Gyanberry > Biotechnology > top biotechnology universities in 2022 2023

Top Biotechnology Universities in 2022-2023

Mar 31, 2022

Best Biotechnology Colleges and Universities in the World

About Biotechnology

The branch of science that deals with the use of living organisms or their products to benefit human health and the environment is referred to as biotechnology. It involves the use of cellular and biomolecular processes to build novel and life-improving technologies for the benefit of the human race all over the world. The biotechnology sector has had amazing growth in recent years, and it is likely to continue to grow in the future as new specializations emerge and researchers continue to make scientific advances.

Knowing more about this sector or industry might help you decide whether or not you want to pursue a career in biotechnology.

Duties of a Biotechnologist

The responsibilities of a biotechnologist vary depending on their level of expertise and specialization, including

  • Performing research and conducting experiments in a laboratory setting
  • Maintaining the quality and regulatory standards in the laboratory
  • Performing data analysis to interpret the results of the experiments
  • Working independently and in collaboration with other scientists and researchers 
  • Staying up to date with the new advances and technologies 
  • Writing or presenting the research findings to the world

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Biotechnology

Bachelor’s Programs

There are two kinds of bachelor’s degrees available for biotechnology students, Bachelor of Sciences in Biotechnology (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts in Biotechnology (B.A.). The former is a rigorous degree designed for research in the biotechnology field whereas the latter is for the non-research areas of biotechnology. A typical science degree in the following fields is also sufficient to get into biotechnology:

  • Biochemistry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Science
  • Environmental Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Chemical Engineering

Master’s Programs

A graduate degree in biotechnology is a must for career progression and to enter into research or academia. A Master of Science in Biotechnology (M.S.) or a research-oriented degree such as the Master of Research in Biotechnology (MRes.) are offered by universities worldwide. Also specializations in other biological and Lifesciences can also offer employment opportunities in the field of biotechnology with some work experience in the laboratory settings. If you wish to become a researcher then a doctoral degree in biotechnology is a must. 

Specializations in Biotechnology

There is a multitude of areas a biotechnologist can choose to specialize in such as

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer and Oncology
  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology
  • Stem cell research 
  • Vaccines and Immunizations
  • Biochemistry
  • Bioengineering
  • Biostatistician
  • Manufacturing and Production
  • Research and Development
  • Marketing and Sales
  • Bioinformatics 

Duration of Biotechnology Programs

The duration for a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology or allied fields is 4-years  but the duration varies for master’s and doctoral degrees as per the universities. 

Country Bachelor’s in Biotechnology  Master’s in Biotechnology Ph.D. in Biotechnology
USA and Canada 4 years 1-2 years 3-6 years
UK and Australia 4 years 1-2 years 3-6 years
Others 4 years 1-2 years 3-6 years

Career opportunities for Biotechnologists

Biotechnologists are in high demand as medical technology progresses. The following are the industries in which a biotechnologist may expect to find employment:

Medical and pharmaceutical biotechnology: Involves the production of vaccines, medicines, medical devices and instruments, biological products, and other products to aid the global population in combating illnesses, infectious diseases, and maintaining overall health. 

Industrial field: This field involves the use of microbes as manufacturing units to improve the efficacy of industrial fermentation, enzymes, and biocatalysts in an environmentally friendly manner. 

Agricultural research: Biotechnology is increasingly being used in agricultural research to improve crop pest resistance, crop herbicide tolerance, and the employment of more environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Academic teaching: Biotechnologists with terminal degrees can pursue a career educating future biotechnology students in universities and colleges.

A number of biotechnologists are also hired by big pharma companies, local or federal governments, and climate and environmental protection groups.  

Average salaries for Biotechnologists

The average salary of a biologist in the USA is 33,150 USD/year. The entry-level jobs usually pay around 29,250 USD/year, while the experienced workers make up to 83,626 USD/year (Source: Talent, USA).

The starting income for biotechnology graduates in the United Kingdom is between 25,113 and 31,721 USD per year, with a 5-year experience paying between 33,043 and 66,086 USD per year. Biotechnologists with a lot of expertise and those who work in research are paid over 79,303 USD each year (Source: PROSPECTS, UK).

The annual salary on average in Canada for biotechnology graduates is 62,618 USD/year. Although entry-level positions start at 47,955 USD/year, most experienced workers make up to 91,223 per year (Source: Talent, Canada).

In China, the average salary for a biotechnologist is 33,922 USD/year, with an entry-level salary of 24,243 USD/year and a salary of over 42,486 USD/year for experienced biotechnologists (Source: Salary expert, China).

