (R&D) officer in research institute, universities, agricultural, clinical and forensic laboratories; quality control and quality assurance officer of pharmaceutical, health care and other industrial products; clinical research coordinator in hospitals and pharmaceutical firm; and bioinformatics computational analyst.
They can also be a sales and marketing executive in the field related to biotechnology or the pharmaceutical industry, manager in the manufacturing industry, patent agents specialised in Intellectual Property (IP) and patent law, venture capitalists as well as biotechnology technopreneurs.
Biotechnology graduate can readily apply his/her knowledge and expertise in the following areas:
- Research and Development (R&D) in research institutes; universities; agricultural, clinical and forensic laboratories
- Quality control and quality assurance of pharmaceutical, health care and other industrial products
- Clinical research co-ordination in hospitals and pharmaceutical firms
- Bioinformatics Computational Analysis
- Other career opportunities in
- Management
- Intellectual Property (IP) and Patent Law
- Sales and support services for the biotechnology industry, ecology, waste management and environmental pollution control
- Venture capitalist business
- Biotechnology technopreneurships
