BSc in Biochemical Engineering

BSc in Biochemical Engineering

Last modified: 29. September 2026

The aim of the programme is to educate biochemical engineers who are capable of managing broadly interpreted biotechnological systems and the personnel operating them; carrying out analytical examinations, in-process and final quality control; and understanding technical documentation in at least one foreign language. Upon completion of the programme, biochemical engineers may participate in the development and design of technological systems, the development of new procedures and products, and may perform specific tasks in research projects in accordance with the needs of the labour market. Graduates are also prepared to continue their studies in a master's degree programme.

Qualification of the degree:

  • level of degree: Bachelor of Science (bachelor, BSc);
  • qualification: Biochemical Engineer

Length of program: 7 semesters
Work schedule: full-time training (HU, EN)
Financial options: state scholarship or self-financed
Program leader: Prof. Dr. Quang Duc Nguyen, university professor (Buda Campus)
Program coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erika Bujna, associate professor (Buda Campus)
Training site: Budapest (Buda Campus)
Languages of conduction: Hungarian or English

Specializations

OPTIONAL MODULE

 RESPONSIBLES FOR SPECIALIZATION WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION
Applied Biotechnology module Dr. Erika Bujna, associate professor full-time training, Budapest
Environmental Technology module Dr. Szilvia Bánvölgyi, associate professor full-time training, Budapest
Bioanalytics module Dr. László Abrankó, university professor full-time training, Budapest

 

Conditions for selecting specialization

From the 2021/22 academic year onwards, under a progressive system:
Students of the programme choose a specialisation module in the 4th semester of their studies.
The conditions for choosing a module are the completion of 90 credits by the end of the 4th semester and the fulfilment of the prerequisites for the subjects offered in the 5th semester of the respective module. Depending on the number of available places, students are ranked and allocated to modules based on their cumulative grade average.

Professional practice

In the full-time Bachelor's programme in Biochemical Engineering, the completion of a four-week professional internship is compulsory. Preparations for the internship take place during the spring semester, and the internship must be completed during the summer following the 6th semester.
In order for the internship to be accepted and recognised for academic credit, students are required to prepare a written report on their practical workplace assignment and present it orally. The deadline for submitting the written report is determined by the Institute's Practical Education Committee.
Further information on the documents required for the professional internship, as well as the content and formal requirements of the report, is available at Professional Internship Information.
The general regulations governing professional internships are set out in the Professional Internship Regulations, which constitute Annex 1 to the MATE Study and Examination Regulations.

Skills and professional competences acquired on completion of the program

Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree programme, bioengineers are able to:

  • safely and in an environmentally responsible manner operate biological, biotechnological and microbiological systems, and perform professional services and commercial activities related to their field of expertise;
  • perform laboratory, pilot-scale and industrial-scale tasks in biotechnology, acquire and apply new testing methods and methodologies, and comply with occupational health and safety requirements;
  •  demonstrate the practical skills and manual dexterity required for laboratory activities;
  • apply computational, biometric and modelling methods relevant to their field of expertise, and effectively use information technology tools and databases;
  • access, evaluate, process and apply professional databases and relevant scientific literature;
  • independently perform laboratory procedures and technological subprocesses, identify problems arising in the course of their work, and make appropriate decisions to resolve them;
  • manage and monitor biotechnological production processes in a broad range of applications, with due regard to the principles and requirements of quality assurance and quality control;
  • participate in the development and design of technological systems, the development of new processes and products, and research activities in the biological sciences and related fields;
  • perform more complex professional tasks and apply their theoretical and practical knowledge in the area corresponding to their chosen specialization;
  • address occupational health and safety issues in biotechnology and the bioindustry;
  • understand technical and professional documentation in at least one foreign language;
  • cooperate effectively and communicate appropriately with professionals from other disciplines, including engineers from other fields, lawyers, IT specialists and managers;
  •  acquire, understand and apply knowledge of previously unfamiliar processes, products and systems.

Conditions of obtaining pre-degree certificate (absolutorium):

The requirements for obtaining the pre-degree certificate (absolutorium) are:

  • successful completion of all compulsory courses of the programme, all courses belonging to the selected module, the number of elective credits required by the curriculum, and the credits awarded for the preparation of the thesis, amounting to a total of 210 credits;
  • successful completion of the required professional internship.

Final Exam

Condition to attend final exam:

  • obtained pre-degree certificate (absolutorium);
  • submission of thesis and its acceptance by reviewers;
  • the student shall not be in debt to the University.

Parts of final exam:

  • comprehensive complex exam
  • thesis defense;

Field of knowledge and subjects of final exam:
From academic year 2023/24 in ascending order:

  • Comprehensive Examination in Biological Sciences at the end of the 5th semester, covering the topics of the courses Microbial Genetics and Fundamentals of Molecular Biology.
  • Comprehensive Examination in Bioengineering Sciences at the end of the 6th semester, covering the subject areas of the courses Bioengineering Operations and Bioseparation.
  • Final Comprehensive Examination at the end of the 7th semester:
    Applied Biotechnology module: Bioproduct Technology;
    Environmental Technology module: Environmental Engineering;
    Bioanalytics module: Comprehensive Analysis of Biocomponents.
    Within the Applied Biotechnology module, the final comprehensive examination in Bioproduct Technology; within the Environmental Technology module, the final comprehensive examination in Environmental Engineering; and within the Bioanalytics module, the final comprehensive examination in Comprehensive Analysis of Biocomponents shall take place on the day of the thesis defence, prior to the defence.
    Based on the examination topic drawn and the supplementary questions, the candidate shall demonstrate their knowledge orally before the comprehensive examination committee. Following the drawing of the examination topic, the candidate shall be provided with a short period of preparation.
    A candidate who receives an unsatisfactory grade in any of the comprehensive examinations shall not be permitted to defend their thesis, and the final examination shall be deemed unsuccessful.
    During the thesis defence, the candidate shall present their thesis in a 10-minute oral presentation. The reviewers shall present their evaluations and questions. The remaining time shall be devoted to substantive discussion and the defence of the thesis.

Evaluation of final exam and qualification of degree from 2020/21 academic year

Accordingly, to Final exam and Degree certificate.

Model curriculum of the program