MSc Bioprocessing and Biotherapeutics

The MSc Bioprocessing and Biotherapeutics at Teesside University is a postgraduate programme designed to give students a deep understanding of biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Students learn how to design and scale up biological processes using microbial and mammalian cells. They study downstream processes (purification and formulation) and how to turn these into real biotherapeutic products. The course is taught at the National Horizons Centre (NHC), which provides cutting-edge labs, computational tools, and facilities for the integration of biology, engineering, and data analytics.

The taught modules cover key areas such as upstream bioprocessing (cell culture, bioreactor design), downstream processing (purification, filtration, chromatography), formulation of therapeutics, and regulatory and quality requirements. Students also study analytical and diagnostic techniques, process modelling and simulation, data analytics, quality assurance, and regulation of biologics.

A substantial research project is part of the curriculum. The programme is offered full-time (typically 1 year), and part-time (2 years) options are also available. Learning includes lectures, lab practicals, workshops, seminars, case studies, and project work, often using real datasets or industrial scenarios. Assessment methods include lab reports, technical reports, coursework, presentations, examinations, literature reviews, and a final research or placement report.