Combining biotechnology with business

By undertaking the Master of Biotechnology/Master of Commerce in Business double degree, you’ll be combining the study of two of Macquarie University’s research and teaching strengths.

The MBiotech/MComBus has a strong interdisciplinary and practical focus, reflecting the needs of the marketplace. It can be completed in 18 months of full-time study or longer part-time, and involves the study of six units from each degree area.

The Master of Commerce in Business 

The business component of the program is taught by the Graduate Accounting and Commerce Centre (GACC) at Macquarie University, which has over 800 postgraduate students from Australia and many countries around the world. GACC students enjoy quality teaching and learning facilities, highly qualified academic staff and exposure to practising professionals. Degree programs conducted by the Centre are contemporary, practice-based and related to the career needs of graduate students.

The six core business units, which are available in both semesters, are International Business Strategy, Management of People at Work, Management and Organisations, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Strategic Intelligence, and Managerial Marketing.

The Master of Biotechnology

The biotech half of the double degree is taught by the University’s Division of Environmental and Life Sciences. Macquarie University has been a leader in biotechnology research in Australia, and one exciting area of biotechnology research, proteomics, was developed specifically at the University and the term was first used by a Macquarie researcher.

Macquarie University hosts a number of biotechnology-related research centres and facilities, and is also located within the Macquarie Park technology corridor which houses the largest congregation of biotech-related companies in Australia. The double degree benefits from an extremely healthy relationship between the University and the companies within the technology corridor.

To complete the biotech component, students must pass six units: Protein Discovery and Analysis, Prelude to Bioinformatics, Entrepreneurship, Functional Proteomics, Selected Topics in Biotechnology, and Research and Development Practice and Management.

Eligibility and application info

Applicants for the double degree must hold a recognised degree equivalent in standing to an Australian three-year bachelor degree in science in a relevant field of study with a substantial laboratory component in the areas of molecular biology, microbiology, chemistry or bio-analytical techniques. Applicants without these prerequisites need to first successfully complete the Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology. In addition, preference will be given to students with some academic or professional background in business. English proficiency is required but work experience is not.

The program commences in March (first semester) and August (second semester) each year and is available for both full-time and part-time study. Australian students apply through the Universities Admissions Centre, while international students apply through Macquarie International.

For enquiries relating to the Master of Biotechnology component of this course, please contact Jennifer Manefield on (02) 9850 8241 or at jmanefie@els.mq.edu.au . For Master of Commerce in Business enquiries, contact the Graduate Accounting and Commerce Centre on (02) 9850 8526 or at gacc@efs.mq.edu.au

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