Bioinformatics,MSc
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    Bioinformatics,MSc

    Birkbeck, University of London
    Birkbeck, University of London
    United Kingdom
    United Kingdom, London
    University Rank:#388
    Go to Official Website
    Duration1 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 30,904 / Year
    Next IntakeOctober 1, 2026
    Bioinformatics,MSc

    About

    Course Overview

    Our MSc and MRes Bioinformatics provide you with high-quality online training in bioinformatics, with the MRes offering you a larger research component to your studies. You will learn the basic principles of bioinformatics and computational biology skills currently in high demand, for example applying appropriate statistical tests to biological data, analysing genomic sequences and training machine learning models to make predictions.

    Why choose this course?

    • This course benefits from being embedded in a highly research-active environment in which you will be taught by expert computational biologists.
    • You can study this course from anywhere in the world, as we provide you with access to high-quality, pre-recorded materials, live online sessions and supervised practicals.
    • We welcome students from a variety of science-based disciplines and academic or professional backgrounds to this course, so you will join a unique student cohort learning alongside students from all age groups, who bring a variety of professional experiences to our course.
    • We have over 25 years of experience running this course. Our alumni recommend it highly. Some are now successfully leading computational biology groups in research institutes or relevant industries.

    What you will learn

    This course covers core concepts underpinning bioinformatics. You will learn the basic skills required for any bioinformatics job, including:

    • coding in Python
    • statistical analysis and fundamentals of data science using R
    • understanding the algorithms used in the analysis of biological sequences
    • core biological concepts such as genes and genomes and protein structure and function.

    We also continuously update the course to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries. Our current focus is on growth areas including the analysis of next-generation sequencing data, the application of machine learning to biological data, the use of deep learning in protein structure prediction, and immunoinformatics.

    How you will learn

    You can choose to study this course full- or part-time and it is taught entirely online. We offer you pre-recorded material, live online sessions and a range of post-session activities so you can learn at a time that suits you. The live online sessions are held in the evening and generally comprise a lecture or discussion and then a relevant, supervised practical.

    If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you should not apply for this course as it is delivered online, and this may affect the conditions of your visa.

    Discover the career opportunities available by taking Bioinformatics (MSc, MRes).

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    MSc: You must have a second-class honours degree (2:2) or above.

    Some practical knowledge of one programming language would be a distinct advantage.

    Mathematics to A-level or equivalent desirable, but GCSE/O-level considered.

    MRes: The MRes is a challenging, interdisciplinary course. We recommend initial entry to the MSc Bioinformatics course until November (full-time) or February (part-time) so that your skills and knowledge can be thoroughly assessed. Occasionally, direct entry to the MRes is possible, when there is very strong prior evidence that the student will perform well on the course.

    Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

    On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

    Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

    English Program Requirements

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

    Career

    On successfully graduating from this bioinformatics course, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

    • independent problem solving
    • scientific reporting (oral and written)
    • time organisation and completing projects to deadlines
    • analytical skills, including a sound understanding of commonly used statistics
    • writing and sharing code, ensuring reproducibility.

    Studying our course will prepare you for roles in a range of fields in:

    • teaching and research in academia
    • biomedical data analysis in industry or academia
    • software development in industry
    • science writing and reporting
    • bioinformatics support for sequencing centres.

    Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to be employed at the following organisations:

    • The Institute of Cancer Research
    • The Francis Crick Institute
    • Benevolent AI
    • Genomics England
    • UK Health Security Agency
    • Unilever

    We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    30,904 / year
    Bioinformatics,MSc
    Birkbeck, University of London
    Birkbeck, University of London
    United Kingdom

    United Kingdom, London

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