Since biotechnology draws upon diverse basic sciences, world over, it is offered as a specialist interdisciplinary programme. But for academics, students and knowledge providers in India it  has shown promise, and attraction as a separate discipline and hence some of the age old programmes like botany, zoology, marine biology etc. have conveniently come under the umbrella of biotechnology as plant biotechnology, animal biotechnology marine biotechnology. This approach has generated a number of 'me too' programmes and sub standard manpower. So it is imperative that a student identifies the right institution and the right programme.  

Government colleges

Although Jadavpur University, Kolkata was the first university in India to start a full-time course in biotechnology by initiating a degree programme in food technology way back in 1964-65, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi was the first institution in the country to draw up a proper curriculum for a degree course in biotechnology.

The best departments in biotechnology are at the IITs. Though IITs, do not boast of a strong life science division, their strength in engineering comes to their rescue.  Thanks to the seed funding provided by Department of Biotechnology, some of the finest institutions in public sector came into being at University of Hyderabad, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University and Pondicherry University amongst others.

Private institutions

There are few private institutions as well, who have world class facilities and have attempted to compete with the public sector institutions. An additional advantage in these institutions is that they attempt to equip their students with hands-on-training, soft skills training, business management courses and IP (intellectual property rights) awareness.