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Students
Tuition Fee
GBP 21,500
Per year
Start Date
2025-09-01
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
12 months
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
Biomedical Sciences
Area of study
Information and Communication Technologies | Natural Science
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
GBP 21,500
Intakes
Program start dateApplication deadline
2025-09-01-
About Program

Program Overview


Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics

Overview

The past decade has seen enormous advances in molecular and biomedical technology resulting in an ‘omics’ revolution. Bioinformatics (health data science) covers the application of mathematics, statistics and computing (including AI and machine learning) to biological and clinical scenarios. Algorithms and software tools are used to understand and interpret patient-derived ‘Big Data’. In this conversion course, you will be using data science tools to analyse clinical, omics and other data in order to find complex patterns relating to patient response to treatments and prognosis.


Course Structure

Students enrol on a full time (one year) basis. There is an introductory context-orientation module during the first two weeks. This is followed by three (20 CAT) modules in Semester 1, and four modules (2 x 20 CAT and 2 x 10 CAT) during Semester 2. The MSc is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS) and a dissertation (60 CATS). A Diploma exit qualification is available to those students who have successfully completed 120 CATS points of taught modules. A Certificate exit qualification is available to those students who have successfully completed 60 CATS points of taught modules.


Course Details

Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics is an interdisciplinary field at the heart of health data science research, discovery and practice. With its challenging and rewarding content, this Masters degree will provide students, with a background in computational or life sciences, the opportunity to move into an exciting new area of discovery, technology and application using data analysis. We provide a broad learning base and offer training in open-source programming languages commonly used in academia and industry.


Global Opportunities

You will be involved with the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Welcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine and the Centre for Public Health, who work with partners around the world in developing treatments and pioneering advances in patient care. All Centres have an international reputation for successful dissemination and application of cutting edge research, knowledge transfer and the commercialisation of research ideas and innovations.


Student Testimonials

  • “I was born in Sri Lanka, and I studied a MSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics at Queen’s University Belfast; I was self-funded. Prior to Queen’s, I did my undergraduate degree in Computer Science at University College Dublin. As a computer scientist and software engineer, the Bioinformatics course was helpful in bridging my knowledge gap in computational biology, and the use of bioinformatics within healthcare. I enjoyed the coding labs as they gave me a chance to work on example use-cases where the theory I had learned during the course could be used programmatically. I was interested in doing a master’s degree in bioinformatics, and at the time, the course offered by Queen’s seemed like it would meet most of my requirements. I also liked the fact that Queen’s is a “Russell Group” university. My impressions of Queen’s itself were positive. I actually started my course a couple of months late, but the teaching staff were very helpful in giving me access to all the material I missed out on. So, the delayed start actually didn't end up having any negative impact on my overall course performance. I loved Belfast from the start; everyone was really friendly and helpful, and there there’s also lots of greenery there, which, for a nature lover like myself, was a big plus. It’s also a great place if you are a foodie because there's’ a lot of multicultural food shops and restaurants about. I also found Belfast to be very economical for a student budget. As an international student, I spent my first year at Elmwood. It had all the amenities I needed, and it was a friendly environment. After completing my master’s degree, I went on to read for a PhD in Medicine, where I developed a pan-cancer data analytical framework, which was later used to found Sonrai Analytics Ltd., a QUB spin-out. At present, I am a Research Associate at Imperial College London. I work within the Computational Cardiac Imaging Group, where I help design software that can streamline cardiac imaging data analysis.” - Deva (Alumni, MSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics)
  • "I completed the MSc Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics at QUB in 2017. I had previously finished my BSc in Mathematics, and was working in temporary positions while figuring out my next steps. Along with my typical job search, I also kept an eye on courses at QUB for further learning opportunities. My favourite modules during my undergraduate degree were mathematical modelling in Biology and Medicine, as well as computational analysis. So, when I came across the Bioinformatics course, it seemed like the perfect option to build upon the aspects of my undergraduate degree that I enjoyed—coding and biology—while also challenging myself in a new domain of genomics and biomedical data. Since completing the course, I have been able to progress my career in data science. The course served as my introduction to the world of data, covering areas like visualisation, analysis, and modelling, and it positioned me well to secure my first job as a data scientist. Although this role was in a different domain, I was able to leverage the skills, methodology, and tools learned in the course to add value to the Engineering Research and Development team at Randox. For example, one of my initial projects involved identifying anomalies in testing kits, and I applied clustering analysis to tackle this novel problem. Another example is survival analysis, which helps to estimate the time to an event occurring. While in the course, we related this to patient outcomes, but it can be applied to various domains, such as insurance, to estimate the time it takes for a customer to file a claim. Collaboration and communication skills are essential for any data scientist. I found the Bioinformatics course to be well-rounded, as it not only provided the technical knowledge, but also developed important soft skills. Group projects and presentations were particularly beneficial in preparing me for the transition from university to industry. Since then, I have continued to learn and develop my skills across sectors such as manufacturing, R&D, mobility and, most recently, insurance. Currently, I am working as a Principal Data Scientist at Liberty IT. This role is incredibly varied, and I’ve had opportunities to work on a range of business problems. Some days are focused on data exploration, visualisation, and modelling, while other days involve collaboration with team members and presenting findings to stakeholders. It has been seven years since I completed my degree at Queen’s University Belfast, and it's evident how the course has greatly influenced and guided my career path.” - Naomi (Alumni, MSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics)

