Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject with relevant modules.

We may also consider your application if you do not meet the standard academic requirements but you have relevant professional experience.

Subject requirements

We accept degrees in the following subject areas:

Biochemistry
Biology
Biotechnology
Microbiology
Molecular Biology

We may consider degrees in Agriculture, Medicine or other related fields, depending on your relevant laboratory experience.

Module requirements

You should have studied modules covering Biochemistry and Molecular Biology plus at least one module from the following areas:

Biotechnology
Cell / Cellular Biology
Microbiology

We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.

Intercalation

We accept medical students who wish to intercalate their studies. Find out more on the School of Medicine and Population Health website.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Gain in-depth knowledge and specialist molecular skills through extensive practical laboratory training, ready for a career in the biotechnology sector.

Course description

This course is designed to develop your experimental planning and technical skills so you can generate and analyse experimental data. It’s great preparation for careers across the fast-moving biotechnology industry.

Throughout your masters, you'll cover diverse themes across molecular biology and biotechnology, with the opportunity to study complementary engineering topics.

Practical laboratory experience is at the heart of our teaching, with more than half of your studies taking place in the lab. Here you’ll complete training modules covering a wide range of exciting modern laboratory techniques. You'll learn core skills such as CRISPR genome editing, molecular cloning, organism handling, DNA sequence analysis, PCR, SDS-PAGE and western blotting.

Lectures and seminars will support your practical learning, giving you an understanding of the latest scientific breakthroughs.

Once you’ve mastered the fundamental molecular bioscience techniques, you’ll apply these skills to your research project. Here you’ll spend up to five months addressing a key research question in an area of molecular biology or biotechnology under the supervision of expert academic staff.

Examples of previous research projects include:

Enzymes vs plastic: engineering biocatalysts for a cleaner planet
Designing nature: tailoring proteins for tomorrow's challenges
Rewriting green: genetic innovation in plants
Molecules in 3D: unveiling protein structures
Microbial factories: building the future with synthetic biology
Molecules and medicine: probing the biology of disease
Smart proteins

Gain extra experience

We’re home to the Julia Garnham Centre, an NHS badged genomics facility, partnered with the Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

As a postgraduate student in the School of Biosciences, you'll have the opportunity to volunteer in the centre alongside your studies. You can work with NHS scientists and academics, learn how to diagnose genetic disorders such as cancer or rare inherited disease and get involved with NHS genomic research projects.

Please see our University website for the most up-to-date course information: https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026/molecular-biology-and-biotechnology-msc