Why Indian Biotechnology Students must put Ireland on their Map
Unlock your potential in biotechnology with Ireland's top universities and vibrant industry.
Ireland may be a small country but is a heavyweight when it comes to global university performance. With its universities ranked within the top 5% of universities worldwide, Ireland has seen a growing number of international students each year. Between 2013-19, Ireland witnessed a 45% increase in the number of international students entering its premier institutions. It also helps that it is an English speaking country and ranks as the 12th safest country in the world for international students to live and study. For Indian students pursuing biotechnology, Ireland’s growing clout in the field combined with its research driven programs make it a destination of choice.
Biotechnology in Ireland
A recent investment of $10 billion in the biopharma industry in Ireland has resulted in the creation of new biotech facilities. Ireland’s improving infrastructure in the field can also be attributed to its startup-friendly economic policies and culture.
Specializations
Biotechnology is an umbrella term describing combinations of engineering and scientific knowledge from an array of disciplines used to produce products and processes from living organisms. Specializations include:
- Agricultural Biotechnology
- Biological and Biomolecular Science
- Biomedical Diagnostics
- Biomedical Genomics
- Biomedical Science
- Bioprocess Engineering
- Biostatistics
- Biosystems and Food Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Biotechnology & Business
- Biotherapeutics
- Computational Genomics
- Diagnostics and Precision Medicine
- Health Informatics
- Immuno-therapeutics
- Medical Imaging
- Multidisciplinary Radiology
- Nano-Bio Science
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Technology Pharmaceutical
- Quality Assurance and Biotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Systems
- Plant Biology & Biotechnology
- Toxicology and Regulatory Affairs
Requirements
Different universities/colleges and departments have their own eligibility requirements. Basic requirements include:
| Degree | A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 60-65% score in a related field |
| IELTS | Overall score: 6.5 with no less than 6 in any section |
| TOEFL | Acceptable Score Range: 79-90 |
| PTE | Overall Score Range: 61-63 with no less than 59 in any section |
Top universities for Biotechnology in Ireland
Based on the Times Higher Education University Rankings 2020, the following top universities in Ireland offer courses in biotechnology.
| Rank | University | Average Tuition Fees |
| 1 | Trinity College Dublin | €22,279 (~ INR 18 Lakhs) |
| 2 | University College Dublin | €25,600 (~ INR 21.36 Lakhs) |
| 3 | National University of Ireland, Galway | €20,750 (~ INR 16.66 Lakhs) |
| 4 | Maynooth University | €30,000 (~ INR 24 Lakhs) |
| 5 | University College Cork | €22,000 (~ INR 17.67 Lakhs) |
| 6 | Dublin City University | €15,000 (~ INR 12 Lakhs) |
Top 10 companies for Biotechnology in Ireland
Ireland has more than 300 biotech companies including the topmost firms in the field. Biotech and pharma companies stand among the top recruiters in Ireland. The top 10 companies for biotechnologists in Ireland include:
- Johnson & Johnson
- Roche
- Pfizer
- Novartis
- MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme)
- Amgen
- Sanofi
- Abbvie
- GSK (GlaxoSmithKline)
- Bayer
Job & Salary prospects
Ireland hosts about 40 pharma and biopharma FDA approved plants besides being the seventh-largest exporter of medicinal, biotech and pharmaceutical products. The university and industry connection is strong in Ireland meaning that students are very successfully placed within biopharm and the biotech industry in the country. In addition, the country allows students to stay for a maximum of 2 years after graduation to seek employment in the country. An average starting salary in an Irish firm ranges from €27,000-€38,000 (~ INR 21- 30 Lakhs) per annum.
Potential career placements include:
- Bioengineer
- Biophysicist
- Food Analyst
- Food Technologist
- Lab Technician
- Medical Writing
- Microbiologist Analyst
- Molecular biologist
- Patent Analyst
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacovigilance
- Regulatory Affairs
- Research Scientist
- Scientific Publishing
- Teacher
- Toxicologist
Are you interested in pursuing a masters in biotechnology in Ireland? Reach out to our student support team who will help get you started!
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