Bioinformatics

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree (2:2 or above) in a health-related subject including:

• healthcare science
• forensic science
• biology
• physics
• chemistry
• pharmacology
• statistics
• computing
• medicine
• nursing
• podiatry
• physiotherapy
• psychology
• pathology.

You will be required to attend an interview. You will need to provide evidence of your achievements, for example:

• a relevant professional qualification at a suitable level, and/or
• several years' relevant post-qualifying professional experience.

If you do not meet the entry criteria to study this course but you have relevant experience, you are still welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

We look for students who show enthusiasm and a passion for the subject through previous study or professional experience. If you have any questions about the relevance of your qualifications or experience please contact the course leader shown in the teaching staff.

Months of entry

February, September

Course content

This bioinformatics Masters degree bridges the interfaces between genomics, computing and specific industrial practices including healthcare pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture. It aims to equip you with the skills to analyse, interpret and use biological data to inform and improve on service provision, productivity and outcomes.Throughout your studies you will be encouraged to reflect on the ethical, legal and social implications of using genomics data.

Career options

Once you graduate you could go on to a career in one of the following areas clinical bioinformatics, personalised medicine and wellbeing, agricultural science and research, animal research, academic research, the food industry, public institutions, public health and IT.

Course overview

The course covers core principles in genomics, as well as statistical, computing data management and machine learning skills. It will equip you with the technical ability you need to analyse genetics and genomics data and the underlying associations between gene variants, disease susceptibility, drug response, food, crop yields and reproduction efficiency.

In the Bioinformatics and Data Science for Bioinformatics modules you will work in interdisciplinary teams as much as possible. Together, and individually, you will

• undertake core practice in sequence and structure analysis techniques and provide you with a strong foundation in omics and NGS analysis. R, Python, Linux, and the user-friendly Chipster software provided by ELIXIR-Finland at CSC are used in the NGS exercises

• problem-solve in real healthcare or industry scenarios using bioinformatics and computational analysis

• learn research design and methodologies in bioinformatics

• apply your understanding of genetic variation to disease modelling

• develop an analysis strategy for a new service that builds on your knowledge of genomics, bioinformatics and programming

• apply the relevant statistical and analytical methods to generate new information.

You will learn from experts in computing, healthcare, mathematics and statistics, whose current practice and research will enhance your postgraduate experience.

Modules

•Introduction to Genetics and Genomics

•Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics

•Data Science for Bioinformatics

•Advanced Bioinformatics and Genome Analysis

•Bioinformatics Project.

Plus TWO optional modules from:

•Machine Learning

•Information Systems in Healthcare

•Data Management in Healthcare

•The Policy Context of Improvement

•Big Data Analytics

Information for international students

For more information, please visit our international pages.

Fees and funding

For information please visit the www.uwl.ac.uk/course/postgraduate/bioinformatics