Postgraduate study in Biological Sciences
What can you study in Biological Sciences?
Postgraduate study in Biological Sciences focuses on research. Due to the school’s strong links with industry, there may be opportunities to collaborate on research projects with other faculties, or companies such as AgResearch, the Department of Conservation and Crown Research Institutes.
You may pursue a wide range of disciplines, from biomedical, microbial and plant biotechnology to environmental, ecological and conservation science. Research interests open for exploration include:
- Biomedical and Applied Biology
Metabolism and Physiology, Applied Biochemistry, Genetics and Metagenomics, Cell Biology, Immunology, Stem Cell Biology, Neuroscience - Cellular, Molecular and Organismal Biology
Biochemistry, Plant Molecular Science, Microbiology, Genetics, Structural Biology, Mass Spectrometry - Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour
Ecology and Evolution, Behaviour, Conservation and Biosecurity, Ecophysiology, Systematics and Biodiversity
Structuring your postgraduate programme in Biological Sciences
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (BSc(Hons)) in Biological Sciences
15 points:
45 points from:
AND
60 points from:
- BIOSCI 700 Advanced Phylogenetics
- BIOSCI 701 Practical Approaches in Genomics
- BIOSCI 702 Modelling Biological Processes
- BIOSCI 704 Practical Applications of Cell Analysis
- BIOSCI 724 Marine Ecology
- BIOSCI 725 Ecological Physiology
- BIOSCI 727 Aquaculture
- BIOSCI 729 Evolutionary Biology (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 730 Entomology and Biosecurity
- BIOSCI 731 Biogeography
- BIOSCI 733 Molecular Evolution and Conservation Genomics (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 734 Terrestrial Plant Ecology
- BIOSCI 735 Advanced Behavioural Ecology
- BIOSCI 736 Microbial Genomics and Metabolism (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 737 High Resolution Imaging of Biological Molecules (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 738 Advanced Biological Data Analysis
- BIOSCI 739 Dialogues in Biology
- BIOSCI 741 Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
- BIOSCI 746 The Molecular Machinery of The Cell
- BIOSCI 749 Ecology of Microbial Interactions
- BIOSCI 751 Plant-microbial Interactions
- BIOSCI 752 Plant Genomics and Biotechnology
- BIOSCI 754 Plant Genomes and Gene Expression
- BIOSCI 755 Genomics and Gene Expression
- BIOSCI 757 Molecular Form, Function and Design
- BIOSCI 758 Development, Differentiation and Disease
- BIOSCI 759 Cell and Molecular Biomedicine
- BIOSCI 760 Biosystematics
- BIOSCI 761 MSc Thesis Proposal
- BIOSCI 763 Professional Applications of Ecology
- BIOSCI 764 Human Virology
- BIOSCI 765 Translating Biomedical Science into Therapeutic Strategies
- BIOSCI 766 Global Change Ecology
OR
45 points from:
- BIOSCI 700-704, 724–766 (as above)
And a further 15 points from 700 courses in a related subject, for example:
Master of Science (MSc) in Biological Sciences 120-point (one-year) research masters
- Master of Science in Biological Sciences: BIOSCI 796 MSc Thesis in Biological Science
Master of Science (MSc) in Biological Sciences 240-point (two-year) research masters
At least 75 points from:
- BIOSCI 700 Advanced Phylogenetics
- BIOSCI 701 Practical Approaches in Genomics
- BIOSCI 702 Modelling Biological Processes
- BIOSCI 704 Practical Applications of Cell Analysis
- BIOSCI 724 Marine Ecology
- BIOSCI 725 Ecological Physiology
- BIOSCI 727 Aquaculture
- BIOSCI 729 Evolutionary Biology (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 730 Entomology and Biosecurity
- BIOSCI 731 Biogeography
- BIOSCI 733 Molecular Evolution and Conservation Genomics (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 734 Terrestrial Plant Ecology
- BIOSCI 735 Advanced Behavioural Ecology
