Biotechnology with Business - 2012 entry

Course content

Traditional scientists are exposed to business and management knowledge, and often have insufficient understanding of how business works and the role of management. Likewise many managers do not have an in-depth understanding of the sector in which they work and lack a full understanding of the science and its applications. Yet many critical decisions have to be taken that lie at the interface between the bioscience and commercial sides of the industry.

The biotechnology sector is high risk and speculative for many investors. For organisations to survive and succeed in such an environment requires them to have management skills and knowledge, as well as scientific and technical expertise. 

The course provides the opportunity to acquire the skills underpinning both biotechnology and business through modules focused on:

• business
• marketing
• finance and management skills
• product development from initial concept to delivery
• regulation
• entrepreneurial skills
• good manufacturing practice
• genome science and generic skills.

The continued expansion of the global bioscience sector will open the way to many exciting career opportunities.

The outcomes of the course are designed to be of immediate use. Preparing a business plan (or key project plan) should deliver a significant contribution to the successful management and business side of an organisation or new venture, and provide a platform to pursue a management role if you wish to develop your career in this direction. 

You will achieve an MSc degree on successful completion of all of the course modules including the dissertation. A postgraduate diploma will be awarded for completion of course modules without the dissertation. The course is also offered on a part-time pro-rata basis and we encourage applications from professionals from academia and industry who wish to upgrade their qualifications. 

MSc students are required to complete 180 M-level credits. PGDip students are required to complete 120 M-level credits, excluding the Research Project. 

• Business for the Biosciences (20 M credits) is designed to equip scientists with management, finance and business knowledge and skills. These, combined with an understanding of the bioscience business sector, are required to operate professionally within the sector, to take informed decisions and actions, and to develop a business plan. We also examine the skills needed to launch a spin-off company.
• Molecular Biology (20 M credits) will develop the core skills needed for molecular biology as it focuses on recombinant DNA technology. The history, principles and development of molecular biology techniques will be studied with discussion of variations and applications.
• Advanced Fluorescence Technology (20 M credits): confocal and fluorescence microscopy enable the study of cellular structure and function using fluorescence technologies. Fluorescently-tagged antibodies are used to study cell and tissue protein localisation in prepared tissues and fluorescent proteins are used in the study of living cells. Use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its colour variants has increased from a curiosity to one of the most vital tools in cell biological research during the last 10 years and, as such, we will spend a significant portion of the module learning about it.
• Independent Study (20 M credits) is individual work on an appropriate theoretical or practical topic or set of topics, which may include work-based activities.
• Product Development and Biotechnology (20 M credits) discusses the development of the biological systems that are vital to biotechnology, and their key features. Drug discovery and product development, including modern screening methods, structure function prediction, and the application of nanobiotechnology, will be examined. The regulation of drug development, including clinical trials, preclinical studies and ethics, will also be studied.
• Career Development and Research Skills (20 M credits) consists of seminars from industrialists on careers in biotechnology. Topics covered include research skills, management, presentation and communication, business and enterprise, and grant-writing strategies. For evaluation you will write and present a mock grant proposal to secure funding for a biotechnology-based project.
• Genome Science (20 M credits) develops an understanding of genome science, or genomics, and studies the structure, content and evolution of genomes. The genomes and genome projects of model representative organisms from mammals, fungi, insects, bacteria and viruses are studied and their unique features explored. The experimental techniques and evidence that have contributed to our developing understanding of genomes will be emphasised.
• Topics in Biotechnology (20 M credits) is a series of blocks of lectures and seminars in specialist areas of biotechnology delivered by leading researchers in these areas, which include molecular microbiology and virology, vaccine development, and plant biotechnology.
• Research Dissertation (60 M credits): you will use primary and secondary data to analyse and develop a business area or problem within the biotechnology business sector, for example developing business, marketing, and strategic plans. These areas will be developed in close cooperation with academic tutors, local biotechnology companies, and university spin-off companies to address critical issues arising from their business. The increasing complexity of business demands that any recommendations be based on an integrated approach to problem solving at a strategic level. You will develop a research plan in Semester 1 and conduct practical research over Semester 2 and the summer. The evaluation is based on a thesis-style write up of your research. Examples of past projects include clinical trials, biofuel development, molecular biology product development and developing a market strategy for a novel medical device.

Please note: as courses are reviewed regularly the list of modules may vary from that shown here.

Faculty

Faculty of Business / Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Biological and Medical Sciences

Course length

Full-time: MSc: 12 months, PGDip: 8 months
Part-time: MSc: 24 months, PGDip: 20 months

Teaching location

Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane

Start date

September 2012

UKPASS code

P035708

Entry requirements

In order to successfully complete a postgraduate course, applicants are usually expected to have (or be about to attain) at least a second class honours degree in a related scientific subject from a recognised institution of higher education. If you do not have these academic qualifications, you could still be offered a place on this course if you can show evidence of the potential to succeed, based on professional and/or related experiences.

Scholarships and funding

For general sources of financial support, see:

• funding for students from the UK and EU
• funding for students from outside the EU

Craig Churchley

Oxford Brookes has got good connections with the Biotechnology industry so it seemed the perfect place to study.

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Why Oxford is a great place to study Biotechnology with Business

Recognised as one of Europe's leading centres of enterprise, innovation and scientific knowledge, Oxfordshire is a biotechnology hotspot with the Oxford, Milton, Begbroke and Harwell Science Parks in the county.

Because Oxford is one of the world's great academic cities, it is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across education, science, the arts and many other subjects.

In addition to our own excellent libraries and resource centres, our postgraduate students have access to the world-renowned Bodleian Library, the Bodleian Law Library and the Radcliffe Science Library.

Support for students studying Biotechnology with Business

• Supervision from internationally-recognised academics
• Part-time opportunities for students based in the workplace
• Excellent facilities giving access to the latest technology
• A mixture of funded and self/externally-funded places
• High-profile research events

How Brookes supports postgraduate students

Supporting your learning

From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.

Personal support services

We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.

Research areas and clusters

• Molecular neuroscience
• Glycobiology and cancer
• Genomic instability
• Chromatin and non-coding RNAs
• Peptide transport
• Insect virology and protein expression including gene therapy using baculovirus vectors
• Cell systems modelling
• Plant cell biology including plant endomembrane system and nuclear envelope
• Bioprocess research
• Neuropathology
• Cell biology of trypanosomes