Course Content

  • Biostatistical Informatics: This module introduces students to data types, data distributions, and hypothesis testing. Students will learn about and be able to evaluate testing for statistical associations and differences between data types including parametric
    on-parametric tests.
  • Health and Biomedical Informatics and the Exposome: This module covers different aspects of health informatics ranging from the basic structure of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and how the information contained in these resources can be leveraged for translational bioinformatics research.
  • Systems Medicine: from Molecules to Populations: This module covers applications in multi-'omics biomedical data analysis in order to illuminate disease mechanisms, towards the development of new clinical tools.
  • Applied Genomics: This module provides students with the understanding of the practical challenges in generating different “Omics” datasets, the important implications of how this is conducted when analyzing such datasets and with practical experience of dealing with resulting datasets using relevant tools and the challenges presented.
  • Genomics and Human Disease: This module explores rapidly advancing fields that are moving from specialised research areas to mainstream medicine, science, and public arenas. The principles of genomic medicine will be discussed alongside bioinformatics approaches for identifying 'causative genes' for human disease.
  • Analysis of Gene Expression: This module provides the practical molecular biological knowledge required for students to develop the most effective and useful computational tools for analysis of gene expression data.
  • Dissertation: The Dissertation will be presented as a document of about 15,000 to 20,000 words that contains the following elements: An abstract of about 250 words summarising the objectives and main research results, a clearly defined research hypothesis, a review of related literature, brief description of main techniques utilised in the dissertation, well documented and illustrated research results that are backed-up by up-to-date evaluation methods, discussion of implications derived from research results and potential future directions, bibliography.
  • Scientific Programming & Statistical Computing: This module covers the fundamental elements of the statistical framework R and the programming language Python. It gives an introduction to parallel processing applications and implementation and how to leverage modern big-data problems through HPC computing.

Entrance Requirements

  • A 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Natural Science subject, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a relevant medical or life sciences subject (e.g. Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Physics or Statistics). A medical (MB) or dental degree (BDS) is also considered.
  • Applicants must have completed (and passed at equivalent of UK 2:2 standard) a subject/module from any of the following groups: 1. genetics/genomics/molecular biology/biomedical science, 2. chemistry/medicinal chemistry/biochemistry, 3. mathematics/statistics-related subjects, 4. computing/computer science/informatics.
  • In addition to the above qualification requirements, all applicants will be required to pass an online aptitude test. If you are successful in the first stage of the application process, we will be in touch to organise this.

International Students

  • Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

  • An IELTS Academic test score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four elements or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University (taken within the last 2 years). IELTS test result/qualification must be submitted by 30 June 2025.

Tuition Fees

  • Northern Ireland (NI) £7,300
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) £7,300
  • England, Scotland or Wales (GB) £9,250
  • EU Other £21,500
  • International £21,500

Additional Course Costs

  • Students have the option to hire a locker, at a cost of £5 per student per year. Students will need access to their own computing facilities as part of this programme is delivered online.

