Bachelor of Biotechnology Changes

Key Changes

From Semester 1 2021, the revised program will be offered as a 3-year program, instead of a 4-year with Honours embedded (included) program. Due to the significant change to the structure of the program, there are now new program codes:

The revised 3-year Bachelor of Biotechnology [2456] has the following changes:

• Single majors now offered as 24 unit Extended Majors
• Introduction of 2 minors
• Dual Majors are no longer available
• Anyone studying the revised 3-year program, wishing to complete Honours, will need to apply to study the revised 1-year Honours standalone program.

Review the Bachelor of Biotechnology [2456] to see what is available to study in this program.

Deciding which Program is right for you

When deciding whether you will continue with your current program or transition to the revised program, you should take into consideration:

• the number of units you've completed in the pre-2021 program
• the changes to your current major 
• if you want to study a minor that is only offered in the revised program structure
• if changing to the revised program structure is likely to affect your remaining program duration
• any change to your program fees

Completed Year 1 (16 units)

If you have completed 16 units toward your current program, you may be able to transition to the revised 3-year program (BBiotech) if you have successfully completed:

Courses can count towards the revised BBiotech program as:

• Core
• Level 1 major compulsory 
• Program elective (including prerequisite course for the extended major)
• General elective 

How the above courses will count towards the revised 3-year program (BBiotech) will depend on which extended major you choose to study. 

If the above courses were completed, you would require 32 units to complete the revised 3-year program, in any extended major.

For further information on how the completed courses will count towards each of the extended majors, please refer to the following:

• Bioinformatics (PDF, 122.5 KB)
• Bioprocess Technology (PDF, 122.4 KB)
• Chemical Biotechnology (PDF, 122.9 KB)
• Drug Design & Development (PDF, 124.9 KB)
• Microbial Biotechnology (PDF, 122.9 KB)
• Molecular Biotechnology (PDF, 123.5 KB)
• Nanotechnology (PDF, 124 KB)
• Plant Biotechnology (PDF, 123.3 KB)

Completed Years 1 & 2 (32 units)

If you have completed 32 units toward your program, you may be able to transition to the revised 3-year program (BBiotech), if you have successfully completed the level 1 courses (listed in the table below) and specific level 2 courses required for each major.

The remaining requirements for each extended major in the revised 3-year program differ depending on what you have already completed. If the extended major requires more than 16 units (as outlined in the table below), this may affect the remaining program duration. 

Next Steps

Changing Program

There have been a number of legislative changes to fees that will come into effect from 1 January 2021 that affect all program changes made via QTAC and mySI-net. You can find more information on my.UQ.

Please ensure that you understand the changes, consider your individual circumstances and seek individual advice as required before making a decision to change.

If you decide to change to the revised Bachelor of Biotechnology [2456], you will need to submit a Program Change Request through mySi-net:

• by 12 February 2021 (program change requests opened on 4 December 2020), for Semester 1, 2021.
• by 16 July 2021 (program change requests provisionally open on 30 June 2021), for Semester 2, 2021.

Requesting assistance

The Faculty of Science Student Enquiries office are available to help you with any questions you may have and can assist with booking an academic advising appointment.