Biotechnology,University of Pune

We have two year M. Sc. Biotechnology degree programme with an intake of 20 students. For admission, the students from all over the country appear for the entrance examination conducted by the J. N. U., New Delhi and as per their merit and preference, they are admitted at various centres of Biotechnology Teaching programme in the country. The University of Pune is one of the 69 centres. The main objective in our teaching programme has been emphasis on practical training in all the relevant branches of Biotechnology.

The M. Sc. programme in Biotechnology consists of 100 credit courses to be covered in four semesters. Each theory course is of either 2 or 4 credits and each practical course is of 2 to 6 credits. Each credit course consists of 15 lecture hours (theory) or 3 -5 laboratory experiments of total 15h duration (practical). In all the courses, 50% of the total assessment for each course is based upon teachers evaluation of the student over the entire semester period (continuous internal assessment) and the remaining is assessed through the semester-end examination. Each teacher is given complete freedom to devise and conduct a particular mode of assessment

In the first year of M. Sc., the emphasis is on tutorials and practical. In the second year, research projects form 25% of the practical course. A strong student-teacher interaction is encouraged. After completion of first year, the students are encouraged for summer training for a period of two months (during the vacation) at various universities/National research institutes of repute, with the hope that they can interact with recognised scientists in the fields of their interest. Further, the Department arranges lectures by scientists from India and abroad in many areas of Biotechnology.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi offers a studentship of Rs. 3000/- p.m. to all the M. Sc. students during their two years of studies. The M. Sc. program is funded by the DBT and the University of Pune.

M.Phil. (Biotechnology)

The students with a Master Degree either in physical sciences or life sciences can be admitted to M. Phil. degree based on their performance at the M. Sc. Level, as well as through a written test followed by an interview by a panel of experts. M. Phil. students undergo three courses in addition to the dissertation (project). The project which has a research base carries a weightage of 50% (time-wise and credit-wise) of the total M. Phil. course. At the end of the course, the assessment of the students work is done by conducting a viva voce test. The dissertation based on the project is evaluated by the guide and an external referee. The M.Phil programme is only offered when there is request from guides indicating the need for M.Phil students.