Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

This programme is aimed at graduates who wish to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills in advanced plant biology and biotechnology, including  crop science, genetics, genomics, cell biology, physiology, ecology, and studies on climate change, in order to pursue future careers in plant biology-based industries and PhD research. We aim to provide a learning environment that encourages our students to be active, motivated, and autonomous learners, and to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship. Lectures, tutorials, and small group discussions are key elements in the programme’s design and are delivered by internationally recognised experts in the field. Our students are also given the opportunity to develop a business plan as part of our programme in innovation and entrepreneurship, and to also engage in a 3-month research project to gain advanced experimental skills. 

• A clear understanding that scientific research can be taken to the marketplace
• Advanced knowledge of the variety of disciplines encompassed within Plant Biology, with emphasis on specific areas of research, which will provide the basis for the development and application of original ideas
• The ability to apply their knowledge to formulate hypotheses and test them using appropriate tools
• The ability to communicate to a specialist and non-specialist audience, in a clear and unambiguous way, the results of their investigations and/or rationale underlying them. Strong focus is put on writing (popular articles, scientific papers), and presenting orally.
• The ability to interpret a variety of different datasets generated in Plant Biology research
• The knowledge and appreciation of how plants/crops, and plant/crop-derived products can be used in wider applications in the biomedical, food and agricultural sciences
• The maturity to continue studying and critically appraise the scientific literature in a largely autonomous manner

View All Modules Here

MSc Plant Biology & Biotechnology (F080) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 8500
nonEU    fee per year - € 27720

MSc Plant Biology & Biotechnology (F131) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4240
nonEU    fee per year - € 13860

***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

• This programme is intended for applicants with a degree in an appropriate life science discipline. An upper second class honours or international equivalent is required.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
• Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the  English language requirements, may enter the programme upon  successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/ 
• These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Graduate Profile

Adam Morgan

I was attracted to UCD and this MSc by the fantastic research output of the faculty and the great facilities available on campus. A particular strong point of this course is the range of modules available. During my undergraduate degree I took a lot of molecular biology modules, but this MSc really broadened my horizons by allowing me to take modules from several disciplines including environmental science, zoology and of course botany. My time at UCD has provided me with a number of skills, both lab and desk based, that I employ in my work as a lab analyst for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

• MSc Environmental Sustainability (Negotiated Learning) JanPT
• MSc Environmental Science FT
• MSc Biotechnology FT
• MSc Biotechnology & Business FT

• UCD Rosemount Environmental Research Station
• Controlled plant growth facility and bioreactors
• Plant Metabolomics Technology Platform
• Plant Cell and Tissue Culture Facility

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised