Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the admissions requirements for the Master of Biotechnology?

  1. Completion of an undergraduate program at an accredited US institute or its equivalent in another country. Applicants should have at least a year of college-level calculus. A degree in a specific discipline is not a requirement for admission.
  2. Completion of the application and all requirements listed on the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) Graduate Admissions webpage. Full application requirement information including deadlines, addresses for test scores & transcripts, and other important details can be found on the application webpage. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of your application.


How do I apply to the Master of Biotechnology Program?

Submit the online application including the necessary supporting documents. The application can be found on the Engineering Graduate Admissions webpage. Please view the FAQ webpage from the SEAS Admission’s office for answers to questions about the application. Any questions regarding the online application system including the upload of documents or system issues should be directed to the Graduate Engineering Admission’s Office email.

How long does it take for the Application Review Committee to reach a decision on my application?
Response times may be variable, but typically decisions are released by April 15th of each year. Once your decision has been reached, you will be sent an email letting you know it’s available. You must log back into your application to view and respond to the decision. The Biotechnology Office will not provide application decision information over the phone or via email.


How long will it take me to finish the Program? Is there a part time option?
Eleven credit units are required for the MB program. Generally, each individual course is counted as one credit unit although some courses may only count for half a credit unit. Full time students (those taking four or three credit units per term) can comfortably complete the program in three semesters.

US students may opt to study part time (one to two credit units per term) and those students generally complete the program within two to three years. US students may switch between full time and part time status as needed.


How much is the tuition for the program?

The Master’s of Biotechnology degree is awarded by the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Tuition rates and fees for the program are administered by the School of Engineering and are subject to change.  Current tuition & fees are available online: School of Engineering and Applied Science – Tuition Rates & Fees.


Is financial assistance available?

The Biotechnology program generally does not have Teaching Assistant (TA) or Research Assistant (RA) positions for work. Positions may open up in other departments, but they are not guaranteed. To learn more about funding your education, please visit the School of Engineering’s Funding Your Education page. For information on Federal and commercial student loans, please visit the University’s Student Financial Services. Full time employees of the University of Pennsylvania and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania should contact their business office for information about the Tuition Benefit Program.


What types of lab or internship opportunities are available?

The Biotechnology program does not offer lab or internships. Biotechnology students do have the opportunity to conduct an independent study with University of Pennsylvania’s faculty in labs on-campus or they may pursue such opportunities with companies off-campus. Students are not allowed to be paid for work on an independent study. Students may complete an internship if one arrises for them but it is not a degree requirement. The Biotechnology program does receive a few open positions (lab and internships) that we distribute, but these are not guarenteed and students generally seek out these opportunities on their own once they are on campus and attending classes.


What resources are available for international students?

Please refer the International Student and Scholar Services website. This office is dedicated to providing international students with information on immigration, housing and other pertinent issues.

Who do I contact if I have questions regarding the Master of Biotechnology Program?

If you have any further questions regarding the Biotechnology Program not answered above or on our website, please email the Biotechnology Program Office at biotech@seas.upenn.edu.