Biotechnology is useful in several academic disciplines and this field focuses on the intersection of biology and technology. It refers to various techniques used in the bio-industrial production or bio-genetic controlled processes involving vegetal, animal or human organisms. You can study biotechnology online for free through several college and university courses.
Whether you’ve always wanted to learn more about biology or actually take the leap and take online biology courses, for your help we combed our catalog and found some of the “Best Free Online Biotechnology Courses” that will introduce you to the basics of biology in an online setting.
Scroll down!! Take the first step and learn biology online with these courses. Browse our recommendations below, and start learning for free today.
Table of Contents
Industrial Biotechnology
Learn the basics of sustainable processing for biobased products to further understand their impact on global sustainability by enrolling in this free online course “Industrial Biotechnology”. This course is a joint initiative of TU Delft, the international BE-Basic consortium and the University of Campinas. Throughout this course, you will be encouraged to design your own biotechnological process and evaluate its performance and sustainability. To join this course, you must have knowledge of the first-year undergraduate level of (bio) chemistry and biology.
Provider: TU
Delft
Subject: Engineering
Duration: 7 weeks
Start Date: Starts on October 16,
2019
Apply Now
Economics and Policies in a Biobased Economy
Upgrade your knowledge about the recent trends in the circular economy and in sustainable business by joining this “Economics and Policies in a Biobased Economy” free online course. This course is funded by Wageningen University & Research. In this course, you will learn how to deal with the economics and policies governing this transition and the implementation and learn how to measure the outcome. Candidates must have a bachelor degree in social sciences (preferably business-, or economics) to enroll in this course.
Provider: Wageningen
University & Research
Subject: Energy and Earth Sciences
Duration: 4 weeks
Start Date: Open
Apply
Now
Introduction to Bioethics
Applicants are invited to be a part of this “Introduction to Bioethics” free online course designed by the Georgetown University. This course will explore fundamental moral issues that arise in medicine, health, and biotechnology. It is designed to introduce students to the range of issues that define bioethics, together with core concepts and skills. The course should be of interest to undergraduates, health care professionals, policymakers, and anyone interested in philosophy or ethics.
Provider: Georgetown University
Subject: Humanities
Duration: 16 weeks
Start Date: At your own pace
Apply Now
Biobased Products for a Sustainable (Bio)economy
The Delft University of Technology and RWTH Aachen University now wishes to offer their free online course titled as “Biobased Products for a Sustainable (Bio)economy”. The course describes the different types of biomass, the methods of refinery and typical conversion technologies used for biobased products. You’ll also engage in a study of the practical and real-life examples emerging in the market: biopolymers, bioenergy, bioflavours, and biosurfactants. To apply for this course, you must have a basic knowledge of natural science like biology.
Provider: TU Delft & RWTH Aachen University
Subject: Biology and human sciences
Duration: 7 weeks
Start Date: Available
Apply Now

DNA Sequences: Alignments and Analysis
The University System of Maryland is pleased to announce this free online course named as “DNA Sequences: Alignments and Analysis”. Through this course, you will learn how to align and analyze DNA sequences using web and software-based tools to find mutations and other anomalies in genes and genomic sequences. To join this course, you must have knowledge of undergraduate biology.
Provider: University System of Maryland
Subject: Computing
Duration: 8 weeks
Start Date: At your own pace
Apply Now
Improving Food Production with Agricultural Technology and Plant Biotechnology
Build your knowledge of food production challenges and technology with this online course offered by the EIT Food & University of Cambridge. In this course, you will get access to innovative research solutions that address some of the biggest issues in food, agriculture, and plant biotechnology. This course is designed for 16-19 year olds studying biology-related STEM subjects at A level or undergraduate level. It will also appeal to adults interested in the technology behind food production.
Provider: EIT
Food & University of Cambridge
Subject: Science, Engineering &
Maths
Duration: 3 weeks
Start Date: September 30, 2019
Apply
Now
Introduction to Psychology: Biological Psychology
Explore the intriguing world of biological psychology by enrolling in this free online course entitled as “Introduction to Psychology: Biological Psychology”. This course will help you to understand the link between behavior and human biology, and learn how genes and the environment influence our behavior. This introductory course is for anyone interested in psychology – you don’t need any past experience.
Provider: Monash University
Subject: Health & Psychology
Duration: 2 weeks
Start Date: September 2, 2019
Apply Now
Bacterial Genomes: From DNA to Protein Function Using Bioinformatics
The Wellcome Genome Campus gives you a chance to apply for a free online course named as “Bacterial Genomes: From DNA to Protein Function Using Bioinformatics”. By learning this course, you will explore DNA sequences and protein functions, to find the determinants of virulence in microbes. The course will be of interest to undergraduates, post-graduates, researchers, bioinformaticians, biomedical researchers, microbiologists, and all those who are interested in learning about the underlying mechanisms of bacterial disease, DNA sequences, and protein data.
Provider: Wellcome
Genome Campus
Subject: Health & Psychology
Duration: 2 weeks
Start Date: September 16, 2019
Apply
Now

Genes and the Human Condition (From Behavior to Biotechnology)
Start your online learning journey with this free online course “Genes and the Human Condition (From Behavior to Biotechnology)” provided by the University of Maryland, College Park. Through this course, you will gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts of genomics and biotechnology, and their implications for human biology, evolution, medicine, social policy, and individual life path choices in the 21st century.
Provider: University
of Maryland, College Park
Subject: Basic Science
Duration: 8 weeks
Start Date: Open
Apply Now
Experimental Methods in Systems Biology
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is welcoming applicants for enrolling in this free online course named as “Experimental Methods in Systems Biology”. This course gives a broad overview of a variety of current experimental techniques used in modern systems biology, with a focus on obtaining the quantitative data needed for computational modeling purposes in downstream analyses. Don’t miss the chance, enroll as soon as possible.
Provider: Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Subject: Research
Duration: 8 weeks
Start Date: September 2, 2019
Apply
Now
Course Name | University | Cost | Duration | Deadline |
1. Industrial Biotechnology | TU Delft | Free | 7 weeks | Starts on October 16, 2019 |
2 Economics and Policies in a Biobased Economy | Wageningen University & Research |
Free | 4 weeks | Open |
3. Biobased Products for a Sustainable (Bio)economy | TU Delft & RWTH Aachen University | Free | 7 weeks | Available |
4. Introduction to Bioethics | Georgetown University | Free | 16 weeks | At your own pace |
5. DNA Sequences: Alignments and Analysis | University System of Maryland | Free | 8 weeks | At your own pace |
6. Improving Food Production with Agricultural Technology and Plant Biotechnology | EIT Food & University of Cambridge | Free | 3 weeks | September 30, 2019 |
7. Introduction to Psychology: Biological Psychology | Monash University | Free | 2 weeks | September 2, 2019 |
8. Bacterial Genomes: From DNA to Protein Function Using Bioinformatics | Wellcome Genome Campus | Free | 2 weeks | September 16, 2019 |
9. Genes and the Human Condition (From Behavior to Biotechnology) | University of Maryland, College Park | Free | 8 weeks | Open |
10. Experimental Methods in Systems Biology |
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Free | 8 weeks | September 2, 2019 |