Master's in Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a broad, multidisciplinary area of science. A Master of Science in Biotechnology is an expert in one (group of) discipline(s) and has sufficient knowledge and skills in other disciplines to cooperate with experts from the other disciplines. Therefore, students specialise during the master's programme and learn how to solve complex biotechnological problems in a multidisciplinary team.

In the English Master's in Biotechnology, you specialise in one biotechnological discipline or application. You also acquire skills and knowledge about the other disciplines, so you will be able to work together with experts on those areas. You learn to apply biotechnology for the development or improvement of products and processes, from food to biomass to medicines.

For more detailed information about this programme's profile and learning outcomes, visit the Study Handbook.

During the English-taught Master program in Biotechnology, you specialize in one biotechnological discipline or application. You acquire sufficinet skills and knowledge about the other disciplines to be able to work together with experts in those areas. You learn to apply biotechnology for the development or improvement of products and processes, from food to biomass to medicines.  

The two-year programme offers five specialisations. Each specialisation includes compulsory and optional courses in the first year. At the end of the first year, you will design a real-life biotechnological process together with students from other specialisations. This will be done in cooperation with an external stakeholder. 

In the second year you will work on two research projects within your own specialisation: one master thesis at Wageningen University & Research and a research project outside the university.

The Master's in Biotechnology offers you the opportunity to specialise in one of the 5 fields below. You will take one year of courses, some compulsory, and others optional. In the second year, you will perform two research projects: a major thesis at Wageningen University and an internship inside or outside Wageningen. Knowledge and skills from any of the specialisations can be applied in food biotechnology, medicine, and vaccine development as well as in environmental and biobased technology.

For a more detailed information, check the programme structure in the Study Handbook of MSc Biotechnology.

• Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology: Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology focuses on the practical application of cellular and molecular knowledge with the aim of enhancing or improving production in microorganisms or cell cultures.
• Process Technology: Process Technology focuses on engineering strategies for enhancing or improving production in fermentation, bioconversion and enzymatic synthesis or degradation. The whole chain, from the development of a process on laboratory scale until the application at a large scale, can be studied in this specialisation.
• Food Biotechnology: Food Biotechnology mainly focuses on a part of biotechnology that is indispensable for mankind: food. The oldest examples of biotechnological processes are the production of wine, beer, and yoghurt. In terms of volume, beer still is the largest biotechnological product worldwide. Today, cellular agriculture leads to innovation in the field of precision fermentation and cultivated meat and seafood. This specialization combines cellular, microbial, and biochemical aspects integrated with process engineering and chemistry.
• Medical Biotechnology: Medical Biotechnology focuses on the use of modern biotechnology in the development and production of new vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics. You will mainly concentrate on the development and optimalisation of biotechnological methods to develop or produce a vaccine or drug, which greatly differs from the usual approach in veterinary or medical science.
• Environmental and biobased technology: Environmental and Biobased Technology focuses on biotechnological applications during degradation of waste and production of valuable products or energy from renewable resources. 

Courses are taught by lecturers who are actively involved in research groups, contributing to the development of scientific content and ensuring the programme’s academic standards remain high. Teaching is offered in multiple formats, such as lectures, group-based tutorials with assignments, hands-on practicals, case-based group work (problem-based learning), and field excursions. 

Wageningen University & Research offers you personalised guidance from dedicated study advisers, who helps you plan your programme and make informed choices along the way. All study advisers of this master also teach in courses offered for this programme. In addtition you will get one-on-one thesis supervision and mentoring opportunities. The universities learning environment is known for being collaborative and encouraging, helping you to grow both academically and personally.

Compare the programme in Wageningen

• Master's in Biobased Sciences: The specialisation Biorefinery and Conversion in Biobased Sciences and Environmental and Biobased Technology in Biotechnology have a lot in common. The difference lies in the focus: in Biotechnology you become a specialist in the technological part of biobased biotechnology, while in Biobased Sciences you become a specialist in building bridges between your expertise and other disciplines like Biomass Production and Circular Economy.
• Master's in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology: Both programmes focus on cellular and molecular biology. While Biotechnology combines this field with engineering, Bioinformatics makes the combination with computer sciences and mathematics.
• Master's in Plant Biotechnology: This study programme focuses on plants as entire organisms, while MSc Biotechnology focuses on cells only. Those cells are purchased from all types of organisms and are cultivated in reactors.
• Master's in Food Technology: It is possible to follow the specialisation of Food Biotechnology in both the master's Biotechnology and Food Technology study programmes. Food Technology focusses more on the product, while the process is the focus in Biotechnology.
• Master's in Biosystems Engineering: In both programmes you can focus on mathematics, process engineering and control technology. The difference is that MSc Biosystems Engineering mainly focusses on production systems linked to farms, while Biotechnology is mainly focused on technology on a cellular level and on organisms which are grown in reactors.

Would you like to compare this programme further? Check the possibilities on Studiekeuze123.nl  

The first job after graduation, obtained by MSc Biotechnology, is often localised at a research institute or a university in- or outside The Netherlands. It usually concerns a research project or, more detailed, a PhD project: more than 50% of the graduated biotechnologist becomes PhD. Although most graduates choose for a career in science about 1/3 also starts in functions as engineer or technical expert, meaning there are various career opportunities.

After graduation

After five years, about one third will still be employed as scientists at a university or research center. The others choose a job in the biotechnological industry and work at companies like DSM, Intervet or Crucell. It is striking that more than half of the MSc biotechnology graduates, later in their career, will get a management function. 

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the Master's in Biotechnology are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the programme nominally in two years. Besides a pre-education in Biotechnology, this is possible for students with a solid basis in chemical engineering and for students with applied gene technology skills.  

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Biotechnology or Molecular Life Sciences, or equivalent.  

The norm for this equivalence is  

an assessment of the student’s expertise in one or more of the following topics:  

• Biotechnology  
• Chemical engineering  
• Environmental technology  
• Biology (specifically molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, and biochemistry)  

And in:  

• Process engineering  
• Mathematics (differentiation, integration)  

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application. 

Method of assessment whether this norm is met  

• Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;  
• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.  

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition of obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master. 

You can apply for this Master's here.

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:  

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies, as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;  
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.  

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.  

Contact us through the contact button above to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.  

Find out more about enrolment and fees of a pre-master's programme. 

Find out what financial investment your studies require. All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page. 

Student life on campus and in Wageningen is vibrant and full of experiences. Beyond your studies, you can find a room, join student associations, enjoy parties and social gatherings, or relax in cosy pubs and natural areas. Festivals and unique sports clubs add to the lively atmosphere. All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.