MSc in Bioinformatics
Applications for the 2009/10 academic session are now open! For more information on how to apply please see the Graduate Prospectus.
Designed for
Students with a background in computer science, mathematics or a bioscience related subject.
Aims
To provide students with systematic knowledge and experience of the theoretical foundations and practice of Bioinformatics at an advanced level, so that they may pursue professional careers and/or further research successfully.
To equip students so that they may demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge and a thorough understanding of how established research techniques can be used to create and interpret knowledge in Bioinformatics.
To develop students’ critical awareness and appreciation of the changing role of Computational Biology in society and motivate them to pursue continuing professional development and further research.
To ensure that students acquire an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities and of the impact of Bio-computing technologies in a wide and varied range of contexts.
To equip students so that they may demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge and a thorough understanding of how established research techniques can be used to create and interpret knowledge in Bioinformatics.
To develop students’ critical awareness and appreciation of the changing role of Computational Biology in society and motivate them to pursue continuing professional development and further research.
To ensure that students acquire an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities and of the impact of Bio-computing technologies in a wide and varied range of contexts.
Programme content
The following modules are compulsory for all students:
Students then choose 6 options from:
Finally, all students undertake a substantial MSc dissertation or individual research project from February to September.
* Students must take at least two of these modules for the award of the MSc.
Students then choose 6 options from:
- Fundamentals of Genetics and Biomolecular Structure for Bioinformatics*
- Data Analysis of Large-Scale Experiments in Molecular Biology*
- Structural Bioinformatics and Protein Structure Predictions*
- Advanced Research Topics
- Database Technology
- Data Structures and their Implementations
- Geometric Algorithms
- Group Project
- Text Searching and Processing
Finally, all students undertake a substantial MSc dissertation or individual research project from February to September.
* Students must take at least two of these modules for the award of the MSc.
Entry requirements
Equivalent of a good 2nd class (normally 2:1) British honours BSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, a Bioscience related subject or a joint degree in two such subjects. Entry qualifications may perhaps be lowered for students with substantial relevant work experience. For English Language requirements please see the Graduate Prospectus.
More information
If you need further information please contact the School Postgraduate Officer at pse-pgadmissions@kcl.ac.uk.

