Applied Bioinformatics and Genomics (MSc)

Both full-time and part-time students register initially for the MSc Applied Bioinformatics and Genomics.

A Postgraduate Certificate exit point is available for students successfully completing 60 credits of the taught element (module restrictions apply).
A Postgraduate Diploma exit point is available for students successfully completing 120 credits of the taught element (module restrictions apply).

The full-time MSc is delivered across a single year consisting of two stages – the taught stage (T) and the research dissertation stage (R). The taught stage of the programme lasts until the end of the Spring Semester and consists of six 20-credit modules, totalling 120 credits, at Level 7. The dissertation stage of the programme runs through the Summer Semester and includes a dissertation of 60 credits at Level 7, to achieve a combined total of 180 credits at Level 7 to complete the MSc programme.

At the end of the taught stage (T), students who have obtained a minimum of 120 credits at Level 7 shall be eligible either for the exit award of Postgraduate Diploma OR to progress to the dissertation stage (R) of the programme.

Your dissertation will embody the results of your prior project work.  The subject of each dissertation will be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies concerned or his/her nominee. The dissertation will be assigned 60 credits and be weighted 50% for calculating the final mark.

The full-time course will be delivered across a single year. The course will be assessed using coursework and via student presentations. In the Autumn Semester, you will first take a 5-week 20-credit module designed to develop and reinforce necessary computational and scripting skill for data handling and analysis; this will include elements on command-line, high-performance computing, scripting languages and data visualisation.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.

The course will be delivered across a single year. The course will be assessed using coursework and via student presentations. In the Autumn Semester, you will first take a 5-week 20-credit module designed to develop and reinforce necessary computational and scripting skill for data handling and analysis; this will include elements on command-line, high-performance computing, scripting languages and data visualisation. From the middle of the Autumn Semester, Students will receive concurrent delivery of 2x 20-credit modules in statistical methods and introduction to bioinformatics approaches and resources. These 2 courses will be delivered over 10-weeks and extend into the Spring Semester. In the Spring Semester, students will undertake a 20-credit case-study extending over 10-weeks. This will involve working with a client and real data. Midway through the Spring Seminar the students will undertake 2x 20-credit modules focusing on the analysis and interrogation of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and other contemporary omics data. These modules will run in series, and will be complete at the end of the Spring Semester. Finally, in the Summer Semester, students will undertake a 15-week research project leading to the production of their research dissertation.

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.