Career Prospects

  • The rapid production of 'omics' data within medicine and the life sciences has meant that individuals with health data science experience in this field are highly sought after. Recent graduates have gone on to work in industry in companies such as Almac Diagnostics, Liberty IT and Fios Genomics and some have gone onto further PHD level research.
  • Many of our students go on to pursue further PhD study in health data science at Queen’s and further afield. Others go on to work in a variety of roles in both the private and public sector industry here in Northern Ireland and internationally, including the following: Bioinformatician, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Application Scientist, Dotmatics, Network and Security Engineer, Darktrace, Senior Data Scientist, Liberty IT, Graduate Trainee HPC, University of Bristol, Junior Bioinformatic Scientist, Almac Group, Bioinformatician, Fios Genomics Ltd, Biomedical Scientist and Junior Bioinformatician, Biokinetic Europe, Business/Data Analyst, Diaceutics, Bioinformatics Data Manager, Institute of Cancer Research, Bioinformatician Molecular Scientist, Randox, Associate Consultant, Microsoft, Health Technology Assessment Analyst, Health Information and Quality Authority Ireland, Health Data Science Black Internship, East Suffolk North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Prizes and Awards

  • The top ranked candidate in the year will receive a Book Prize and Certificate of Merit.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

  • In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Program Outline


Outline:


Course Structure:

  • The program is offered on a full-time basis, lasting for one year.
  • There is an introductory two-week module on Cell Biology at the start of the first semester.
  • Students take three 20-credit modules in Semester 1 and four modules (2 x 20 credits and 2 x 10 credits) in Semester 2.
  • Students complete 120 CATs worth of taught modules and a 60 CAT dissertation to earn an MSc degree.
  • Students who complete 120 CATs of taught modules but not the dissertation can receive a Diploma exit qualification.
  • Students who complete 60 CATs of taught modules can receive a Certificate exit qualification.

Course Details:

The MSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics is an interdisciplinary program focused on health data science research, discovery, and application. The program provides students with a broad knowledge base in the field. It focuses on open-source programming languages commonly used in academia and industry. The program emphasizes data analysis skills using various modern tools.


Modules:

  • Semester 1:
  • Analysis of Gene Expression (20 CATs)
  • Genomics and Human Disease (20 CATs)
  • Scientific Programming & Statistical Computing (20 CATs)
  • Health and Biomedical Informatics and the Exposome (10 CATs)
  • Systems Medicine: From Molecules to Populations (10 CATs)
  • Semester 2:
  • Applied Genomics (20 CATs)
  • Biostatistical Informatics (online) (20 CATs)

Additional Details:

  • Translational bioinformatics and technical development research projects are primarily conducted at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, the Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, and the Centre for Public Health.

Assessment:


Assessments associated with the course:

  • 100% coursework/in-class tests/dissertation.
  • Students passing all taught modules but failing to achieve a minimum of 50% in the dissertation are eligible for a PG Diploma.
  • Students passing 60 CATs of modules are eligible for a PG Certificate.

Teaching:


Environment:

Students are taught by researchers including biologists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians. The program also features guest lectures from industrial and clinical collaborators. Students may work alongside PhD students in open-plan environments on-campus, but the course is flexible. A dedicated suite of high-specification PCs is available for student use in this program.


People Teaching You:

  • Dr. Guillermo Lopez Campos, Lecturer
  • Dr. Jaine Blayney, Lecturer

Teaching Times:

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM


Careers:


Introduction:

Graduates from this program are highly sought after in the field due to the rapid generation of "omics" data within medicine and life sciences. Recent graduates have secured positions in companies like Almac Diagnostics, Liberty IT, and Fios Genomics. Some have pursued further PhD study.


Job Titles:

Bioinformatician Application Scientist Network and Security Engineer Senior Data Scientist Graduate Trainee HPC Junior Bioinformatic Scientist Biomedical Scientist and Junior Bioinformatician Data Analyst


Additional Details:

Many graduates pursue further PhD studies in health data science at Queen's and elsewhere. Others find employment in various roles in both the private and public sectors, including government agencies and Northern Ireland's Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.


Other:


Entry Requirement Details:

  • A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Natural Science subject, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a relevant medical or life sciences subject (e.g., Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Physics or Statistics).
  • A medical (MB) or dental degree (BDS) is also considered.
  • Applicants must have completed and passed at least one subject or module from any of the following groups:
  • 1. Genetics/Genomics/Molecular Biology/Biomedical Science 2. Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry/Biochemistry 3. Mathematics/Statistics-related Subjects 4. Computing/Computer Science/Informatics

Additional Requirements:

  • Applicants who are currently studying an overseas Medical (e.g., MBBS or MBChB) or Dental degree at a recognized institution acceptable to the University, may apply.
  • Applicants must have passed all assessments for the year in which they are applying, normally 3rd year for those completing a 5-year program or 4th year for those completing a 6-year program.
  • Applicants may be required to provide details of the medical or dental curriculum they are studying in order to confirm compatibility.
  • Applications from intercalating medical and dental students are considered based on specific conditions.

