Course details

Summary

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) is an opportunity for Bachelor of Science graduates to advance their qualifications.

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. However, there has been an explosion of genetic, metabolic, and protein information now available that increasingly enables us to address major issues faced by society. In parallel it is also important for scientists operating within the life sciences to have knowledge of the business skills needed to translate scientific research into the commercialisation.

Career Opportunities

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.

Requirements:

15 points from BIOSCI 741, 759

15 points from BIOSCI 752, 755

30 points from SCIENT 701, 702, 704

15 points: BIOSCI 762

45 points from BIOINF 701, BIOSCI 736–738, 746, 751, 753, 754, 756, 758

Where could this programme take you?

Because science plays a vital role in addressing the key issues that confront us and future generations, studying the sciences opens up a wide range of career opportunities.

Further study options

• Master of Science
• Master of Speech Language Therapy Practice
• Master of Bioscience Enterprise
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Entry criteria

The prerequisite is a major in Biotechnology and at least 90 points at Stage III.

English language requirements: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL (iBT) 90; TOEFL (paper-based) 575; CAE or CPE 176; PTE 58; MELAB 85.