Master's Program

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Campanile credit Keegan Houser

Master of Biotechnology

Advance your biomedical career

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mbt@berkeley.edu

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@BerkeleyMBT

Program Benefits

Students learning credit Matt Beardsley

Photo credit: Matt Beardsley

Hands-on training

Core lab courses teach you CRISPR gene editing, bioinformatics, and cutting-edge experimental methods used in biomedical research.

Students in Lab credit Elena Zhukova

Photo credit: Elena Zhukova

Internships

Our internship program provides a unique opportunity for you to grow your experimental skillset in a real-world industrial or academic setting.

Student being Avised credit Adam Lau

Photo credit: Adam Lau

Career mentorship

We prepare you for a successful career after graduation by helping you explore careers in biotech and academia, polish up your resume/CV, and practice interviews.

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Program at a Glance

  • Our Master of Biotechnology program is a 30-unit, one-year accelerated program with a full-time course load.
  • Courses begin in early July, are fully in-person, and prepare you for your Spring semester internships with our industrial and academic partners.
  • Integrated core lab courses leverage our faculty's expertise to train you on CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, stem cell culture, and bioinformatics.
  • Our internship program connects you with local biotechnology companies and campus labs, where you will gain highly desired, hands-on research experience.
  • We prioritize your professional development and offer courses to prepare you to succeed in a wide range of career paths.

Photo credit: Keegan Houser

Program Timeline

Summer

Pipet and Petri dish

6-week intensive
molecular biology
lab bootcamp

Fall

DNA and bases pair graphic

Bioinformatics lab
and elective courses

Spring

Person with lab glasses

Internship and
capstone project

More detailed information can be found on the Curriculum page.

Background image with bottles credit Elena Zhukova

Internship Program

  • Our program's signature component, a 3-4 month internship, takes place each Spring semester.
  • The goal of our internship program is to provide you with an important opportunity to get highly desired research experience in a real-world setting.
  • We work closely with our internship partners to help you find an internship position that fits your future career goals.
  • During your internship, you perform full-time research, while working closely with your internship mentor and faculty advisor to develop your capstone project.

More information can be found on our Internship Program page.

Photo credit: Elena Zhukova

Upcoming Events

September 12, 2024: Applications are open! Apply to be a part of our 2025-26 cohort.

October 7, 2024 at 3PM Pacific Time: Join us at the Graduate Diversity Admissions Fair. Click here for registration and event information.

October 21, 2024 at 10AM Pacific Time: We'll be holding an information session on Monday Oct 21 at 10AM Pacific Time. Join us to learn more about our program, the application process, and how to prepare a competitive application. Click here to register.

November 8, 2024 at 7PM Pacific Time: We'll be holding an information session on Friday Nov 8 at 7PM Pacific Time. Join us to learn more about our program, the application process, and how to prepare a competitive application. Click here to register.

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Information Sessions

We will be hosting an information session as part of the Graduate Diversity Admissions Fair on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 3PM Pacific Time. To find event information and to register for the Graduate Diversity Admissions Fair, please click here.

We will also have additional information sessions on October 21, 2024 at 10AM Pacific Time (Registration link), and on November 8, 2024 at 7PM Pacific Time (Registration link) In all our information sessions, we will cover the application process, admissions requirements, and how to prepare a competitive application, and there will be time for your questions to be answered.

Past Information Sessions

A recording of the previous year's information session can be found below. For the most up-to-date information on our program, please refer to this year's information sessions.

Recorded Information Session - October 27, 2023

Faculty

As part of the MCB department, the Master of Biotechnology program is connected to the department's world-renowned faculty, who lead labs performing cutting-edge research covering a wide range of modern fields.

A number of MCB faculty are closely involved with the master's program, and they include:

Background image of student being advised credit Elena Zhukova

Career Mentorship

  • Our faculty, who are leaders in their fields and have experience taking their work from bench to biotech, provide personalized career mentorship.
  • Core courses offer ample opportunity to explore biotech and academia, while helping to polish up your resumé and practice mock interviews.
  • Extensive campus and departmental career resources help prepare you to enter the biomedical workforce with ease.

More information can be found on our Professional Development page.

Photo credit: Elena Zhukova

Apply

Applications open:
Sept 12, 2024

Application deadline:
Jan 15, 2025

Applications are open!