Additional Notes:

  • Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible, ideally no later than July 31st, 2024, for courses that begin in late September.
  • The University reserves the right to close the application portal if any program receives a high number of applications.
  • A deposit will be required to secure a place on this course.

Conclusion:

I have provided a complete extraction of all available sections and details regarding the MSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics program from Queen's University Belfast. The extracted information is presented here in a well-structured and comprehensive format. If you have any further questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.


Tuition Fees and Payment Information:


Northern Ireland (NI) students:

£7,300


Republic of Ireland (ROI)

students: £7,300


England, Scotland or Wales (GB) students:

£9,250


EU Other students:

£21,500


International students:

£21,500


Additional details:

  • EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme with settled status will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident.
  • Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
  • EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
  • Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Payment Information:

  • It is not explicitly stated when tuition fees are due, but the program start date may be used as a rough timeframe.
  • Additional course costs include locker rental (approximately £5 per student per year) and access to personal computing facilities may be needed as part of the program.

Resources:

  • More information on postgraduate tuition fees.
  • Terms and Conditions for Postgraduate applications, detailing additional charges: (https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/MHLS/terms-and-conditions/)

Note:

As of today, November 16, 2023, this information on fees and payment remains valid. However, be sure to always check the links provided as well as university resources directly for the most up-to-date information on this subject.

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Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements


Domestic Students (EU)

  • A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Natural Science subject, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a relevant medical or life sciences subject (e.g.
  • Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Physics or Statistics).
  • A medical (MB) or dental degree (BDS) is also considered.

Specific Subjects

Applicants must have completed (and passed at equivalent of UK 2:1 standard) a subject/module from any of the following groups: genetics/genomics/molecular biology/biomedical science chemistry/medicinal chemistry/biochemistry mathematics/statistics-related subjects computing/computer science/informatics.


Graduate Entry

Students in their final year of undergraduate studies may apply, but their final grades must be submitted by June 30th of the year of application.


Intercalating Medical and Dental Applicants:

  • QUB:
  • Intercalating medical and dental students within QUB will be considered if they have:
  • Successfully completed the third year of their course at first attempt and
  • Have achieved at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree standard.
  • Have permission to intercalate from either the Director of Medical Education or Dentistry as appropriate.
  • External:
  • An external medical or dental student wishing to intercalate will be considered if:
  • They have successfully completed all assessments at first attempt for the year in which they are applying.
  • Achieved at least an overall Upper Second Class Honours degree standard as determined by their University.
  • International:
  • Applicants who are currently studying an overseas Medical (e.g.
  • MBBS or MBChB) or Dental degree at a recognised institution acceptable to the University, may apply.
  • Applicants must have passed all assessments at first attempt for the year in which they are applying, normally 3rd year for those completing a 5 year programme or 4th year for those completing a 6 year programme.
  • Applicants may be required to provide details of the medical or dental curriculum they are studying in order to confirm compatibility.

International Students (non-EU)

  • Applicants must have a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Natural Science subject, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a relevant medical or life sciences subject (e.g.
  • Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Physics or Statistics).
  • A medical (MB) or dental degree (BDS) is also considered.
  • Students must have completed (and passed at equivalent of UK 2:1 standard) a subject/module from any of the following groups:
  • 1. genetics/genomics/molecular biology/biomedical science 2. chemistry/medicinal chemistry/biochemistry 3. mathematics/statistics-related subjects 4. computing/computer science/informatics.

English Language Requirements

  • An IELTS Academic Test score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four elements or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University (taken within the last 2 years).
  • IELTS test result/qualification must be submitted by 30th June 2024.

Tuition Fees

  • Northern Ireland (NI): £7,300
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI): £7,300
  • England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £9,250
  • EU Other: £21,500
  • International: £21,500

Additional Information

  • Additional course costs, such as locker rentals and access to personal computing facilities, may apply.
  • This program is highly competitive, and the deadline for applications is normally 30th June 2024.
  • A deposit will be required to secure a place on the course.
  • Additional information regarding application deadlines, funding options, and academic prerequisites can be found within the provided link:
  • https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/MHLS/terms-and-conditions/
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