THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2026/2027

Draft Edition - Due to be published Thursday 9th April 2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology (MSc) (PTMSCSYBIO1F)

Jump to: Year 1

Year 1 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: September

Notes:
1. Students should take exactly 60 credits of courses in each semester.

2. Other appropriate Level 11 courses from the School of Biological Sciences may be available as options at the discretion of the Programme Director.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Tools for Synthetic Biology

Must be taken during Semester 1

PGBI11128 20 credits
Engineering Biology

Must be taken during Semester 2

PGBI11138 10 credits
Research Project Proposal (Biotechnology)

Must be taken during Semester 2

PGBI11105 10 credits
MSc Project and Dissertation (Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology)

Must be passed at 50% and taken during Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond

PGBI11096 60 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 80 credits in this group.

Social Dimensions Optional Courses

Select between 10 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students MUST take Social Dimensions of Systems and Synthetic Biology. The option is between a 10 or 20 credit course. The 20 credit version of the course provides a more in-depth exploration of the social, ethical and political issues inherent to synthetic biology. Students must choose only ONE option below.
Selected courses must be taken during Semester 2
Social Dimensions of Systems and Synthetic Biology
PGSP11476 20 credits
Social Dimensions of Systems and Synthetic Biology
STIS11004 10 credits
AND

MSc SBB Lab Course Options

Select between 10 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students must take AT LEAST ONE and no more than two of the following courses, with Automation and Industry the recommended option for this programme.
Please note:
- Automation and Industry and Principles of Biotechnology take place in Semester 1
- Metagenomics takes place in Semester 2
- You should not take both Metagenomics and Principles of Industrial Biotechnology
Metagenomics
BITE11004 10 credits
Principles of Industrial Biotechnology
PGBI11103 10 credits
Automation and Industry
PGBI11118 10 credits
AND

Optional Courses from School(s) H-U - Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology (MSc) - Semester 1

Select between 20 and 40 credits of the following courses
Selected courses must be taken during Semester 1
Python Programming for the Life Sciences
BICH11008 10 credits
Enzymology and Biological Production
BITE10001 10 credits
Economics & Innovation in the Biotechnology Industry
BITE11003 20 credits
Information Processing in Biological Cells
PGBI11051 10 credits
Biochemistry A
PGBI11100 10 credits
Biophysical Chemistry for MSc Biochemistry
PGBI11107 10 credits
The Origins of Synthetic Biology
PGBI11116 10 credits
Biodesign for Sustainability
PGBI11127 10 credits
Modelling and Measuring Drug/Protein Interactions
PGBI11131 20 credits
Plant Biotechnology
PLSC10023 10 credits
AND

Optional Courses from School(s) H-U - Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology (MSc) - Semester 2

Select between 10 and 30 credits of the following courses
Selected courses must be taken during Semester 2
Next Generation Genomics
BILG11004 10 credits
Commercial Aspects of Drug Discovery
PGBI11049 10 credits
Industry and Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology
PGBI11090 10 credits
Vaccines and Molecular Therapies
PGBI11108 10 credits
Introduction to Bioinformatics
PGBI11137 10 credits
Nature-based Solutions
PGGE11265 20 credits
Biobusiness
PGSP11331 20 credits
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