Starting Your Application

Apply to our program to become a part of a diverse and driven community of students and faculty and expand your future career opportunities in biomedical research by taking advantage of UC Berkeley's unique position as a world-class research institution and its location at the epicenter of U.S. biotech innovation.

Applications are to be completed online through the application portal. Please read and review our program's admissions requirements.

A detailed timeline of the current admissions cycle can be found here.

If you have or will have received your undergraduate degree from an institution outside of the U.S., you will need to submit evidence of English language proficiency.

FAQ

Program Questions
Who is this program designed for?

Our program is designed for people who want hands-on training in cutting-edge molecular biology techniques and highly-desired research experience in an industrial or academic lab. We aim to cultivate a diverse and engaged student body who are driven to make the most of our program's unique position at a world-class research institution within the hub of U.S. biotech innovation.

Is part-time study or remote study an option?

The Master of Biotechnology program is a full-time program with in-person courses.

Can I take classes outside of the program?

No, due to the full-time course load, you will be unable to take additional courses outside of the ones offered by our program. A list of offered courses is available on the Course Schedule page.

Will I have to find an internship on my own?

No, unlike other programs, we work closely with our internship partners to help you find an internship position that fits your future career goals.

What is the cost for this program?

You can find information on the current program fees on the Program Fees page.

General Admissions Questions
Am I eligible for admission even though I did not major in biological sciences or a related discipline as an undergraduate student?

We understand that people may decide to change career paths or their interests may shift. If you can demonstrate in your application that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in this program, then don't let your undergraduate major deter you from applying.

How are applicants evaluated for admission to the program?

Admission to the program is based on a holistic evaluation process and provides multiple opportunities for you to demonstrate your scientific aptitude and potential to succeed during your time in the program and beyond.

Do you offer rolling admissions?

No, the application cycle starts in early Fall, and admissions decisions are announced in early Spring. Classes begin in the summer. A detailed timeline of the current admissions cycle can be found here.

Will I be notified when my application is complete?

Yes, after your application materials are processed, you will receive an email notification informing you that your application is complete and will be reviewed by the admissions committee.

Can I update my application after I have submitted it?

No, you cannot make any changes to your application after you have submitted it, even if you submitted your application prior to the deadline.

Will there be interviews?

Yes, we will be conducting interviews as part of the admissions process. Interviews will be held over Zoom.

Academic Records and Test Scores Questions
Do I need to upload official transcripts with my application?

No, you just need to upload unofficial transcripts with your application. UC Berkeley Graduate Division will require you submit official documents after you have accepted your admissions offer and enrolled in the program.

My GPA is not on a 4.0 scale. What do I do?

You can leave the GPA field blank. You still need to provide your undergraduate transcripts regardless.

What if I am still in school or have not yet completed my degree?

You can upload your most current unofficial transcript. It must include grades from your most recently completed semester or quarter. Once you have accepted your admissions offer, you must submit your official transcript indicating that you have completed your undergraduate degree.

Letters of Recommendation Questions
How can I check the status of my letters of recommendation?

You can check on the application status page. You will also receive an email notification when a letter writer has submitted their letter.

Can my letter writer submit a hardcopy of their letter?

Please do not submit or mail hardcopies of recommendation letters. We only accept letters through the online application portal.

Do I have to waive my right to see my letters of recommendation?

You can decide either way, but keep in mind that some letter writers will not write a recommendation unless you waive your right to see them. This is something you should discuss with your letter writer when you ask for a recommendation. You should also note that letters are generally seen as more reliable if you have waived your right to access them.

Can I submit my application if my letter writers have not yet submitted their letters?

Yes, you can submit your application even if your letter writers have not submitted their letters yet. They will still be able to submit letters after you've submitted your application.

Can I submit my application if my letter writers have not yet submitted their letters?

Check to make sure that you've sent the initial invitation to your letter writer. If it's been a while since you've sent the invitation, think about following up with them to make sure they received the link from the application portal, or consider sending them a friendly courtesy reminder that the deadline to submit their letter is approaching.

What do I do if my letter writer still hasn't submitted their letter and the deadline is approaching?

Check to make sure that you've sent the initial invitation to your letter writer. If it's been a while since you've sent the invitation, think about following up with them to make sure they received the link from the application portal, or consider sending them a friendly courtesy reminder that the deadline to submit their letter is approaching.

Photo credit: Keegan Houser