MSc Biotechnology Syllabus & Subjects 2024

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May 14, 2025 23:02PM IST

MSc Biotechnology 2025 is a great amalgamation of life science and technology where you will get to study subjects like mathematics, DNA repair, bioconjugate chemistry, nucleic acids, imaging, environment technology and many more. Read further.

MSc Biotechnology Syllabus & Subjects 2025

MSc Biotechnology 2025 or Master of Science in Biotechnology is a postgraduate degree program that concentrates on the application of biological procedures and organisms to troubleshoot issues and invent new technologies in areas like agriculture, healthcare, and environmental science. In this program, you will get to improve your knowledge of Science and Technology. Throughout the course program, you will be performing various experiments with the help of technology. The course syllabus retains a combination of subjects like Biology, Science, and Technology.

MSc Biotechnology is a two-year professional degree program for students aspiring to have fruitful careers in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and related fields. In case you wish to pursue this course program, you must try to acquire maximum knowledge about the content of this course. Once you complete your course program, you can have a great scope in terms of your career. You can pursue research or a PhD or opt for higher studies in the relevant stream.

Apart from that, you can access MSc Biotechnology career opportunities in the fields of pharmaceutical firms, universities, agricultural sectors, food processing sectors, animal husbandry, and a lot more. You can also become an academician after your doctorate and can instruct at the university level. If you are pursuing an MSc Biotechnology course, you have the opportunity to specialize in any subject of your choice such as Biology, Cell Engineering, Immunology, Fermentation, etc.

MSc Biotechnology courses are becoming increasingly popular in India and around the world as the market demands a wider range of career options. The MSc Biotechnology programme focuses on the experimental development of medicines to combat various pandemic situations. The MSc Biotechnology programme aids in the resolution of all plant and animal life problems. Biotechnology creates hybrid mechanisms and genetically modified organisms.

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Overview of MSc Biotechnology Course 2025

The following are the main highlights of the MSc Biotechnology programme:

Particulars Details 
Course NameMaster of Science in Biotechnology (MSc in Biotechnology)
Degree LevelPostgraduate (Master of Science - MSc)
Minimum QualificationCandidate must be a graduate with at least 50% relevant discipline (Chemistry or Biology)
Course FeesINR 40K - 2.40 LPA
Starting SalaryINR 3 - 6 LPA
Job RolesLaboratory Technician, Professor, Entrepreneur, Research Associate
Top Recruiters Biocon, Bharat Serums and vaccines limited, GalaxySmithKline Pharmaceutical limited  

Also Read: Top MSc Biotechnology Colleges in India 2025

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Semester Wise Syllabus & Subjects for MSc Biotechnology 2025

The syllabus of MSc Biotechnology is majorly classified into four semesters. During your course duration, you will be studying various subjects such as Enzyme Technology, Bioinformatics,  Biomolecules, Molecular Cell Biology, Microbiology, and others. When you will be attending your classes, you will be able to acquire both practical as well as theoretical knowledge. Moreover, you will be attending theory and practical classes, also this curriculum includes assignments, project work, internships and examinations. These methods ensure that you can have a comprehensive knowledge of your course stream. In addition to that, it prepares you for the competitive world. Let us take a look at the semester wise syllabus of MSc Biotechnology:

First Year Syllabus for MSc Biotechnology

The following table demonstrates the course subjects that you will be studying in the first year of your course program:

MSc Biotechnology- Semester 1

Advanced BiochemistryAnimal Cell Technology
Environmental BiotechnologyExercises in advanced Biochemistry
Advanced Molecular BiologyMolecular Biology
Exercises in Environmental BiotechnologyLabs
Exercises in Molecular and Cell BiologyBiostatistics

MSc Biotechnology- Semester 2

Genetic EngineeringImmunology
ImmunotechnologyPlant Biotechnology
Fermentation TechnologyBio instruments
BioinformaticsExercise in Genetic Engineering
Exercises in Bacteriology and Virology-

Second Year Syllabus for MSc Biotechnology

The following table demonstrates the course subjects that you will be studying in the second year of your course program:

MSc Biotechnology- Semester 3

Animal BiotechnologyDatabase management and IPR Biotechnology
Enzyme TechnologyGenomics
Environmental Microbiology and Waste ManagementIntellectual Property Rights and Ethical Issues
Exercises in Animal Biotechnology, Enzyme TechnologyLab Work
ThesisSeminars

