Overview

Professional skills are essential in the workplace, especially in industry. This course introduces students to the skills required in work settings ranging from the food and beverage industry to the pharmaceutical industry.  The programme will give you a competitive edge and boost your employability prospects.

In this one-year intensive programme, you will cover the following knowledge areas:

Professional Skills in Industry Practice

Includes basic training in safety and risk; budgets and finance affairs; project design and planning; quality control and accreditation processes; data management; ethics and intellectual property considerations.

Microbial Food Safety & Control

Students will use various microbiological techniques to analyze and determine microbial contamination, as well as perform basic identification of microorganisms, as used in i.e. food and beverage industries.

Bioanalytical Techniques

This course will first introduce students to fundamental laboratory equipment as used in molecular & cellular biology laboratories (i.e. electrophoresis, flow cytometry).

Molecular Analysis & Diagnostics

Explore how molecular biology methods are used to aid in diagnosis such as pathogen detection and identification, identification of genetic disorders, pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine, diagnosing and subsequently treating cancer.

Chemical Analysis for Industry

Students will become well acquainted with various aspects of chemical analysis, including handling samples, selecting the most appropriate method of analysis (i.e. HPLC, GC), carrying out the methods and interpreting the data acquired.

Enzyme Technology in Industrial Applications

This module explores the varied uses of enzymes in industry, ranging from the introduction to the basic structure and function of enzymes to methods of enzyme production. The course then focuses on the use of enzymes including their uses in the food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical and medical sectors and in the environment and waste management.

Curriculum

Course structure

Entry Requirements

• A Bachelor of Science of this or another university, in a field related to Biological sciences, including the Health sciences, or an equivalent of a South African NQF 7 BSc degree in a field related to the Biological Sciences. At least 55% average in the final undergraduate course. A 4-year B Tech in Biotechnology will also be considered. Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place.  Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.
• Motivation Letter: Entry into this programme is highly competitive so your motivation letter needs to convince us how this qualification will prepare you for your choice of career and set you apart in the job market.
• Please note: This programme is a final qualification and does not lead directly to a MSc degree in MCB. Only in exceptional cases may students be considered for the Honours degree in MCB, and only if approved by the Head of School.

University Application Process

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. The University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.