Top 50 Universities in the world for Biotechnology based on ranking (US World News/Shanghai/QS):

The ranking of the universities in the field of biotechnology is based on the 

US World News Ranking Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking  University Country BachelorsPrograms Masters Programs 
1 1 1 Harvard University USA Click Here  Click Here
2 2 2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA Click Here Click Here
3 4 4 Stanford University USA Click Here Click Here
4 6 10 University of California–San Diego USA Click Here Click Here
5 5 3 University of Cambridge UK Click Here Click Here
6 3 151- 200 Technical University of Denmark Denmark Click Here Click Here
7 NA NA University of Chinese Academy of Sciences China Click Here Click Here
8 8 6 University of California–Berkeley USA Click Here Click Here
9 7 50 University of Queensland Australia Australia Click Here Click Here
10 15 24 Johns Hopkins University USA Click Here Click Here
11 10 12 Cornell University USA Click Here Click Here
12 12 33 University of Washington USA Click Here Click Here
13 16 26 Tsinghua University China Click Here Click Here
14 18 23 University of Pennsylvania USA Click Here Click Here
15 14 71 Zhejiang University China Click Here Click Here
16 13 5 University of Oxford UK Click Here Click Here
17 8 401- 450 Harbin Institute of Technology China Click Here Click Here
18 24 67 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China Click Here Click Here
19 35 NA Hunan University China Click Here Click Here
20 30 151-200 Universite Paris Saclay France Click Here Click Here
21 27 33 University of British Columbia Canada Click Here Click Here
22 11 116 University of Minnesota–Twin Cities USA Click Here Click Here
23 22 16 University of Toronto Canada Click Here Click Here
24 29 9 University of California–Los Angeles USA Click Here Click Here
25 16 42 Wageningen University and Research Center Netherlands Click Here Click Here
26 21 21 University of Copenhagen Denmark Click Here Click Here
27 51-75 142 King Abdulaziz University Saudi Arabia Click Here Click Here
28 26 201- 250 China Agricultural University China Click Here Click Here
29 24 15 University College London UK Click Here Click Here
30 51-75 32 Karolinska Institute Sweden Click Here Click Here
31 42 45 University of California–Davis USA Click Here Click Here
32 23 13 Imperial College London UK Click Here Click Here
33 38 135 University of Florida USA Click Here Click Here
34 20 7 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Switzerland Click Here Click Here
35 51-75 13 University of California–San Francisco USA Click Here Click Here
36 41 95 Baylor College of Medicine USA Click Here Click Here
37 46 401- 450 Huazhong Agricultural University China Click Here Click Here
38 51-75 106 Universidade de São Paulo Brazil Click Here Click Here
39 28 54 University of Wisconsin–Madison USA Click Here Click Here
40 31 39 Seoul National University South Korea Click Here Click Here
41 37 37 Sorbonne University France Click Here Click Here
42 19 74 University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign USA Click Here Click Here
43 51-75 31 Peking University China Click Here Click Here
44 35 20 University of Edinburgh UK Click Here Click Here
45 51-75 NA Northwest A&F University – China China Click Here Click Here
46 33 86 Ghent University Belgium Click Here Click Here
47 39 125 Ohio State University–Columbus USA Click Here Click Here
48 43 67 University of Helsinki Finland Click Here Click Here
49 43 52 University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill USA Click Here Click Here
50 101-150 64 Fudan University China Click Here Click Here

Top Universities in USA for Biotechnology:

US World News Ranking Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking University Country
1 1 1 Harvard University USA
2 2 2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA
3 4 4 Stanford University USA
4 6 10 University of California-San Diego USA
8 8 6 University of California-Berkeley USA

Top Universities in UK for Biotechnology:

US World News Ranking Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking University Country
5 5 3 University of Cambridge UK
16 13 5 University of Oxford UK
29 24 15 University College London UK
32 23 13 Imperial College London UK
44 35 20 University of Edinburgh UK

Top Universities in China for Biotechnology:

US World News Ranking Shanghai Ranking QS Ranking University Country
7 NA NA University of Chinese Academy of Sciences China
13 16 26 Tsinghua University China
15 14 71 Zhejiang University China
17 8 401-

450

Harbin Institute of Technology China
18 24 67 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China

Academic Requirements for studying Biotechnology

Bachelor’s level

The academic requirements at bachelor’s level may vary from one university to another but the general requirements for an undergraduate degree in biotechnology involve the following:

  • A high school degree with a GPA of over 3.0
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency through recognized tests such as TOEFL or IELTS
  • A statement of purpose

Master’s level

The requirements for a master’s degree in biotechnology differ depending on the university’s eligibility standards. However, the following are the minimum requirements as per some top-ranked universities:

  • Must possess a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology or similar fields, such as biology, biochemistry, and environmental engineering with a GPA of 3.0
  • Lab-based work in biology, chemistry, or related life science courses (the duration varies for different universities)
  • Proof of English proficiency through standardized tests like TOEFL or IELTS
  • Depending on the university, the GRE may or may not be necessary
  • Letter of recommendation
  • A copy of resume

Few universities also offer financial aid in terms of scholarships and fellowships to the international students to pursue an undergraduate or a graduate degree in biotechnology. 

Explore courses around the world and apply instantly
Search for :
Search By :
Enter Country
Enter Country
Enter Country
Search for :
Search By :
Enter Country
Enter Country
Enter Country
Frequently Asked Questions

In terms of biotechnology courses, countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China are at the top.

The annual salary on average in Canada for biotechnology graduates is 62,618 USD/year which is the highest among other counties like the USA and the UK.

Biotechnologists are employed by the government, pharmaceutical businesses, medical, industrial, and agricultural industries.

Although it is not a requirement for biotechnologists to get a license they can choose to pass an industry-recognized exam– The Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE). The test is intended to evaluate industry-identified fundamental skills that are reflected in academic and performance criteria for biotechnology programs. BACE was initially assessed by BioFlorida, a biotech organization in Florida, USA. Now it is adapted by international companies worldwide.

Still have questions?Contact us