The school of chemical and biotechnology at SASTRA University has kept in line with the need for a specialization in higher studies rather than a generic biotechnology course. The school offers a MTech degree in popular streams such as industrial biotechnology, medical nanotechnology and pharmaceutical technology.

The school has distinguished faculty members with rich experience in academia/industry/research. Interaction of students with the faculty is encouraged and is reflected in the high degree of success of the students in interviews, competitive examinations and technical presentations. Admissions to school are conducted wholly on the basis of merit. For the under-graduate programs, 30 percent of the students are admitted on the basis of their All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) ranking, whereas the rest on the basis of the marks obtained in their board examinations.

Since 2008, the school has published 17 research papers in national and 385 in international journals respectively. Also, it has filed for four Indian and six international patents during 2010-12. The patents broadly deal with novel materials for regeneration of skin, post injury and theranostic applications in imaging and carriers for selectively targeting cancer cells during medication. Two of the patents involve ayurvedic formulations for coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Since 2010, the school has received close to Rs 2.26 crore from industry sponsored projects and Rs 10.86 crore from the government funding agencies. The collaborations allow students to work on live projects and gain hands on experience. Approximately 40-50 percent of students opt for higher studies after their graduation. Last year also saw 201 students securing job offers via campus placements, a majority of them being in the life sciences division of major multi national companies.

A high degree of exposure to practical aspects of science is given in the lab. SASTRA students have been winning the maximum number of fellowships offered by the Indian Academy of Sciences for the last few years. Also, a number of students are being offered the Khorana fellowships by DBT, allowing them to spend valuable time at University of Wisconsin, Madison. Another prestigious collaboration exists with Harvard-MIT Health Sciences Lab. Other collaborations include those with Deakin University of Australia and National University of Singapore.