The 2-year MSc Biotechnology program in India is designed to provide advanced knowledge and practical skills in the rapidly growing field of biotechnology. This interdisciplinary course covers areas such as molecular biology, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, immunology, and industrial biotechnology, preparing students for diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, healthcare, and environmental management. With the biotechnology industry in India expected to reach USD 80 billion by 2025, graduates are in high demand across research institutions, biotech firms, and government organizations. Compared to biochemistry, an MSc in Biotechnology offers a broader perspective, integrating both theoretical concepts and hands-on laboratory training. This article explores eligibility criteria, top colleges, fees, and career opportunities.
MSc Biotechnology is a 2-year postgraduate program that integrates biology, chemistry, and technology to develop innovative products, technologies, and processes. The course has applications across healthcare, agriculture, environmental management, and industry. With India’s biotechnology sector projected to reach USD 80 billion by 2025, MSc Biotechnology offers promising career opportunities. Core subjects include Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering, Bioinformatics, and Immunology. The table below compares MSc Biotechnology with MSc Microbiology and MSc Biochemistry, highlighting their key differences and similarities.
Item
MSc Biotechnology
MSc Microbiology
MSc Biochemistry
Course Duration & Focus
2-year program with applications in healthcare, agriculture, environment, and industry
2-year program focusing on microorganisms and their applications in medicine, agriculture, and environment
2-year program focusing on the chemical processes within living organisms
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, IITs, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
University of Delhi, University of Mumbai, Bangalore University
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), University of Hyderabad, Jamia Millia Islamia
MSc Biotechnology Eligibility in India
To be eligible for the MSc Biotechnology program in India, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or Chemistry with a minimum of 50% marks. Admission is generally based on national-level or university-level entrance exams, and candidates must also meet the specific eligibility criteria set by each institution.
Key entrance exams include:
IIT JAM (BT): Joint Admission Test for MSc programs in Biotechnology
GAT-B (DBT): Biotechnology Eligibility Test conducted by the Department of Biotechnology
CUET-PG: Central Universities Entrance Test for Postgraduate programs
BHU PET: Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test
JNU CEEB: Jawaharlal Nehru University Combined Entrance Examination for Biotechnology
University-Specific Entrance Exams: Individual universities may conduct their own exams
State-Level Entrance Exams: Some states conduct exams for MSc Biotechnology programs
National-Level Entrance Exams: Exams like IIT JAM and GAT-B are conducted at the national level
Entrance Exams, Conducting Bodies, and Accepting Colleges/Universities
Entrance Exam
Conducting Body
Accepting Colleges/Universities
IIT JAM
IITs
IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs
GAT-B
DBT (Department of Biotechnology)
DBT-supported universities and institutions
CUET-PG
NTA (National Testing Agency)
Central Universities and other participating institutions
BHU PET
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
JNU CEEB
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
University-Specific Exams
Individual Universities
Specific universities offering MSc Biotechnology programs
State-Level Exams
State Government / Designated Agency
Colleges within the respective state
National-Level Exams
National Testing Agencies
Universities and institutions across India
Top MSc Biotechnology Colleges in India
The following table lists the top MSc Biotechnology colleges in India, along with their fees, stipend, labs, and placements. These institutions offer a comprehensive curriculum with a strong focus on research and development, providing students with hands-on experience in state-of-the-art laboratories. Fees vary: IITs charge around ₹50,000 per year, JNU charges ₹30,000, and DBT-supported universities charge ₹40,000 per year plus a stipend of ₹12,000 per month. Private universities like VIT, Amity, SRM, and Manipal charge higher fees ranging from ₹2–3 lakhs per year. Graduates secure roles as analysts, researchers, and managers in top biotech companies.