- BIOSCI 736 Microbial Genetics and Metabolism (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 737 High Resolution Imaging of Biological Molecules (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 738 Advanced Biological Data Analysis
- BIOSCI 739 Dialogues in Biology
- BIOSCI 741 Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
- BIOSCI 746 The Molecular Machinery of the Cell
- BIOSCI 749 Ecology of Microbial Interactions
- BIOSCI 751 Plant-microbial Interactions
- BIOSCI 752 Plant Genomics and Biotechnology
- BIOSCI 754 Plant Genomes and Gene Expression
- BIOSCI 755 Genomics and Gene Expression
- BIOSCI 757 Molecular Form, Function and Design
- BIOSCI 758 Development, Differentiation and Disease
- BIOSCI 759 Cell and Molecular Biomedicine
- BIOSCI 760 Biosystematics
- BIOSCI 763 Professional Applications of Ecology
- BIOSCI 764 Human Virology
- BIOSCI 765 Translating Biomedical Science into Therapeutic Strategies
- BIOSCI 766 Global Change Ecology
Up to 30 points from approved 700-level courses in related subjects:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Management
- Marine Science
- Food Science
- Chemistry
- Science Enterprise
- Medical Science
120 points:
- BIOSCI 796 MSc Thesis in Biological Sciences [you must have an agreement with a supervisor who will work with you on your project prior to enrolling in this course]
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Biological Sciences
- BIOSCI 700 Advanced Phylogenetics
- BIOSCI 701 Practical Approaches in Genomics
- BIOSCI 702 Modelling Biological Processes
- BIOSCI 724 Marine Ecology
- BIOSCI 725 Ecological Physiology
- BIOSCI 727 Aquaculture
- BIOSCI 729 Evolutionary Biology (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 730 Entomology and Biosecurity
- BIOSCI 731 Biogeography
- BIOSCI 733 Molecular Evolution and Conservation Genomics (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 734 Terrestrial Plant Ecology
- BIOSCI 735 Advanced Behavioural Ecology
- BIOSCI 736 Microbial Genomics and Metabolism (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 737 High Resolution Imaging of Biological Molecules (Not offered in 2024)
- BIOSCI 738 Advanced Biological Data Analysis
- BIOSCI 739 Dialogues in Biology
- BIOSCI 741 Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
- BIOSCI 746 The Molecular Machinery of The Cell
- BIOSCI 749 Ecology of Microbial Interactions
- BIOSCI 751 Plant-microbial Interactions
- BIOSCI 752 Plant Genomics and Biotechnology
- BIOSCI 754 Plant Genomes and Gene Expression
- BIOSCI 755 Genomics and Gene Expression
- BIOSCI 757 Molecular Form, Function and Design
- BIOSCI 758 Development, Differentiation and Disease
- BIOSCI 759 Cell and Molecular Biomedicine
- BIOSCI 760 Biosystematics
- BIOSCI 761 MSc Thesis Proposal
- BIOSCI 763 Professional Applications of Ecology
- BIOSCI 764 Human Virology
- BIOSCI 765 Translating Biomedical Science into Therapeutic Strategies
- BIOSCI 766 Global Change Ecology
Up to 30 points from 600 and 700-level courses in related subjects:
Courses
Explore the postgraduate courses you can take for a Biological Sciences specialisation:
Where can postgraduate study in Biological Sciences take you?
Postgraduate study in the Biological Sciences prepares you for a career in biodiversity, biosecurity and biotechnology.
Jobs related to Biological Sciences
- Biotechnologist
- Higher education lecturer
- Marine biologist
- Microbiologist
- Nanotechnologist
- Nature conservation officer
- Pharmacologist
- Physician associate
- Research scientist (life sciences)
- Research scientist (medical)
- Secondary school teacher
- Soil scientist
- Zoologist
Scholarships and awards
Each year we award scholarships and prizes to thousands of students.
Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for, search available scholarships or begin an application by visiting Scholarships and awards.
Help and advice
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