BioinformaticsMSc / PGDip / PGCert

Our course will place you at the forefront of the recent genomics and bioinformatics revolution as you’ll develop sought-after skills in statistics, computer programming and molecular biology. Help shape the future of one of the fastest-growing fields in industry and academia.

Course Structure

What makes this course different?

Biology is now driven be data and computational methods are essential for uniting, scrutinising, and comprehending both fresh and reused biological data. The approaches you'll learn will enable you to extract valuable insights and achieve scientific breakthroughs from the vast amount and variety of available data.

You’ll learn to analyse different types of omics data, including next generation sequencing, mass spectrometry, emerging single molecule techniques, genome engineering, imaging and integrative analysis toolsets.

You’ll also explore the frontiers of bioscience, from precision medicine to precision agriculture, and emerging fields such as molecular ecosystems biology, and topological data analysis.

• Gain a foundation in statistical machine learning essential for a career in the life sciences
• Benefit from projects developed in collaboration with our industrial partners in the West Midlands
• Develop the in-deamnd skills for one of the fastest-growing industrial and academic fields in the UK and beyond.

The University of Birmingham is also ranked as the first choice for leading graduate employers in the UK.

Help drive our understanding of human genome biology by working with health science experts in the West Midlands Genomic Medicine Centre. Along with University Hospital Birmingham, they are a major contributor to the pioneering 100,000 Genomes project.

This course consists of five taught modules, one group project, and one independent project.

Taught modules - provide you with foundational knowledge and skills in statistics, computer programming, and molecular biology.

Individual projects - are closely supervised and prepares you to tackle real-world research or industrial problems at scale.

Group projects – will put you with other students from various backgrounds. You’ll use mathematical and/or computational approaches to address a real-world research question involving biological data.

The projects on this course are developed in collaboration with our world-leading academics and industrial partners in the West Midlands. This ensures that you are equally prepared for academic or industrial career paths.

The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

Full-time

The following must be taken:

Students have the opportunity to take the following modules in place of the dissertation module listed above:

Part-time

Year one

For the spread of the modules over the course of programme please speak to your School

The following must be taken:

Year two

The following must be taken:

You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 honours degree or higher in a field related to quantitative knowledge from sciences, technology, engineering, or medical fields.

Common degrees include Biology, Biomedical Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Pharmacology. Other relevant subjects are Biochemistry, Genetics, Genomics, Medicine, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Biostatistics, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Systems Biology, Botany, Ecology, Zoology, and Marine Biology.

International requirements

For international students there is an English language requirement to have an IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.

If you're made an offer of a place to study and you don't already meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional Course. If you successfully complete this, you'll be able to fulfil the language requirement without needing to take a further qualification.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.

We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Careers Network

Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.