College / University
Fees (Per Year)
Stipend / Fellowship
Labs
Placement Highlights
IITs (Various Locations)
₹50,000
₹12,400
Advanced Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology Labs
Students placed as analysts, researchers, managers; Avg. salary ₹6–10 LPA
DBT-supported Universities
₹40,000
₹47,000
Microbiology and Biochemistry Labs
Placements in research institutes and companies; Avg. salary ₹4–6 LPA
JNU (Delhi)
₹30,000
₹3,000
Environmental Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Labs
Placements in government and private sectors; Avg. salary ₹5–8 LPA
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Manipal)
₹1,50,000
₹5,000
Animal Biotechnology and Immunology Labs
Placements in pharmaceutical and biotech companies; Avg. salary ₹6–10 LPA
VIT (Vellore)
₹2,00,000
–
Advanced Biological Chemistry and Microbiology Labs
Placements in R&D companies; Avg. salary ₹7–12 LPA
Amity University (Noida)
₹3,00,000
–
Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Labs
Placements in IT and biotech companies; Avg. salary ₹8–15 LPA
SRM (Chennai)
₹2,50,000
₹13,500
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Labs
Placements in pharmaceutical and biotech companies; Avg. salary ₹6–12 LPA
Manipal (Manipal)
₹2,50,000
–
Life Science and Biochemistry Labs
Placements in R&D companies; Avg. salary ₹7–12 LPA
BHU (Varanasi)
₹15,000
–
Microbiology and Biochemistry Labs
Placements in government and private sectors; Avg. salary ₹4–8 LPA
Fergusson College (Pune)
₹50,000
–
Environmental Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Labs
Placements in research institutes and companies; Avg. salary ₹5–10 LPA
MSc Biotechnology Syllabus in India
The MSc Biotechnology syllabus provides a comprehensive understanding of biotechnology and its applications. The course is divided into four semesters, with approximately 60% of the curriculum dedicated to practical training.
Semesters 1–2: Focus on core subjects such as Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biostatistics.
Semesters 3–4: Allow students to specialize in areas like Plant Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology, or Industrial Biotechnology.
Additional Components: Dissertation, industry project, and hands-on lab training to enhance practical skills.
Semester-wise Subjects, Specializations, and Projects
The fees for MSc Biotechnology vary depending on the type of institution:
IITs: ₹50,000 per year (total ₹1 lakh)
Central Universities: JNU – ₹30,000 per year, BHU – ₹15,000 per year
DBT-supported Universities: ₹40,000 per year + ₹12,000 monthly stipend
Private Colleges: ₹1.5 – 3 lakh per year (total ₹3 – 6 lakh)
Scholarships and Fellowships:
DBT-JRF: ₹37,000 per month stipend
CSIR: Various stipend amounts for eligible candidates
DST-INSPIRE: Various stipend amounts for meritorious students
Merit-based Scholarships: Up to ₹50,000 depending on merit and family income
Sample Fees with Stipends and Scholarships
Institution
Tuition / Fees (Per Year)
Stipend / Notes
IITs
₹50,000
–
JNU
₹30,000
–
BHU
₹15,000
–
DBT-supported Universities
₹40,000
₹12,000 per month stipend
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
₹1,50,000
–
Allahabad University
₹1,24,000
–
Sanskriti University, Mathura
₹1,20,000
–
Career After MSc Biotechnology
An MSc in Biotechnology opens up diverse career opportunities in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, research, and academia. Salaries vary depending on the sector, experience, and role. Graduates can work as research scientists, regulatory specialists, quality control officers, educators, or managers in private and government organizations.
Career Opportunities and Average Salaries
Sector
Roles / Positions
Average Salary (LPA)
Pharma
Research Scientist, Quality Control Specialist, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Pharmaceutical Engineer, Clinical Research Coordinator, Medical Writer, Business Development Manager, Patent Analyst
₹4 – 30 LPA
Biotech
Senior Associate Scientist (Biocon, Serum Institute), Quality Control Officer, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Biotech Engineer, Clinical Trial Manager, Technical Writer, Business Development Executive, Intellectual Property Manager
₹5 – 30 LPA
Research
Research Associate (ICMR), Research Fellow (CSIR), Senior Research Fellow, Research Scientist, Principal Investigator, Science Writer, Grant Writer, R&D Manager
₹4 – 30 LPA
Academia
Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor & Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Vice Chancellor, Chancellor
₹4 – 30 LPA
MSc Biotechnology Salary in India
The salary for MSc Biotechnology graduates varies depending on the institute of graduation, experience, and job role. Freshers can expect ₹3–6 LPA, while graduates from top institutes like IITs and JNU can earn ₹6–12 LPA. With 3 years of experience in pharma or biotech, salaries can rise to ₹8–15 LPA, and research professionals with a PhD can earn ₹10–20 LPA. International positions offer $50,000–80,000 per annum, and DBT-JRF fellows receive a monthly stipend of ₹37,000 during their PhD.
