Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology
About This Programme
AURAK's Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology combines natural sciences, technology and biology, with laboratory work running through the degree. Students choose one of four career-oriented concentrations: Medical Biotechnology, Cell and Molecular Biotechnology, Forensic Biology, or Medical Laboratory Technology. The degree also feeds AURAK's 3+3 pathway to a US MD at Saba University School of Medicine or the Medical University of the Americas.
Course Highlights
- ABET-accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission
- Four concentrations: Medical Biotechnology, Cell and Molecular Biotechnology, Forensic Biology, Medical Laboratory Technology
- 3+3 pathway to a US MD at Saba University School of Medicine or MUA
- Two internships and a concentration-specific senior project
What You'll Study
AURAK publishes this as a sample study plan; the actual sequence a student follows depends on placement, transfer credit and course availability. Where AURAK's own plan totals fewer credit hours than the degree's published credit count, the published count is authoritative.
Freshman Year
- BIOL 112 - University Biology I3 credits
- BIOL 113 - University Biology I Lab1 credit
- MATH 111 - Calculus with Life Sciences Applications3 credits
- ENGL 101 - Composition3 credits
- CHEM 111 - Principles of General Chemistry3 credits
- CHEM 112 - Principles of General Chemistry Lab1 credit
- UNIV 100 - University First-Year Transition1 credit
- BIOL 114 - University Biology II3 credits
- BIOL 115 - University Biology II Lab1 credit
- STAT 100 - Introductory Probability and Statistics3 credits
- CHEM 120 - Analytical Chemistry3 credits
- CHEM 121 - Analytical Chemistry Lab1 credit
- GEN ED - Social Sciences Course3 credits
Writing-intensive requirement - students take one of the following:
- MEST 100 - Introduction to Islam in World Culture3 credits
- PHIL 100 - Critical Thinking and Reasoning3 credits
- ENGL 200 - Advanced Composition3 credits
Sophomore Year
- BIOL 230 - General Microbiology3 credits
- BIOL 231 - General Microbiology Lab1 credit
- UNIV 200 - Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability3 credits
- CHEM 215 - Organic Chemistry I3 credits
- CHEM 216 - Organic Chemistry Lab I1 credit
- ITEC 103 - Fundamentals of Information Technology3 credits
- BIOL 270 - General Genetics3 credits
- BIOL 271 - General Genetics Lab1 credit
- BIOL 250 - Biochemistry I3 credits
- BIOL 251 - Biochemistry I Lab1 credit
- PHYS 101 - Physics for Life Sciences3 credits
- GEN ED - Humanities and Fine Arts Elective3 credits
- BIOL 390 - Internship I3 credits
Junior Year
- BIOL 350 - Biochemistry II3 credits
- BIOL 380 - Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering3 credits
- BIOL 381 - Biotechnology Lab Methods and Techniques1 credit
- BIOL 356 - Virology3 credits
- Free Elective3 credits
- ENGL 202 - English for Workplace Communication3 credits
- UAES 200 - Survey of United Arab Emirates Studies3 credits
- BIOL 330 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology3 credits
- BIOL 331 - Techniques in Applied and Industrial Microbiology Lab1 credit
- BIOL 100 - Humankind in a Biological World3 credits
- BIOL 391 - Internship II3 credits
Senior Year
The senior year is shared core plus one of four concentrations.
- BIOL 490 - Research Methods in Biology3 credits
- BIOL 450 - Bioethics3 credits
- BIOL 491 - Senior Seminar2 credits
- Program Elective - Biotechnology Elective3 credits
Concentration courses - students take the set for their chosen concentration (Medical Biotechnology, Cell and Molecular Biotechnology, Forensic Biology, or Medical Laboratory Technology):
- BIOL 435 - Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine3 credits
- BIOL 442 - Molecular Diagnostics3 credits
- BIOL 443 - Molecular Diagnostics Lab1 credit
- BIOL 440 - Medical Microbiology3 credits
- BIOL 441 - Medical Microbiology Lab1 credit
- BIOL 436 - Immunology3 credits
- BIOL 411 - Drug Discovery, Design and Development3 credits
- BIOL 495 - Senior Project in Medical Biotechnology4 credits
- BIOL 425 - Advanced Genetics3 credits
- BIOL 430 - Cell Culture Theory and Technology3 credits
- BIOL 431 - Cell Culture Techniques Lab1 credit
- BIOL 420 - Molecular Biology3 credits
- BIOL 421 - Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Lab1 credit
- BIOL 434 - Cell Communication and Signal Transduction3 credits
- BIOL 473 - Bioinformatics and Computational Biology3 credits
- BIOL 494 - Senior Project in Cell and Molecular Biotechnology4 credits
- BIOL 423 - Advanced Molecular Biology and Forensic Sciences3 credits
- CHEM 420 - Forensic Chemistry3 credits
- CHEM 421 - Forensic Chemistry Lab1 credit
- BIOL 464 - Criminal Justice3 credits
- BIOL 496 - Senior Project in Forensic Biology4 credits
- BIOL 428 - Clinical Hematology3 credits
- CHEM 424 - Clinical Chemistry3 credits
- BIOL 460 - Lab Management and Quality Assurance3 credits
- BIOL 429 - Urine and Body Fluid Analysis3 credits
- BIOL 497 - Senior Project in MLT3 credits
Entry Requirements
Applications are made online. AURAK's admissions application deadline for Fall 2026 is 30 August 2026 and for Spring 2027 is 3 January 2027.
Careers
AURAK lists biotechnology scientist, clinical research associate, food technologist, microbiologist, pharmacologist, scientific laboratory technician, epidemiologist, forensic science technician, biological technician, biomedical researcher, clinical research coordinator, clinical technician, DNA analyst, genetic engineer, geneticist and researcher as destinations for this degree.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) of ABET, and by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. AURAK is also institutionally accredited by SACSCOC (US) and QAA (UK).
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology
Start Date
Fall (August/September) and Spring (January), with an optional Summer (June) start
Typical Offer
UAE curriculum Advanced (Scientific) 70% or General (Literary) 70%. Applicants must also achieve 80% or higher in Biology at high school, or pass the Accuplacer test in that subject.
Duration
4 years
Qualification
BS
Subject Area
Biotechnology
Tuition Fee
AED 63,290/yr
Applications are made online through AURAK. Fees shown exclude the separate non-tuition charges: an AED 400 application fee (AED 500 for graduate programmes), an AED 4,000 seat reservation fee credited against first-semester tuition, and per-semester technology, service and medical fees.