Offered by Durham College in Oshawa, Canada, HD in Biotechnology - Advanced (Fast-Track) is a higher diploma in Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences programme. The programme runs for 2 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,836 per year (CAD 3,124 per year for local students).
Aimed at students who already hold academic credentials, the two-semester program combines hands-on practice with theory covering biotechnology's use across agriculture, food processing, cannabis, energy, materials and chemical manufacturing, mining, textiles, environmental work and health. Coursework examines how living organisms, or parts of them, can enable new production methods and products, pairs lab work on industry-grade equipment with real-world applications, and covers the regulations governing biotechnology's use.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: This fast-track pathway targets graduates of a related college diploma or degree completed within the last five years. Durham College requires two post-secondary chemistry courses, one with a lab component, at a minimum grade of C/60 per cent, plus one post-secondary biochemistry course at a minimum grade of C/60 per cent. Proof of English language proficiency is required; applicants educated in a non-English-speaking country must meet Durham College's general English Language Proficiency Policy, which for diploma and certificate programs accepts IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5), TOEFL iBT 88 (no section below 22), PTE Academic 53 (no section below 49), CAEL 60 overall, or Duolingo English Test 110. The college may request additional information to demonstrate practical lab experience. Confirmed intakes for this pathway are September 2027, January 2028 and May 2028, opening for OCAS application in late September.
Application Details
Start Date:September 2027, January 2028 and May 2028
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca: for September 2026 entry the equal-consideration date is 1 February 2026 and offers must be confirmed by 1 May 2026; January 2027 entry has an equal-consideration date of 1 October 2026 (confirm by 1 November 2026); May 2027 entry has an equal-consideration date of 1 February 2027 (confirm by 1 March 2027) - applications after these dates are still assessed while seats remain, including for programs Durham lists as highly competitive (Paramedic, Practical Nursing, Dental Hygiene and similar), which share the same cycle rather than a distinct deadline. International applicants apply directly to Durham, not through ontariocolleges.ca, and are assessed on a rolling basis against each program's published intake availability; Durham publishes no fixed international closing date. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
