Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology

Master of Sciences in Biotechnology

Biotechnology study program provides deep knowledge derived especially from biology, chemistry and chemical engineering, supplemented by knowledge from business, law and management.

This study program develops education in subjects of: biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, gene engineering, biosyntheses and transformation of microorganisms, biocatalysis, enzymology and enzyme engineering, bioengineering, bioanalytical methods, as well as fermentation technology – beer, wine, alcohol and bio-ethanol production, environmental and pharmaceutical biotechnology.

Students will learn the skills of cultivation and isolation of microorganisms, transformation of various substrates into bioactive substances, methods of their preparation and analysis, methods of production of metabolites for pharmaceutical, medical or food purposes, genome study of microorganisms and methods and techniques for their genetic modification.

An important part of the study program is focused on individual laboratory research practice in particular area like fermentative production of organic acids, lipids, pigments, beer, wine or bio-ethanol fermentation. Graduates have knowledge of agricultural, food, pharmaceutical, chemical and environmental biotechnologies. They are professionals with a knowledge of basic sciences, engineering, economic and environmental disciplines. They have sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical skills, enabling them to manage technological operations and processes, analyze, evaluate and model the process.

Targeted biochemical and biotechnology oriented knowledge, in combination with chemical, technological, mathematical and physical knowledge predetermines successful problem solving, taking into account also economic and environmental criteria. Information technologies subjects complete the professional profile of the graduate.

Graduates from this master study program have an appropriate qualification for further PhD studies in successive or related study programs, or may be employed in the fields of the industry, science and marketing areas. The versatility of this master degree provides the graduate student the opportunity to be employed in all countries of the European Union in research institutions, in biotechnology factories focused on fermentation technologies, drug development, human and animal nutrition, or environmental protection. Graduate may be employed also in the fields of development, production, analysis, storage and sale of various chemical products and materials, food, beverages and bio-fuels.

The understanding of the physical principles of various analytical and diagnostic techniques enables the graduate to work e.g. as the operator of clinical equipment in hospitals.

The skills in technical terminology enable the graduate to find an application in the sectors dealing with product certification, environmental monitoring, hygiene or metrology.

Completed Bachelor's degree programme is qualification requirement, with no specific arrangements for the recognition of prior learning.

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Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava

Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU) is the best technical university in Slovakia. According to the Slovak higher education ranking scheme prepared by ARRA, STU has been the best university in chemicals technologies, computer and technical sciences in the long term. Other world rankings list STU as the best technical university in Slovakia and third best in Slovakia and Czech Republic.

The STU graduates are successful in the labor market, not only in Slovakia, but also abroad, and find a broad range of jobs. The STU graduates are in high demand (more than 50 % Slovak employers recruit them), and are highest-paid of all university graduates in Slovakia. The unemployment rate of its graduates is the lowest.

In 2012, the STU received the ECTS Label – the most prestigious European certificate awarded in the sphere of tertiary education. Obtaining the ECTS Label indicates to all domestic and foreign students, that the study credit system at the STU fulfils strict European standards and its offered education is fully comparable with that of other countries. All the degree programs offered at the university, all exams and credits that students gain, are in line with the European credit system and are thus recognized abroad. Obtaining the ECTS Label is a signal of quality for domestic and foreign students.

Slovak University of Technology consists of 7 faculties (including also Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology) and provides 3 types of degrees - Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral.

Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology (FCHPT) has an exceptional position in the system of Slovak university education. It is the only faculty providing complete education based on chemical-engineering and natural science theoretical foundations, educating engineers for all fields of chemical and food processing industry.

1500 students attend the Faculty with 50 Professors, 80 Associated Professors and 90 specialists. Bachelor’s degree study (3 years) provides 6 programs oriented on chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, food technology, automation. Master’s degree (2 years) provides 12 study programs (except of Biotechnology, also Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Technical Chemistry, Heritage Materials Conservation, Macromolecular Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Food Science and Technology, Automation, Environmental Technology, Process Control).

The highest degree of university education is the doctoral degree, preparing graduates for their individual research work in 20 study programs.

Education is in close connection with scientific research. According to the ranking of universities FCHPT is the best technical faculty in the Slovak Republic. There are several scientific schools at the Faculty which are successful in organizing scientific meetings and in winning grants from the domestic and international sources and grant schemes.

The quality of the scientific results from the projects has been documented by more than 200 articles published in Current Contents / per year. Besides the basic research, the Faculty participates in applied research for industry and develops almost one hundred cooperation projects.

The cooperation with many producers and companies allows for a swift application of research results to production. The Faculty participates also in the publication of specialized scientific journals: e. g., Chemical Papers, Acta Chimica Slovaca, Wood Research, Vine and Wine, Fibres and Textile, as well as Plastics and Rubber.