The selection process for prospective Master of Biotechnology students is carried out online and integrated through the Universitas Padjadjaran Entrance Selection system (SMUP) which is carried out centrally and independently by the SMUP team in collaboration with related work units under it. In one year, two selection waves are opened, namely Batch 1 for odd semester selection and Batch 2 for even semester selection. All the necessary requirements for prospective students, the registration process and special requirements needed, are all written and can be accessed by the public from the http://smup.unpad.ac.id/ page.

Master of Biotechnology Program accepts prospective students from all undergraduate program graduates accredited by BAN PT/LAM-PTKes or graduates at level 7 according to the KKNI. In addition, prospective students must have an Academic Ability Test (TKA) certificate with a minimum score of 450 and have an English Language Proficiency Test (TKBI) certificate in the form of TOEFL/IELTS with a minimum score of 450/4.5.

Prospective students who have scientific publications in reputable international journals (Q1) according to SJR: Scientific Journal Rankings – SCImago as the first author, are not required to have and upload TPA and TKBI scores when registering. To deepen the assessment of the scientific side and deepen the study plans of prospective students, interviews are conducted with all prospective students with the obligation to present their study plans and research studies.

The selection was carried out in two stages, namely administrative selection for the completeness of general requirements which was carried out at the University level by the SMUP Team and then selection at the Faculty level in the form of interviews to assess motivation and academic insights as well as research plans to be carried out.

The Dean and Head of Study Program will then recommend candidates to be accepted or not. Furthermore, the Rector will issue a graduation decree for the participants. All announcements are made on the SMUP announcement can be accessed online http://pengumuman.unpad.ac.id/home.

Selection for foreign students is carried out by the SMUP team in collaboration with the University’s Office of International Affairs – KUI (International Office). KUI coordinates from registration to selection with the Chair of the relevant Study Program.

The number of applicants fluctuates every year, with an average of 13 applicants for the Master of Biotechnology and the average number of students accepted is around 6 students each year. However, there is a trend towards a linear increase in the number of applicants from 2017 – 2020 (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Comparison of applicants and those accepted in the Biotechnology Masters Program in the last five years

In general, students of the Biotechnology study program are students who are already working, so they need support for flexibility in learning and monitoring to monitor the proper study progress. Online learning uses Unpad’s LiVE system combined with Google Classroom. The monitoring of student study progress is carried out online using the SIAT system. Each student will get an email account according to their respective student ID. Students carry out study planning and mentoring and view learning outcomes using SIAT which can be accessed from outside the university.

Students who are already working, especially those from research institutions, can conduct research at their workplace with research topics according to the actual problems that exist. Unemployed students are encouraged to carry out research at biotech company partners who have collaborations with the Biotech Study Program through Centers of Excellence in Unpad.