Your four-year journey in biotechnology: Our programme builds a comprehensive scientific foundation while developing the practical skills needed to apply this knowledge in real-world settings. 

First year: Building foundations: Students establish core knowledge in biology, chemistry, and data science, complemented by specialized biotechnology and language modules. Practical laboratory work features prominently throughout.  

Second year: Advancing expertise: The curriculum progresses to more advanced molecular cell biology, microbiology, and chemistry while continuing biotechnology and language skill development. 

Third year: Professional experience: Students continue with molecular cell biology, microbiology, and pharmacology alongside language studies. The highlight is the opportunity for a 3-7 month placement, either with Irish industry partners or in European research laboratories. An alternative ‘On campus’ pathway emphasizing genetics and molecular biology is also available. 

Final year: Specialization and integration: The capstone year combines advanced molecular cell biology and microbiology with an introduction to business that includes a hands-on business development project. Students complete an individually mentored literature review and choose between conducting original research or undertaking advanced practical skills and employability training. 

This progressive structure ensures graduates possess both deep scientific knowledge and the professional skills valued by today's biotechnology employers. 

Year 1 

• Biotechnology concepts and lab
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Data science
• Employability skills in biotechnology
• Language (French or German or Irish)

Year 2 

• Biotechnology Innovations
• Biochemistry (Molecular biology)
• Microbiology
• Chemistry
• Language (French or German or Irish)

Year 3 

• Biotechnology skills
• Biochemistry (Molecular biology)
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Language (French or German or Irish)
• Placement experience or On-campus option

Year 4 

• Advanced research project or Advanced skills and employability training
• Topical scientific literature review
• Molecular cell biology
• Recombinant protein production or Plant and agri-biotechnologies 
• Modern biotechnologies

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Our biotechnology programme delivers a solid scientific foundation with practical skills that distinguish our graduates in the job market. Here is what sets us apart: 

Guaranteed placements: We are the only biotechnology programme offering guaranteed placement opportunities in either Erasmus research laboratories across Europe or with Biopharma/MedTech companies in Ireland. This real-world experience builds confidence and significantly enhances graduate employability. 

Comprehensive employability training: Beyond technical knowledge, we develop essential professional skills including teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Students receive targeted training in CV preparation, interview techniques, and industry awareness, ensuring they are career-ready from day one. 

Integrated language training: As Ireland's only science degree with integrated language options, students can study French, German, or Irish using biotechnology-specific examples. This linguistic expertise distinguishes our graduates from other science students and opens doors to international opportunities. 

Thriving career prospects: Ireland's expanding biotechnology sector offers diverse opportunities across biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, healthcare, and environmental science. Our graduates also excel in management, education, medicine, and marketing roles, thanks to their broad skill set. 

International perspective: Through overseas placements, language training, and our diverse student body, graduates develop a global outlook that employers increasingly value in today's interconnected world. 

Personal mentoring: We pride ourselves on providing individualized support throughout your journey from first-year orientation through graduation and beyond. This ensures that every student receives the guidance they need to succeed. 

Industry opportunities at your doorstep: Ireland's life sciences sector has earned a global reputation for excellence. With over 85 BioPharma/Biotech companies operating here, and Ireland ranking among the world's top 5 pharmaceutical exporters, you'll graduate into one of Europe's most dynamic biotechnology landscapes. 

Galway is an internationally recognised MedTech hub, hosting 8 of the world's top 10 MedTech companies. This thriving ecosystem creates exceptional opportunities for our graduates and relies on the strong pool of local talent that our programme helps develop. 

Skills that open doors: Our Biotechnology degree goes beyond scientific knowledge. We recognise that today's employers seek graduates with both technical expertise and essential transferable skills. Through dedicated employability modules, you will develop: 

• Core professional skills: Problem-solving, communication, presentation, and teamwork
• Modern competencies: Data analysis, AI applications, and advanced IT skills
• Career readiness: Professional etiquette, resilience, and industry awareness
• Job search preparation: CV writing and interview practice

This comprehensive skill set, combined with our business and language specialist training, opens doors not only to science-focused roles but also to careers in management, education, medicine, and marketing in Ireland and internationally. 

