Program Overview

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Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Molecular Biology is designed for scientists who wish to acquire high-level knowledge and practical skills in modern molecular biology research or industry practice. This program will enable students to master laboratory techniques such as electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction, endonuclease mapping, fluorescent reporters, and expression vectors. Students will also develop an advanced knowledge of the structure and function of genes and the proteins they encode, including genome sequencing, recombinant DNA technology, and macromolecular structure determination.

Program Highlights

• Study at an international powerhouse of teaching and research in chemical and molecular life sciences.
• Learn from scientists who have contributed to breakthroughs in safer vaccines, antibiotic resistance, viral infections, and early breast cancer detection.
• Enhance your technical and research skills in core areas of molecular biology, protein technology, and bioinformatics.
• Create and carry out your own research project.

How You'll Learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose. These include:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Research experience
• Laboratory work
• Workshops

What You'll Study

At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:

• Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory
• Advanced Protein Technology
• Advanced Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Concepts in Bioinformatics

Career Possibilities

Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

• Analytical biochemist
• Genetic pathologist
• Immunologist
• Biotechnologist
• Environmental biologist
• Bioinformatician
• Pharmaceutical scientist
• Microbiologist
• Embryologist
• Virologist

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

• A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, with at least one course in chemistry and biology, or
• A graduate certificate (or equivalent) in molecular biology. You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative Annual Fee

Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

• $9,540 (2026)
• AUD $54,096 (2026)

Government Assistance

Financial Aid

As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.

HECS-HELP

Domestic places in the Graduate Diploma in Molecular Biology are Commonwealth supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.

Centrelink Support

The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.

Scholarships

You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships.

How to Apply

Applying Online

All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent near you. The program code for the Graduate Diploma in Molecular Biology is 5127.

Important Dates

The closing date for this program is:

• To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
• To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (ATSIS) Unit.