About the Programme

Xiamen University (XMU) started marine studies 100 years ago and is recognised as the cradle of China' s marine studies. Its Department of Oceanography, established in 1946, is the first of its kind in China, while its College of Ocean and Earth Sciences has developed into one of China's best marine research institutions with a state key discipline - marine science, and has a faculty that includes two academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a number of experts involved in "Thousand Talents Plan", China's Recruitment Programme of Global Experts.

The college boasts excellent research platforms such as the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, outstanding educational centres such as National Experimental Centre for Education, as well as an advanced general-purpose research vessel equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments, which serves the interdisciplinary oceanographic cruises conducted in international waters since 2016.

In addition to the strong support from XMU, the Marine Biotechnology programme at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) will also benefit from the intensive research activities to be conducted at the China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, a teaching and research college based at XMUM and supported by the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund.

The Master Programme of Marine Biotechnology at XMUM aims to help students to become professionals who are able to facilitate the marine development in ASEAN countries and contribute to the interactions related to marine studies among China, ASEAN countries and even the whole international community.

Annual Fee

RM 22,000 (For local student)

RM 27,000 (For international student)

Programme Highlights

• Excellent educational resources from one of the most highly-respected and longest-established institutions in China for marine studies
• Fully equipped facilities serving both teaching and research purposes in marine science and biotechnology fields as funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China
• Have the opportunity to work with supervisor/co-supervisor from XMU
• Exposure to research activities involving world-class marine biotechnology scientists and professors from Malaysia, China and other international institutions collaborating with China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences

Career Opportunities

• Researcher or educator in Universities/Educational industry
• Consultant or advisor in natural resources management agencies at the local, national, or international level
• Environmental consulting
• Work in companies involving Marine Biology Science, Aquaculture, Life Science, Bio-active products, Pharmaceutical Science, and Bio-pharming

Entry Requirements

• A Bachelor degree of Marine Biotechnology or Marine Science or Biotechnology or any other relevant fields with minimum CGPA of 2.75 or the equivalent, as accepted by the Senate; or
• A Bachelor degree of Marine Biotechnology or Marine Science or Biotechnology or any other relevant fields with CGPA between 2.50 and 2.75, can be accepted subject to internal assessment; or
• A Bachelor degree of Marine Biotechnology or Marine Science or Biotechnology or any other relevant fields with a minimum CGPA of 2.50, can be accepted subject to a minimum of 5 years' working experience in a relevant field.

*For other equivalent qualifications, please consult our programme counsellor.

Study Mode

This is a PhD degree by research. Students are required to complete three courses:

• Research Methodology
• *Chinese 1
• *Selected Topics on China. 

There are no other courses, but students can attend graduate level courses in the MSc programme to reinforce their knowledge in specialized areas.

*Students with credits in Chinese courses in previous result slips (UPSR/STPM/UEC/A-Level/Foundation/Matriculation/Diploma/SPM/O-Level/HSK, etc.) can be exempted from Chinese 1 and Selected Topics on China.