Offered by Centennial College in Toronto, Canada, HD in Biotechnology - Advanced (Fast-Track) (Optional Co-op) is a higher diploma in Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences programme. The programme runs for 4 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 19,167 per year (CAD 2,775 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Higher Diploma
Field:Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences
Duration: 4 semesters
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 2,775 / year
International tuition: CAD 19,167 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
Centennial College's Biotechnology - Advanced Fast-Track program sees qualified college or university graduates gain direct admission into Year 2 (Semester 3) of the three-year Biotechnology program and receive their technologist advanced diploma in two years (four semesters). In the Biotechnology - Advanced (Fast Track) courses, you'll learn the scientific principles, techniques and skills to work in industrial microbiology and chemistry. Specialized study in biotechnology applications, biochemistry, microbial genetics, and clinical and environmental microbiology will also be included. Your opportunity to understand theory and gain technical practice will be combined with many opportunities for you to enhance your experience. Additionally, project work, in consultation with faculty, will help you to further develop your skills in research, laboratory techniques, report writing and presentation. You'll learn to: Perfect your aseptic techniques; Isolate, enumerate and identify microorganisms from many types of samples (the human body, water, soil, air, food, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products); Accurately calibrate and use a range of instruments such as pH meters, gas chromatographs, spectrophotometers (IR and UV-Vis), HPLCs, centrifuges, PCR thermocyclers and gel electrophoresis equipment; Prepare microbiological media and reagents; Culture pathogenic microbes; Design and perform advanced microbiology and microbial genetics experiments; Use microorganisms to assay pharmaceutical products.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: This advanced fast-track diploma admits applicants who already hold a degree or three-year college diploma in chemistry, biology, engineering, or a related discipline; Centennial reviews the applicant's transcript as part of the decision. Applicants must also take Centennial's own English Admission Test or otherwise satisfy its English-proficiency standard. The program page defers that standard to Centennial's institution-wide requirement, which for fast-track and advanced-diploma programs sets IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 81 with Reading at least 19 and Writing at least 23, and PTE Academic 58. Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca; international applicants apply directly to Centennial. No minimum admission GPA is published for entry, though the optional co-op stream carries its own continuation requirements. The availability table currently lists only a Summer 2027 intake.
Application Details
Start Date:Summer 2027 only
Application Deadline:Centennial publishes no application deadline for this program; what follows is the Ontario college cycle that governs it. Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca: for a program starting in Fall 2027 the equal-consideration date is 1 February 2027, and applications arriving after it are still assessed, but first-come first-served while places remain. Across the Ontario college system the application opened on 26 September 2026, offers may be issued from 1 November 2026, and an offer must be accepted by 1 May 2027. One $150 fee covers up to five program choices. International applicants apply directly to Centennial through its own international application process and are assessed on a rolling basis across the Fall, Winter and Summer intakes; the college publishes no fixed international closing date. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
