Founded in 2002, the Biotechnology major at Wenzhou University is one of the key majors in the 12th Five-Year Plan of Wenzhou University. It falls in line with the "Healthy China" national strategy that is based on the frontier of life science and closely focuses on the needs of talents for the development of the biological health industry.

Biotechnology is a technology that is based on biology. Biotechnology involves the use of living systems and organisms to develop or produce products or processes intended to improve the quality of human life and the health of the planet. Biotechnology is a discipline that often overlaps with the (related) fields of molecular biology, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biomanufacturing, molecular engineering, and more. For thousands of years, humankind has used biotechnology in agriculture, food production, and medicine. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, biotechnology was expanded to include new and diverse sciences such as genomics, recombinant gene techniques, applied immunology, and the development of pharmaceutical therapies and diagnostic testing.

As a graduate of biotechnology, you are not necessarily limited to a career in the laboratory, but can also pursue a career in other fields, which include management, marketing, and of course, laboratory science. The highest level of education you receive achieve will determine your career in biotechnology.

Students who graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology can opt for further study at the postgraduate level.  For the past many years, the proportion of biotechnology graduates from WZU that went on to pursue postgraduate study has reached an average of 45% in 2021, and they have been at the forefront of the university for many years. Many of the students have pursued their postgraduate studies in prestigious universities such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Sun Yat-sen University, Xiamen University, Ocean University of China, and other well-known institutions in China. Those who have not sought further study have successfully found jobs in different sectors of the biotechnology industry. According to the data from 353 questionnaires collected from a survey conducted on past graduates (2006-2020), these students were employed across different parts of the country, and those with master's and doctoral degrees accounted for more than 50%. Among those with a doctoral degree, many have acquired their degrees from world-renowned universities, and are the backbones of scientific research institutions, civil servants, university teachers, and other professionals. This fully illustrates a good prospect of development for students majoring in this discipline. At present, the Biotechnology major is offered both to domestic and international students.

Program Objective

In response to the ever-increasing demand for well-trained international biotechnology professionals, the objective of the program is to provide education that leads to a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of biotechnology.  It seeks to equip students with solid theoretical knowledge of biotechnology and practical skills as well as professional attitudes to cultivate responsible biotechnologists that can work within the interdisciplinary framework of biotechnology and related fields. 

Core Course

The core of the Biotechnology curriculum covers a range of disciplines, including biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, organic chemistry, genetics, principles of chemical engineering, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, fermentation engineering, bioseparation engineering, food safety testing, food safety, and quality control, among others.

Prerequisite

Potential applicants need to have a high school graduate certificate. For international students,  an equivalent to a Chinese high school graduate certificate is required. Applicants with a strong background in science subjects will be given more preferences, but those with little or no background in science subjects will also be considered based on their previous academic performance.

Credit

Students require a minimum of 172 credits (local students) or 140 credits (international students) to graduate.

Degree

Bachelor of Science