Bioinformatics & Computational Genomics

Overview

The past decade has seen enormous advances in molecular and biomedical technology resulting in the ‘omics’ revolution.



Bioinformatics (health data science) covers the application of mathematics, statistics and computing to biological and clinical scenarios. Algorithms and software tools are used to understand and interpret patient-derived ‘Big Data’.



What's Involved?

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. You will discover results that have the potential to translate to the real world, through clinical trials or commercialisation. Using the skills and tools developed in the course you will derive unique solutions to clinical and biological problems. This is a challenging, cutting-edge, fast-paced course. By the end of the degree you will be ready to work within a multidisciplinary team alongside bioinformaticians, biologists and clinicians.



Intercalated Medical and Dental Students

Completing an intercalated degree will boost your CV when applying for postgraduate training. Depending on the discipline, selection panels look for completion of an additional degree, or for publications or posters. An intercalated degree gives you the opportunity to improve your chances of future success.



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.

SCM8051 Analysis of Gene Expression – 20 CATS

This module will provide the practical molecular biological knowledge required to develop the most effective and useful computational tools for analysis of gene expression data.



SCM8095 Genomics and Human Disease – 20 CATS

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.



SCM7047 Scientific Programming and Statistical Computing – 20 CATS

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.



SCM8148 Health and Biomedical Informatics and the Exposome (half module 10 CATS)

The module will cover different aspects of health informatics including the basic structure of electronic health records (EHRs). This module also includes an introduction to the concept of the exposome and the contribution of biomedical informatics in exposome research.



SCM8152 Systems Medicine: From Molecules to Populations (half module 10 CATS)

Students will develop knowledge of integrative approaches for multi-'omics biomedical data analysis in order to illuminate disease mechanisms, with applications in precision medicine. Systems medicine brings together multiple scientific disciplines; some of the key areas covered in this module are network biology, machine learning and patient stratification.



SCM8108 Applied Genomics – 20 CATS

This module examines the practical challenges in generating different 'omics' datasets, the important implications of how this is conducted when analysing such datasets and gives practical experience of dealing with resulting datasets using relevant tools.



SCM8109 Biostatistical Informatics (online) – 20 CATS

The core of this module will highlight the analysis of clinico-pathological and 'omics' data. The module will also provide an introduction to carrying out key statistical tests in the R statistical programming language.



Research Project: Dissertation – 60 CATS

Translational bioinformatics and technical development research projects are mainly split between the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research and the Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine and the Centre for Public Health

Graduate

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 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.



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.



Intercalating Medical and Dental Applicants:

External:

An external medical or dental student wishing to intercalate will be considered if:

a) they have successfully completed all assessments at first attempt for the year in which they are applying.

b) they have achieved at least an overall Upper Second Class Honours degree standard as determined by their University.

c) they have permission to intercalate from their Medical or Dental School, as appropriate.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally not later than 31st July 2025. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.



Please note: A deposit will be required to secure a place on this course.

1 year (Full Time)

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects

The rapid production of 'omics' data within medicine and the life sciences has meant that individuals with analytical experience in this field are highly sought after. Recent graduates have gone on to work in industry in companies such as Almac Diagnostics, Biokinetic Europe and Fios Genomics and some have gone onto further PHD level research. http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/