Programme Aims and Objectives
- Equip students with an up-to-date knowledge of bioinformatics and systems biology techniques, their usage and the technical background to enhance and develop their skills; enabling them to play roles in the key areas of data integration and interpretation, in the era of high throughput experimental biology.
- Produce trained and skilled graduates who are able to move easily on from the programme, into academic and industrial settings.
- Produce graduates who have gained enough basic knowledge and critical understanding of the main areas in bioinformatics and systems biology to quickly adapt to the new requirements in these rapidly evolving fields.
- To train students in the importance, and methods, of science communication, and to promote an understanding of science in a wider societal context.
Academic Advisement
MSc Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (full-time) 2016-17
| Course List 1 Core Compulsory Taught Units BIOL60201 Programming Skills (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL60791 Bioinformatics (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL65161 Experimental Design and Statistics (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL66021 Computational Approaches to Biology (15 credits), semester 1 Core Compulsory Research Units BIOL61230 Research Project 1, (60 credits) semester 2 BIOL61280 Research Project 2, (60 credits) SummerGraduate Training Programme BIOL60311 Communication Skills (0 credits) BIOL73050 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 3, (0 credits) BIOL73130 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 1, (0 credits) BIOL73230 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 2, (0 credits) BIOL72100 PGT Supervisor Meeting (MSc),(0 credits) BIOL85440 PGT ALP (0 credits) BIOL12000 Health & Safety online course (0 credits) |
> | Academic Requirement 1 Mandatory 180 credits for MScor120 credits for PG Diplomaor 60 credits for PG Certificate |
MSc Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (part-time) 2016-17
| Course List 1 Year 1 *BIOL60791 Bioinformatics (15 credits) semester 1 *BIOL60201 Programming Skills (15 credits) semester1 BIOL61230 Research Project 1 (60 credits) semester 2 Year 2 *BIOL66021 Computational Approaches to Biology (15 credits), semester 1 *BIOL65161 Experimental Design and Statistics (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL61280 Research Project 2 (MSc) (60 credits) Summer Graduate Training Programme BIOL60311 Communication Skills (0 credits) BIOL73050 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 3, (0 credits) BIOL73130 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 1, (0 credits) BIOL73230 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 2, (0 credits) BIOL72100 PGT Supervisor Meeting (MSc),(0 credits) BIOL85440 PGT ALP (0 credits) BIOL12000 Health & Safety online course (0 credits) |
> | Academic Requirement 1 Mandatory 180 credits for MSc120 credits for PG Diploma60 credits for PG Certificate |
Total credits required for PG Certificate (obtained from successful completion of the *4 compulsory taught units).
Programme specific progression rules
In order for students to be eligible to progress to their final project report, they are required to pass all taught course units and research project 1 as approved at the first examiners’ meeting in May. Resit and compensation opportunities are permitted in some cases. (See Section D).
The information below outlines the taught and research units on your programme:
Core Compulsory TAUGHT units
BIOL60201 Programming Skills
BIOL60791 Bioinformatics
BIOL65161 Experimental Design and Statistics
BIOL66021 Computational Approaches to Biology
Core Compulsory RESEARCH units
BIOL61230 Research Project 1
BIOL61280 Research Project 2
Teaching and Learning Methods
During the first 6 months, you will receive approximately 30 hours of assigned teaching per course unit, a total of about 150 hours. Assigned teaching takes the form of lectures, tutorials, student presentations, practical sessions and assigned reading. The remainder of your time amounting to a working week of 40 hours will be spent on self-study, preparing course work, carry out project work, meeting with your Personal Advisor and revising for your examinations. This programme is designed to encourage students to accept increasing responsibility for their own learning, with help and support from teaching staff, unit co-ordinators and personal tutors.
Research Projects
Research Projects provide a more solid basis for learning through problem-solving as well as providing important hands-on experience which will enable you to make considered judgements about the suitability of specific techniques for your proposed research. Direct student-staff interaction is also an important feature of learning and development throughout your project work.
The supervised research projects are conducted in the laboratories of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, or in external laboratories. We expect you to read scientific literature and apply problem-solving skills in your research project work.
Choosing your research project
During the taught part of the programme, students are expected to identify areas of research interest. There may be some opportunities for placements and joint projects with private and other public sector organisations. For each of RP1 and RP2 students will have around one month to discuss projects with potential supervisors, before they submit a list of 5 ranked projects to the Programme Director, who will then allocate projects so as to maximise the number of higher student preferences. Once we decide on your project, you will be attached to a laboratory, with a named and approved supervisor and allowed to work there for the period of the project.
Reading Lists
Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
“Bioinformatics Challenges at the Interface of Biology and Computer Science: Mind the Gap”, by Attwood, Pettifer & Thorne (2016) (ISBN: 978-0-470-03550-4).
“Systems Biology: A Textbook”, by Klipp, Liebermeister, Wierling & Kowald (2016) (ISBN: 978-3-527-33636-4).
“Understanding Bioinformatics”, by Zvelebil & Baum (2007) (ISBN: 9780815340249).
“Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution”, by Higgs & Attwood (2005) (ISBN: 978-1-4051-0683-2).
General Biology
“Biochemistry”, by Voet & Voet (2011) (ISBN: 978-0-470-57095-1).
“Molecular Biology of the Cell”, by Alberts et al. (2008) (ISBN: 978-0815341055).
Computing
“Java Illuminated”, by Franceschi & Anderson (2014) (ISBN: 9781284045314).
“Python Programming for Biology: Bioinformatics and Beyond”, by Stevens & Boucher (2015) (ISBN: 860-1423616445).
Please note that not all of these books are suggested for purchase.