Salary Overview by Role and Experience
Job Role / Field
Entry-Level (Freshers)
3 Years Experience
Senior / International
Notes
Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Control (QC)
₹2.5–6 LPA
₹6–10 LPA
₹12–18 LPA
Pharma / Biotech
Clinical Research / Research Biochemist
₹3–6 LPA
₹8–12 LPA
₹10–20 LPA
Hospitals, Pharma, Biotech
Senior Associate Scientist / Regulatory Affairs
₹4–8 LPA
₹10–15 LPA
₹15–25 LPA
Biotech / Pharma Companies
Biotech Researcher / Lab Technician
₹2.5–5 LPA
₹5–8 LPA
₹8–15 LPA
Research Labs, Startups
Marketing / Regional / Business Development
₹3–6 LPA
₹6–12 LPA
₹12–25 LPA
Pharma / Biotech / Education
Professors / Lecturers
₹4–8 LPA
₹6–12 LPA
₹10–20 LPA
Universities, Colleges
Research Associate / Analyst / Scientist
₹3–6 LPA
₹8–15 LPA
₹10–20 LPA
Pharma, Biotech, R&D
PhD & Research Career after MSc Biotechnology
Completing a PhD in Biotechnology opens advanced career opportunities in research, academia, industry, and healthcare.
India: Prestigious institutions like IITs, IISc, NCBS, and TIFR offer fully funded PhD positions.
Fellowships:
DBT-JRF: ₹37,000 per month for up to 5 years
CSIR-NET: Teaching eligibility and research support
Abroad: Universities in the US, Europe, and Asia offer fully funded PhD programs with advanced research facilities.
Post-Doctoral Opportunities: PhD graduates can pursue post-doc positions to specialize further.
PhD Options and Career Areas
Location
Opportunities
Career Sectors / Roles
India
Pursue PhD programs in top research institutions
Research & Development (R&D), Education, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Medicine, Industrial & Environmental Research, Animal Husbandry
Abroad
International universities with cutting-edge research facilities
Research & Development, Academia, Biotechnology Startups, Healthcare Innovation, Industrial Research
FAQs
Q1. What is the duration of MSc Biotechnology course?
The duration of MSc Biotechnology course is 2 years. This course has applications in Pharma, Agriculture, and Environment. The India Biotech Industry is expected to reach $80 Billion by 2025.
Q2. What are the eligibility criteria for MSc Biotech entrance exam?
The national entrance exam for MSc Biotechnology is M.Sc Biotechnology National. There is also a mention of CATIONS · EXAM, but details are .
Q3. What are the fees for MSc Biotechnology in some top colleges?
The fees for MSc Biotechnology vary across colleges. For example, Manipal Academy of Higher Education charges INR 1.5 Lakhs, while some other top MSc colleges in India charge ₹ 56,60,000.
Q4. What are some of the core subjects and electives in MSc Biotech Syllabus?
The MSc Biotech Syllabus includes core subjects like Research and Study Skills. Some of the electives and specializations available are Immunology, Environmental Biotechnology, Advanced Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology, and Animal Biotechnology.
Q5. What are some of the career options and salary ranges for MSc Biotech graduates?
Some of the career options for MSc Biotech graduates include Engineer, Manager, and Consultant. The salary range for Engineer and Manager is 5-10 LPA. Other career options like Research and Development Manager, Patent Engineer, and Technical Specialist are also available, but salary ranges are typically between 6–20 LPA depending on experience, specialization, and the employer.
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