Proven career outcomes: For over three decades, our BSc Biotechnology graduates have built successful careers across diverse sectors including healthcare, the food industry, and environmental roles. Our recent graduate outcomes demonstrate the programme's versatility: 

• 50% enter BioPharma or Biotech careers immediately
• 15% join MedTech companies
• 5% pursue opportunities in the food industry
• 20% continue to postgraduate studies (MSc/PhD)

Your future starts here: Whether you envision yourself developing life-saving medicines, creating sustainable food solutions, pioneering medical devices, or pursuing research at the highest level, our BSc in Biotechnology provides the foundation for success in an increasingly connected world. 

Are you ready to join Ireland's next generation of biotechnology leaders? 

Unmatched European partnerships: Our biotechnology programme maintains partnerships with 10 universities across Europe, giving us access to more than 20 Erasmus research placements each year. This extensive network provides opportunities that few other Science programmes in the country can match.  

Your European research experience: Students who choose an Erasmus placement in their 3rd year spend 3-7 months conducting research at one of our partner universities during their third year. Students typically travel in pairs to institutions in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, or Spain. 

You'll work in real research laboratories on cutting-edge projects, mentored by local researchers and conducting your work in English. Recent student projects have explored diverse areas including: 

• Study of nanoparticles and their effect on breast cancer cells
• Targeting fibrinogen in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Red seaweed conversion by eco-friendly extraction methods
• MAPK mutations on embryonic kidney development
• Effects of cannabis on germ cell differentiation
• Assessing antibiotic-resistant bacteria in organic vegetables
• Immune responses to Lyme disease 

These projects span multiple disciplines including biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, genetics, and medical devices. They enable our students to gain experience in a broad range of scientific techniques and approaches.  

Beyond the laboratory: Your Erasmus experience extends far beyond research. You'll immerse yourself in new cultures while living in vibrant European cities including Grenoble, Hamburg, Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Leiden, Lleida, Rennes, Valencia, Vannes, and Vienna. Most partner universities organise Erasmus events such as sports activities, social nights, and trips to explore the wider region. 

Financial support: Students receive an Erasmus stipend to help cover living costs while studying abroad, making this incredible opportunity more accessible. 

Skills for life: This programme offers far more than academic credits. You'll boost your language skills, develop cultural awareness, grow in independence, and build an international network of friends and colleagues-all while advancing your scientific expertise in a European research environment. 

Real-world experience: During your third year, you have the opportunity to undertake a biotechnology-relevant placement with a bioscience company in Ireland. Our placement partners span the biotech, biopharma, medtech, and agri-food sectors, giving you access to diverse career paths within the life sciences industry. 

Three decades of industry connections: The University of Galway's biotechnology programme has been facilitating industry placements for over 30 years, building an extensive network of company contacts throughout Ireland. This established foundation ensures quality placement opportunities for our students. 

Placement structure and benefits: Industry placements (also known as internships or co-ops) typically run for 6-8 months, starting in semester 2 of third year and continuing through the summer. You will normally receive at least minimum wage compensation and pro-rated holiday entitlement.  

Your placement begins with comprehensive onboarding and rigorous training in safety protocols and industry practices. Under close mentorship, you will develop expertise in specific tasks before taking on independent responsibility for key projects and processes.  

Leading industry partners: Our placement programme works with major companies including AbbVie, Allergan, Alexion, Boston Scientific, Baxter, Bristol Myers Squibb, CLS, Eli Lilly, Medtronic, Mylan, Randox, Regeneron, Sanofi, and Stryker. 

Most placement partners operate structured internship programmes that include company-wide tours and department overviews, giving you insight into how different teams contribute to bringing products to market. 

Diverse department experience: Students gain hands-on experience across various departments including: 

• R&D laboratories
• Manufacturing and fill-finish operations
• Quality assurance and quality control
• Microbiology laboratories
• Project management
• Clinical engineering
• Technology development 

Skills that employers value: Beyond technical expertise, your placement will develop essential professional skills including project management, leadership, time management, presentation abilities, communication, analytical thinking, and data presentation. 

Your competitive advantage: This professional experience and the industry contacts you develop will distinguish your CV and open doors when you graduate. Many students find that their placement experience directly leads to graduate job opportunities, giving them a significant head start in their careers. 

The BSc in Biotechnology is designed to develop students’ knowledge in the biosciences and enable them to apply this knowledge.  