MSc Biotechnology- Semester 4

Food MicrobiologyNanobiotechnology
Genomics and ProteomicsMedical Biotechnology
Agriculture BiotechnologyCancer Biology
ThesisLab
InternshipExamination
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Core Subjects for MSc Biotechnology 2025

Core subjects are those which are taught to all the students of MSc Biotechnology despite the universities. Here is a brief outline of the core subjects that you will be studying in your course duration. Let us take a quick look:

SubjectDetails
MicrobiologyThis subject will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of all microscopic organisms that are present in living organisms such as fungi, algae, bacteria, viruses, and others.
ImmunologyWith the help of this subject, you will learn about the functioning of the immune system in both healthy and diseased states. You will be getting detailed knowledge about all the important components that account for the formation of the immune system in any living organism.
Cell BiologyThis core subject teaches you about the structure and function of cells, their composition, properties and life cycle of cells. In addition to that, it helps you with comprehending the smallest structure and how different cells combine together to form tissues.
Environmental BiotechnologyIn this subject, you will get to study about the usage of biotechnology to protect the environment. Along with that, you will be learning various strategies that help with creating a more sustainable environment for the survival of human beings.
VirologyThis subject is literally the core of MSc Biotechnology. It provides you with an in-depth knowledge of the nature of different types of viruses. You will be taught about the diverse features of viruses such as their classification, disease-causing capacity, structure, and others.
BiochemistryThis is also one of the most important course subjects of the MSc Biotechnology syllabus. In this subject, you will learn about all the chemical processes that happen within the body of any living organism.

Also Read: GAT B 2025 Exam: Answer Key (Soon), Admit Card, Important Dates, Pattern, Syllabus, Previous Year Papers

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Detailed Syllabus for MSc Biotechnology Syllabus 2025

The course syllabus of MSc Biotechnology is vast and you need to acquaint yourself with them if you wish to pursue this course program. Below we have mentioned the detailed description of the MSc Biotechnology course syllabus. You can check out the topic-wise and year-wise syllabus for MSc Biotechnology 2025:

For 1st year

Take a look at the detailed syllabus of MSc Biotechnology for first year:

TopicDescription
Molecular Biology

Transcription and Transcriptional Control

Translation

Control of Gene expression 

Nuclear Organization

Modern Concept of Gene Organization

Gene Mutation

Cell Biology

Historical origin of Cell Biology

Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility 

General Structure of Cell

Steps in Cell Cycle

Immunology

Immune System

Functions, Development and Histogenesis of various primary and secondary Lymphoid organs in the body 

Cell types involved in Defense Mechanisms of the body

Gross features

Environmental Biotechnology

Status and Scope of Environmental Protection 

Bioremediation

Physicochemical and Bacteriological analysis of Soil and Water

Waste Water Constituents

Plant Biotechnology

Constituents and Concepts of Sterilization 

Suspension cell culture, Callus culture, Protoplast Isolation, culture & fusion

Anther & Pollen culture for Production

Preparation, Isolation and Selection of Explant

Genetic Engineering

History and Scope of Genetics

Linkage and Crossing over

Linkage mapping

Sex determination 

Mendelian Laws of Inheritance

Variations of Mendelian Analysis

For 2nd year

Take a look at the detailed syllabus of MSc Biotechnology for second year:

TopicDescription
Molecular Biotechnology

Isolation of Genomic DNA from bacterial cell/plant cell

Determination of Tm values of DNA

Isolation of Temperature sensitive conditional Mutant

Isolation of RNA from Yeast cells

Bacterial Conjunction

Bioinformatics

Data Mining

Gene Prediction and Genome Analysis

Protein Structure Prediction 

Introduction to operating system and Basics of computer

Biological Database

Animal Biotechnology

Applications of Animal Cell Culture

Serum Protein Media Viability and Cytotoxicity 

Equipment’s & Media used for Animal Cell Culture Technology

Primary & Established cell line culture and Culture Media

Food Technology and Nutrigenomics

Food Spoilage & Preservation

Designer Foods, Nutraceuticals

Genetically Modified Foods 

Methods of Food Processing

Fermentation Technology

Basics of Industrial Fermentation

Industrial Production of Chemicals 

Design of Fermenter

Product Recovery and Purification

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MSc Biotechnology Subjects

MSc Biotechnology syllabus imparts knowledge through practical, laboratory, and theoretical classes in different MSc Biotechnology subjects. The various MSc Biotechnology subjects that the aspirants are introduced to are biology, genetics, chemistry, geology, etc. The MSc Biotechnology syllabus suits all those students who are interested in different specializations of biology such as agriculture, food, plant life, animal life, organism, genetics, etc. Listed below are the MSc Biotechnology Subjects that are being taught in universities and colleges.

