From gene to medicine
Recombinant DNA technology allows drugs to be produced from genes. As a professional in pharmaceutical biotechnology, your skillset will relate to the intersection of applied research and commercial application.

The Master's programme lays the groundwork for an international career. You will be a sought-after expert in a growing market, as well as in adjacent fields such as medical diagnostics, process engineering, marketing and sales, product management, food technology, cosmetics and environmental biotechnology.

Thanks to your master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology you will be able to

• pursue an international career path in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
• play an active role in scientific and medical research and development
• contribute to solving the problems of the future through creative and innovative ideas
• work in a field where health, technology and medicine meet 
• combine entrepreneurial with scientific thinking
• continue your studies and pursue a doctorate degree 
• be ready and prepared for interesting and multi-faceted leadership roles in industry and public research institutions

You will complete a total of 90 credits (ETCS) to achieve your MSc degree.

You will design your own personal study program together with your thesis supervisor and the head of the specialization. The selected modules are recorded in your individual study agreement (planning). In addition to the modules assigned to the specialization in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, specific modules from the specialisations of Food and Beverage Innovation, Chemistry for the Life Sciences or Applied Computational Life Sciences can be chosen.

During your Master's thesis, you will be part of a research group working on a project at one of our research institutes or with one of our industrial  partners. You will have to choose the research field and group in which you intend to perform your MSc thesis already at the time when you register for your studies. Together with your thesis supervisor you will then discuss the specific topic for your Master thesis. Please find a list of topics available for master projects here.

Feel free to contact the respective group heads to discuss the possibility to join their research group as master student.

• You have the opportunity to follow our double degree program together with the Università degli Studi dell'Insubria in Varese (IT) and obtain a double degree including the ZHAW MSc of Life Sciences degree and the "Laurea Magistrale in Biotechnology for the Bio-based and Health Industry" degree from the Insubria University.
• Find information regarding your study plan:  Individual study agreement - online planner
• Important dates regarding your MSc curriculum: annual planning / timetable