The learning experience is dynamic, combining theoretical knowledge with practical training and real-world experience to prepare students for meaningful careers in the Biosciences and beyond. 

How Will I Learn? 

• Lectures and lab classes: theory is taught in lectures and applied in laboratory classes as students learn by doing. Students will develop practical skills, apply scientific concepts, collect and analyse data.  
• Employability & Skills modules: academic and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, critical reading and data analysis will be developed in various skills-based modules. 
• Projects: project work allows development of organisation and presentation skills. Some projects are group based and some individual. The final year research project is an opportunity for students to put knowledge into practice as they produce a significant scientific report.
• Placements: real-life, hands-on experience in Industry or in a research lab.
• Language immersion: Students engage in intensive language study through interactive classes that are Biotech-themed. 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

1. Continuous Assessment: Regular coursework, including essays, MCQs, in-class tests, and language exercises. 
2. Examinations: Written exams take place before Christmas and in May. 
3. Project Work: ePortfolios, written projects, poster presentations, oral presentations and lab practicals. 
4. Placement report: The placement in Year 3 is assessed via a written placement experience report/thesis, along with a supervisor’s performance assessment. 

New Irish language pathway in biotechnology 

Our biotechnology programme has been a cornerstone of biosciences education for over three decades. A distinctive element of the degree is its specialized language training integrated throughout the three-year programme, traditionally offered in French and German to prepare students for international careers. 

Responding to growing demand: In 2024, we introduced an exciting new Irish language pathway, driven by multiple converging factors: 

• Growing student interest in combining Irish with scientific studies
• The university's strategic vision to strengthen Irish language provision in STEM fields
• Expanding employment opportunities within Gaeltacht bioscience enterprises
• Recent Government initiatives to increase Irish language competency across the public sector 

Enhanced placement opportunities: Students choosing the Irish language pathway gain access to all existing placement options including research positions at European partner universities and industry roles with Irish biopharma companies, plus exclusive opportunities with Gaeltacht-based bioscience companies throughout Ireland. 

Entry requirements: This pathway is available to students who achieved H4 or above in Irish at leaving certificate level.

Course queries: 
biotechnology@universityofgalway.ie   

Programme Director(s):  

Dr Stephen Rea 
Programme Director for BSc in Biotechnology,  
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 
University of Galway. 

E: stephen.rea@universityofgalway.ie 
T: 091 495750 

Minimum Entry Requirement

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, a third language, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Computer Science or Agricultural Science) and any one other subject recognised for entry purposes. 

Additional Requirements

Minimum O2 or H6 in a modern European language other than Irish or English. 

Alternative Pathways 

The Access Centre at University of Galway provides a number of alternative entry routes to undergraduate programmes. See below some useful links: 

• QQI/FET/FETAC Places
• Mature Students 
• Access and Foundation programmes 
• HEAR Scheme 
• DARE Scheme 

Other Qualifications 

If you are a school leaver presenting results other than Leaving Cert results, please review the entry requirements relevant to you:  

• A Level students 
• International Baccalaureate students  
• EU students 

For applicants whose first language is not English, it is important to check our English Language Requirements.  

Admissions Office  

Our Admissions Office provides additional detail relevant to CAO applicants including key dates, FAQs and instructions for non-school leavers. 

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants 

Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.  

Mature Applicants  

Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry. Further information available here.  

QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants  

Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants page for information on places available and entry requirements.

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

Course Type	Year	EU Tuition	Student Contribution	Non-EU Tuition	Levy	Total Fee	Total EU Fee	Total Non-EU Fee
	All	€4,768	€2,500	€27,500	€140	€2,640	€7,408	€27,640

• Most EU students applying through the CAO will be eligible for the ‘Free Fees Initiative’. You can find out more here.
• If you are eligible for a means tested SUSI grant this may cover 100% of this Student Contribution Charge. If you are 100% eligible SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Charge of €3,000 on your behalf. 
• The Student Levy It is payable by all students and it is not covered by SUSI
• Where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 1.8% per annum for continuing year fees. This applies to non-EU fees.
• You can find additional detail on the Fees Office webpage including FAQs and how fee status is assessed.

Application Process 

Students applying for full undergraduate degree programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), and who are liable for full non-EU tuition fees, should apply online via Apply to University of Galway. Our application portal opens on the 1st October each year for each the following September.   

Further Information 

Please visit the international application webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.