Five reasons to study for a masters in Biotechnology at Surrey

1. Flexibility and support

Our Biotechnology MSc has start dates in February and September, so you can choose the entry point that best suits you and your timeline. 

While you study with us, you’ll receive 1-2-1 support from a personal academic tutor and you’ll be part of a friendly, collaborative community of postgraduate taught and research students in the School of Biosciences.

2. Access to advanced facilities

In our main teaching labs, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art analytical technology and equipment, including bioreactors, mass spectrometers, high-performance liquid chromatography, and spectrophotometers. Current projects include:

• Engineering Streptomyces bacteria for the sustainable manufacture of antibiotics  
• Building cellular maps for network-based drug design 
• Using sono-biotechnology for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (‘forever chemicals’).

3. Exposure to research

For your research project, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside professional researchers in sections including oncology, veterinary science, microbiology, and cardiovascular sciences. You could also work with the programme lead, Professor Claudio Avignone Rossa, in our Microbial Biotechnology Lab, seeing the advancements being made in biotechnology at Surrey first-hand.

Surrey has a well-established reputation in biotechnology research, including the development of new bioprocesses for antibiotics and vaccines, the bioremediation of polluted water and soil and the development of new biologically active molecules.

4. Interaction with industry 

We have leading industry guest speakers deliver talks on this course, so you’ll get insights into the latest developments in biotechnology. Previous guest speakers include: 

• the Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Algenuity
• the CEO of the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA)
• the Research Lead for the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (Niab).

Guildford is positioned within the 'biotech corridor' of Surrey, Reading and Southampton and we are close to the biotech hubs of London and Oxford, allowing you to network and explore job opportunities before you graduate.

5. Excellent employability 

Our course will equip you with the skills the biotechnology industry is looking for. This includes developing a target product profile for a new drug, cultivating cells in a bioreactor, and handling pathogens. The individual and solo projects you work on will also sharpen your skills in research, data analysis, project management, and AI and machine learning. Find out what you can do with a masters in Biotechnology.

100 per cent of our biosciences masters graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes 2026, HESA). Once you’ve graduated, you’ll have lifetime access to the Surrey Employability Hub, which provides 24/7 access to careers appointments, event bookings, jobs and interactive development tools. 

Find out more about Biotechnology MSc