Course Duration: 12 months full time; up to 24 months part time
Bioinformatics is an exciting new area of science. While many definitions exist, bioinformatics is generally a blend of technologies from computing, mathematics and statistics which can help solve biological problems. Bioinformatics is about creating biological information and knowledge by the acquisition, archiving, integration, analysis and interpretation biological data. Biotechnology, drug development, medicine, cancer research, agriculture and plant science are just a few of the many areas in which bioinformatics is poised to make a massive impact, and in which the demand for skilled bioinformaticians is rising rapidly.
The MSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Systems Biology is a full-time, one-year advanced masters course designed for students who have a good degree in biological sciences. It provides the specialist skills in core bioinformatics courses (such as computing and molecular biology) with a significant focus on the development of research skills. The programme aims to equip its graduates with the necessary skills to contribute to the post-genomic developments that are rapidly becoming the key focus of bioinformatics research. Prior experience with computers or computer programming is not required. Students with mathematical, computational, engineering or other scientific backgrounds will also be considered. The programme is ideal for students aiming for careers in industry or academia.
The course is based in the School of Computing Science and taught jointly by the Schools of Computing Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Biology, Cell and Molecular Biosciences and The Institute of Human Genetics.
The MSc in Bioinformatics and Computational Systems Biology is a truly interdisciplinary degree and provides the dual skills necessary to establish a rewarding career in this research area. The Newcastle programme has a research focus on post-genomic analysis, whilst delivering sound training and an introduction to research in computation and statistics, including exciting new areas such as e-science.
Bioinformatics is a rapidly evolving scientific discipline. To date, a great deal of effort has been applied to the storage and analysis of sequence information arising from the numerous whole genome sequencing projects, culminating with the completion of the human genome sequence. Whilst this area is undoubtedly going to remain an important aspect of bioinformatics, bioinformatics research is being shaped by the new types of data arising from technology designed to carry out 'post-genomic' research. Biologists now seek to gain a more holistic view of the contribution of the genome to the cellular structure and processes. The Newcastle programme offers specialist modules designed to familiarise students with the technology and data from post genomics studies.
Bioinformaticians with strong computing, software engineering and statistical skills are particularly highly sought by academia and industry. The School of Computing Science has extensive experience in teaching Computing Science to students with no previous computing background through their highly successful MSc Computing Science conversion course. Our programme aims to provide professionally trained research scientists with strong software engineering and programming skills.
The breadth of knowledge needed is such that a number of modules in the Newcastle MSc are taught by academic staff from the Schools that have the requisite specialised knowledge. Examples include Statistical Bioinformatics, Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Gene Expression Informatics and Protein Structure Informatics.
A major part of the Newcastle MSc in Bioinformatics is a research project that will occupy approximately six months. This project may be associated with staff in any of the Schools mentioned above, thus providing a wide range of exciting areas in which the newly learnt bioinformatics skills can be deployed.
Semester 1 contains modules to build the basic grounding in, and understanding of, bioinformatics theory and applications, together with necessary computational and numeric understanding to undertake more specialist modules next semester. In semester 1 you can begin to tailor your degree to you own preference by selecting either of the modules Computational Analysis of Complex Biological Systems or Systems Administration for Bioinformatics. Training in mathematics and statistics is also provided. Some of these modules are examined in January at the end of Semester 1.
Semester 2 introduces modules that focus heavily on introducing subject-specific research skills and includes three option slots for choosing modules. These choices run sequentially (ie one after another), in a short but intensive mode that allows you time to focus on a single topic in depth. Within each of the three slots there are two modules to choose from, allowing you to tailor the research training component of your degree to your preferences.
These modules have a special focus on research skills and the choices support two main themes:
Modules choices include; Statistical Bioinformatics or Comparative Genomics, e-science or Gene expression, proteomics and microarray informatics, and Protein Structure informatics or Advanced Object-Oriented design and programming. All of these modules are examined by in-course assessment - that is, there are no formal examinations in these modules.
Title |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 3 |
| CSC8303 Bioinformatics Programming in Java | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| CSC8312 Bioinformatics Theory and Practice | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| CSC8390 Research Skills for Bioinformatics | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| CSC8399 Research Project | 0 | 5 | 70 |
| MAS8401 Numeric Skills (Statistics & Maths) | 10 | 5 | 0 |
Entry requirements may be found in our current online prospectus entry for MSc Bioinformatics and Computational Systems Biology .
E-mail: cs.admissions@ncl.ac.uk