Course details

Summary

With so many options to choose from, the Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) is your opportunity to create a good foundation for your study in the Earth, Chemical, Computational, Human, Life, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

Programme overview

If you have a mind for science and you’re keen to keep your options open, then the BSc is the degree for you. With many undergraduate majors in a wide range of subject areas, the BSc will allow you to incorporate different areas of interest and expertise. As well as strongly emphasizing transferable skills to improve your employment opportunities, this programme will expose you to cutting-edge technologies and provide a gateway to independent research. Throughout your undergraduate degree you’ll be taught by knowledgeable scientists, many of whom are major contributors in their field.

Biotechnology Major

Biotechnology, in its broadest sense, is the commercial exploitation of living organisms or their components, such as proteins. Traditionally, these technologies have encompassed industrial microbiology, and dealt with ancient processes such as brewing or the microbial production of cheese and yoghurt, for instance. In the last few years, however, an avalanche of genetic and protein information has been discovered, with equally impressive advances in transgenic and animal cloning technologies. In this light, biotechnology has broadened its scope and is poised to make significant impacts on our health and nutrition, and how we interact with our environment.

There is a wealth of subjects on offer within the Bachelor of Science (BSc). The main areas include biological sciences, human sciences, earth sciences, computational sciences, physical sciences and health-orientated sciences. As well as skills that are part of your academic learning in your chosen major, you’ll have exposure to new technologies. This is the degree for you if you’re science-minded and want to keep your options open.

Career opportunities

A BSc major in Biotechnology provides students with a strong foundation in biological sciences, biotechnology and entrepreneurship. The programme enables you to be taught by specialists from the Faculties of Science, Business and Economics and Medical and Health Sciences. You will be instructed in areas of fermentation technology, aspects of medical technology, down-stream processing and protein purification, managing technology and the appreciation of biotechnology’s social, legal and ethical place in society.

Graduates are likely to qualify for technical and research assistant positions within fundamental and applied research programmes in Crown Research Institutes, universities, biotechnology companies; the brewing, dairy and other traditional fermentation industries; pharmaceutical companies; and diagnostic facilities in medicine and agriculture. Employment in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies is especially buoyant in the United States and Europe, with significant growth expected in New Zealand.

Further study options

• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Graduate Diploma in Science (GradDipSci)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Structure

Year 1

120 points: BIOSCI 101, 106, 107, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, STATS 101 or 108

Year 2

105 points: BIOSCI 201 - 204, 209, SCIGEN 201

Year 3

60 points: BIOSCI 349, BIOSCI 356, BIOSCI 350, BIOSCI 351, BIOSCI 353 or BIOSCI 354

30 points: INNOVENT 201, SCIENT 301

30 points: BIOSCI 340, BIOSCI 347, BIOSCI 348, MEDSCI 314, MEDSCI 314.

Entry criteria

Secondary school qualifications

You need to have one of the following: International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum total score of 24. General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level. You must have completed a minimum of three A-Level subjects with at least a 'C' grade or higher. General Studies or similar general papers cannot be included.

GCE ‘A’ Level requirements apply to ‘A’ Level qualifications examined by bodies such as AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC, CCEA, Pearson Education Limited and CIE taken outside of New Zealand.

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.0; TOEFL (iBT) 80; TOEFL (paper-based) 550; CAE or CPE 169; PTE 50; MELAB 80.