Bioinformatics with Advanced Research

Entry requirements

The normal entry requirements for the programme are:

• A minimum of a lower second-class Honours Degree in a Bioscience or Computer Science subject with a final classification grade average of a minimum of 50% with evidence of having completed a research project; OR
• A professional qualification accepted as equivalent to the above; OR
• A qualification in veterinary science, medicine with a classification grade average as specified above; OR
• A qualification in maths, physics or astronomy with a significant computational component and a classification grade average as specified above. OR
• A minimum of a lower second-class Honours Degree in disciplines other than those described above with a final classification grade average of a minimum of 50%, but where the applicant, in the opinion of the Programme Leader, would benefit from, and succeed on, the programme. The decision will be based on the contents of the degree to have either a significant computer science content or a significant molecular bioscience content.

In addition, all international students are required to demonstrate an English Language capability of IELTS 7.0 (with no less than 6.5 in any band) or equivalent qualification.

MSc Bioinformatics with Extended Professional Practice and MSc Bioinformatics (with Advanced Research) (two years full-time)

• Requirements as specified above for MSc Bioinformatics; AND
• Students will be selected through interview.

The interview must demonstrate that the applicant meets the following criteria:

• Skills and knowledge in the area of biosciences equivalent to the level of the Core Bioscience module specified in section D; OR
• Skills and knowledge in the area of computer science equivalent to the level of the Core Computer Science module specified in section D; AND
• An understanding of how the programme of bioinformatics will contribute to the academic or professional development of the applicant.

If more students meet the above criteria than there are places available, students will be ranked and selected according to their interview performance and undergraduate degree average.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Intended for graduates in biological sciences or computer science interested in applying computation to biology, this MSc Bioinformatics course offers an opportunity to explore the application of computer science to problems in biology and medicine, providing a powerful skill set for tackling real-world challenges. You will learn how to generate and process biological sequence data, as well as use innovative tools and techniques that make sense of complex biological data. The course will develop your skills through lectures, workshops and practical classes, covering computational as well as laboratory practicals. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary collaboration with biologists, medical professionals, and computer scientists, preparing you to excel in diverse and dynamic teams in the workplace.