MSc Biotechnology Subject List
Cell Biology Environmental BiotechnologyAnimal Biotechnology
Principles of Bacteriology and VirologyAdvances Biological Chemistry Bioprocess Engineering and Fermentation Technology
Genetic Engineering Immunology Molecular Biology
Scientific research and CommunicationNano-BiotechnologyPlant Biotechnology
Exercises in Genetic EngineeringExercises in Environmental BiotechnologyExercises in Immunology
BioinformaticsAgriculture BiotechnologyGenomics and Proteomics
Food Technology and NutrigenomicsAdvanced Genetics Biochemical and Biophysical Techniques
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Entrance Exams for MSc Biotechnology 2025

In case you want to get admission in this course program, you can opt for the entrance exams. A lot of colleges and universities conduct entrance examinations by which they offer admission to students. Tabulated below is a list of entrance exams by which you can get admission in MSc Biotechnology. In addition to that, we have also provided the syllabus. Take a look:

Entrance ExamDetailsSyllabus
CUET PGCommon University Entrance Exam for postgraduate is a national-level exam for the  candidates who wish to take admissions to PG programmes of 66 participating universities Syllabus of CUET PG
BITSATBITSAT is conducted in two sessions in an online mode by Bits Pilani to offer admission in postgraduate programs for campuses in Goa, Pilani and Hyderabad.Syllabus of BITSAT
TISS NETTISS NET is a national-level exam conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to offer admission to 52 master's degree programmes. Syllabus of TISS NET
IPU CETIndraprastha University Common Entrance Test is a university-level exam which is conducted annually for admission into UG and PG programmes.Syllabus of IPU CET

Also Read: Dr. B. Lal Institute of Biotechnology- Admission 2025, Fees, Courses, Placement, Ranking

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IIT JAM Syllabus for MSc Biotechnology

Here is the IIT JAM syllabus for MSc Biotechnology.

SectionWeightageTopicsDifficulty Level
Biology44%Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Basic Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Physiology, And General BiologyGraduation Level
Chemistry20%Synthetic Polymers, Functional Group Chemistry, And Atomic StructureGraduation Level
Physics18%The Physical World and Measurement, Mechanics of Solids and Fluids, Electrostatics, Gravitation, Elementary Statics and Dynamics, etc.Class 12 Level
Mathematics18%Logarithms, Complex Numbers, The Cartesian System of Rectangular Coordinates, Statistics, Three-Dimensional Geometry, Differentiation, And Other Concepts in Mathematics  Class 12 Leve
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Important Books for MSc Biotechnology 2025

In order to get proficiency in your course program, you need to have the right set of study materials by your side. More to that, if you have appropriate books, you will be likely to gain immense knowledge and proper understanding of the subjects. Therefore, you must acquire the right study materials and enhance your knowledge in an effective manner. Here we have provided a listicle of books along with the name of authors that will help you amplify your knowledge and excel in your academics.

BooksAuthor
Concepts of Applied Ecology RS DeSanto
Plant Breeding Biometry BiotechnologyDipak Kumar Kar and Soma Halder
Animal BiotechnologyB. Singh
Molecular and Cell Biology for Dummies Rene Fester Kratz
Genetic Engineering Smita Rastogi and Neelam Pathak
Bioinformatics: Principle and ApplicationZhumur Ghosh and Bibekanand Malick
Immunology Roitt I and Male Brostoff
Plant Biochemistry Hans-Walter Heldt
Animal Cell Culture: Practical ApproachMasters J R W
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology S P Vyas
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Course Structure for MSc Biotechnology 2025

This degree program is divided into four semesters where you will be studying through the core and elective subjects, seminars, projects, research, etc. Besides that, it also focuses on practical and laboratory-based classes apart from compulsory courses. The entire course program is employment oriented, so it becomes a great option to go with this subject. You will need to partake in seminars, field trips, projects, and lab work. All of these are intended to provide you with better skills and understanding of the program. Mentioned below is an overview of the course structure of MSc Biotechnology:

  • IV Semesters
  • Core subjects
  • Practical and Laboratory
  • Internships
  • Research Work
  • Dissertation
  • Projects
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Projects for MSc Biotechnology 2025

