About this program
Online MSc Bioinformatics
Drive new discoveries for today’s data-driven health and life science industries and academic institutions by learning how to extract meaningful information from complex data sets at one of the top universities for biological and computer science.
The University of Birmingham’s Online MSc Bioinformatics is well-suited for professionals from biological and computer science or mathematics backgrounds, supporting careers in biostatistics, pharmaceutical science, and medical data analytics. This degree is also suitable for those who want to pursue PhD studies or conduct research for pharmaceutical corporations, governmental agencies, and medical journals and publications.
Embrace data-driven bioscience
Led by active researchers in bioinformatics and linked to institutions such as University Hospitals Birmingham, the Online MSc Bioinformatics curriculum is grounded in the real world. This helps you develop the practical skills you need to further your career in this cutting-edge field.
To enter the field of bioinformatics, you’ll need to be able to process large-scale raw data and have the scientific curiosity, mindset, and motivation to work on problems relating to biology and medicine. With an internationally recognised degree credential from the University of Birmingham, you’ll build this knowledge to successfully transition into a variety of roles.
Admission requirements
To be eligible to apply for the Online MSc Bioinformatics, you will need to have obtained (or be predicted to obtain) at least an upper second-class degree or postgraduate diploma in life sciences, biomedical sciences, mathematics, computer science or another relevant quantitative subject from a UK university OR an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution.
If you are a UK student and do not meet the standard mathematics entry criteria for the programme, you will be asked to take a bootcamp course to demonstrate your skills. Alternatively, you will need one of the following:
- 2.2 in those subjects plus 3–5 years of relevant work experience
- Third-class degree plus 5–7 years of relevant work experience
- 8 years or more of relevant work experience and an A level in mathematics
If English is not your first language, you will need to also supply an up-to-date English language certificate. We accept up-to-date Academic IELTS certificates with a score of 6.5, and no less than 6.0 in any of the elements.
There are three intakes a year, Students can join the programme in March, July, or October.
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Learn moreProgram content
This programme is founded in real-world experience and is designed to help you build the practical skills you need to advance your career. The intrinsically multidisciplinary Centre for Computational Biology delivers the programme, which is well-suited to help biologists and healthcare professionals interested in data analysis, statisticians, and computer scientists apply their skills to health and biology.
It is a 180-credit full master's programme which takes approximately two and a half years to complete. There are twelve 10-credit taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation. You will take six 10-credit core modules in your first year, followed by six 10-credit core modules in your second year, with each module lasting approximately 8 weeks in total.
The programme delivery is combined with hands-on coding exercises, to ensure you leave your studies with both the theory and the practical skills ready for your chosen career. The centre is also integrated with the University Hospitals Birmingham, which was a major contributor to the 100,000 Genomes Project, giving your studies both a real-world and career-centred character.
Program delivery
The programme’s internationally focused and expertly taught modules offer the flexibility and convenience of a 100% online format. Enjoy eight-week modules that will grow your programming, communication, and modelling skills.
Tuition
The estimated total cost of this programme is listed as £17,030 GBP (academic year 2023/24). You can pay in full or in instalments of £1,310 on a module-by-module basis.
A £10,000 GBP AI and Data Science Conversion master’s scholarship is currently available for this programme until March 2024 to allow under-represented students to progress into the AI and Data Science workforce.
Career paths
Top jobs in bioinformatics
- Bioinformatics analyst
- Bioinformatics scientist/technician
- Bioinformatician
- Pharmaceutical scientist
- Biostatistician
- Data scientist (medical)
- AI architect (medical)
About this institute
The University of Birmingham Online
Become a leader in your field with a 100% online postgraduate degree from the University of Birmingham. One of the UK’s top academic institutions, our programmes are career-centred, internationally focused and expertly taught. Recognised as a world 'top-100' institution (QS...
