The Master Programme in Bioinformatics is designed for those who wish to focus on the exciting interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics, which combines computer sciences, mathematics and biology.

Uppsala University possesses exceptional competence in bio- informatics and computer sciences. The tools used and developed are central elements in many areas of research, such as studying the function of human hereditary characteristics or developing new types of pharmaceuticals.

Through our expert tutors, you will obtain a broad contact network, enabling you to establish links with potential future employers during the programme, for instance, doing research at a university or hospital or with a biotech company. During the programme, you will meet researchers who pursue advances within each respective field, and there will be considerable opportunities where you yourself can contribute to the rapid development of bioinformatics.

You may gain hands-on experience in a research group and be able to further develop a programme for analysis of new pharma-ceutical candidates, or produce a programme module for analysis of suitable target molecules for a diagnostic tool.

In a number of fields, such as biomedicine, pharmaceutical development and evolutionary biology, modern methods are used that generate large volumes of data, including DNA/RNA and protein sequences, mole- cule structures, gene expression data and measurement data.

Transforming this volume of data into applicable information and being able to draw relevant conclusions requires management
and analysis tools. The bioinformatician possesses the skills to both use and develop such tools.

About the programme

The Master Programme in Bioinformatics will provide you with theoretical and practical knowledge within molecular biology, data management and programming, as well as bioinformatic applications within these fields.

Through courses designed as projects, you will also learn how to to plan, execute and finalize projects. The programme is based on experience gained from the graduate engineering programmes in molecular biotechnology and bioinformatics, which have acquired an excellent reputation both in Sweden and abroad.

First year
The first year contains the same courses for all students on the programme. The introductory course consists of several comp- onents that introduce important concepts and methods within bioinformatics, followed by courses such as genome biology, software technology, molecular evolution and phylogeny analysis.

Second year
In the second year, you will specialize within a bioinformatics field that interests you. For example, laboratory information manage- ment systems (LIMS), applied bioinformatics or population genetic analysis. The second year finishes with a degree project carried out at a company, government agency or authority or at one of our research institutions at the university.

Degree

The programme leads to a Master of Science (120 credits), with Bioinformatics as the main field of study.