In this course program, there are no limits when it comes to doing the projects. You can perform a great deal of projects and can research in diverse areas according to the needs of the syllabus. Through the medium of these projects, you will be able to polish your knowledge and it will help you with broadening your horizons in terms of your course program. Moreover, you can conduct research on animal life, plant life, and modified organisms through the medium of technology. Other than that, you can also perform research on various types of bacteria, viruses, etc. Here we have mentioned a listicle of some of the most popular areas of projects in MSc Biotechnology:

  • Biomanufacturing
  • Bioprinting
  • Production of ethanol using molasses and its effluent treatment
  • Renewable Energy Technology Management Promoting Village.
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Teaching Methods for MSc Biotechnology

Other than the practical-oriented sessions in MSc Biotechnology, there are various methods implemented along with classroom teaching. In your course duration, you will have to attend many lab classes. In these classes, you will be provided the learning through past case studies. Here are some of the common and required teaching methodologies and techniques that the instructors will be using in the curriculum of the MSc Biotechnology:

  • Practical & Laboratory sessions 
  • Experimentation
  • Guest Lectures, Seminars, and Workshop
  • Group Assignment and Discussion
  • Learning through Industrial Visit
  • The emphasis on Practical Learning
  • Research & Development
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FAQs about MSc in Biotechnology Syllabus

What are some of the common MSc Biotechnology subjects that are being taught in almost all the universities?

The common MSc Biotechnology subjects are - Cell Biology , Environmental Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Lab work, Nano-Biotechnology, immunology, Plant Biotechnology, etc.

What are the best books to enhance the knowledge for MSc Biotechnology subjects?

The best books are - Animal Biotechnology by B.Singh, Concepts of Applied Ecology by RS DeSanto, BioInformatics: Principle and Application by Zhumur Ghosh and Bibekanand Malick, Plant Biochemistry by Hans-Walter Heldt, Genetic Engineering by Smita Rastogi and Neelam Pathak etc.

What are the required skills for doing an MSc Biotechnology course?

The skills required for pursuing MSc Biotechnology course are -Organizational Skills, Budget Management, Business Strategy, People Management, Project Management, Communication Skills, and Research.

MSc Biotechnology syllabus is divided into how many semesters?

MSc Biotechnology syllabus is divided into four semesters.

What is the eligibility criteria for the MSc Biotechnology course?

Aspirants must have completed BSc degree in Biotechnology/ Biology/ food science/ Microbiology for applying to be eligible for MSc Biotechnology course

What is the course duration of MSc Biotechnology?

The course duration of MSc Biotechnology course is 2 years.

Does a MSc Biotechnology course have a good scope in future?

There are several scopes after successfully completing MSc Biotechnology as there is a lot of demand in sectors like medical biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology. Medical Biotechnology field has a lot of popularity and demand thus as medical biotechnology generates about 70 percent of the total revenue in the biotechnology sector.

What can be done if I fail in the MSc Biotechnology course?

If you fail in any of the subjects of the MSc Biotechnology course then you will have to appear for a back paper exam by giving supplementary or compartmental examinations. And if you fail in all the subjects then you will have to repeat the year and will have to take re-admission by applying fresh.

What is the percentage that is considered good in MSc Biotechnology?

If anyone scores more than 60% in MSc Biotechnology then it is considered a good score.

Is the MSc Biotechnology syllabus tough?

MSc Biotechnology syllabus is neither easy nor tough. One must concentrate on studies and properly understand the MSc Biotechnology subjects then they would find the course interesting and they will be easily able to grasp the topics.

What are the entrance examinations that are being taken for MSc Biotechnology admission?

The famous entrance examinations conducted by the top universities for granting admission for PG courses include CUET PG, JNUEE, DUET, TISS NET, IPU CET, etc.

What is the average placement package after pursuing a MSc Biotechnology course?

The average placement package ranges from INR 4 lakhs- 7 lakhs per annum depending on the company standards.

What are the main subjects that are taught in the MSc Biotechnology syllabus?

The main MSc Biotechnology subjects are - Advanced BiochemistryMolecular BiologyImmunologyGenetic EngineeringImmunotechnologyBioinformaticsGenomicsEnzyme Technology

What is the average MSc Biotechnology program course fee?

The average MSc Biotechnology course fee differs from college to college. However, it is between 40 K - 2.50 lakhs per annum.

What are the best MSc Biotechnology colleges?

The best colleges for MSc Biotechnology are Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, Calcutta University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, etc.

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