Course summary
Over the past few years, bioinformatics has become the most exciting field in biology. This MSc course provides a unique hands-on learning experience in bioinformatics skills, by combining the latest advances in analysing high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomics data. Cranfield’s Bioinformatics MSc is the first of its kind and the longest-running bioinformatics course in the UK. With more than 200 alumni over the past 10 years, it has become the most popular postgraduate course in bioinformatics in Europe. Because Cranfield is a solely postgraduate university it means that every single taught module of the Applied Bioinformatics course is uniquely tailored to be master's level. That’s why it is the winner of the BBSRC’s Master’s Training Grant (MTG) award for the best course in life sciences. Our taught modules cover in great depth a plethora of programming languages typically applied in bioinformatics, such as Python, Java, R and SQL, as well as modern web technologies, such as JavaEE, NoSQL and JavaScript. Furthermore, we have two dedicated taught modules focusing on established bioinformatics protocols for the latest next generation sequencing (NGS) and 3rd generation sequencing (3GS) technologies. Who is it for? This course aims to equip graduate scientists with the computational skills and awareness needed to process, analyse and interpret the vast amounts of biological data now becoming available. This course is equally suitable for candidates from life sciences disciplines who aim to gain the programming and computational skills through this course, and graduates with IT/computer science background who want to gain the molecular biology understanding to become bioinformaticians. On completion of this course, you will be able to apply information technology and computational techniques to process genomic and genetic data, as well as developing novel drug discovery and diagnostic tools. Additionally, you will gain the skills to design and implement software tools and databases using the latest advances in standalone and web-based technologies to fulfil the need of the research community.
Assessment method
Taught Modules 40%, Group Project 20%, Individual Research Project 40%
How to apply
International applicants
Cranfield University welcomes applications from students from all over the world for our postgraduate programmes.
Entry requirements
1st or 2nd Class Honours degree from a UK university, or equivalent, in a life science, or computer-science subject or candidates with appropriate professional experience. If you are an international student you will need to provide evidence that you have achieved a satisfactory test result in an English qualification.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £1765 | Module |
| Northern Ireland | £1765 | Module |
| Scotland | £1765 | Module |
| Wales | £1765 | Module |
| EU | £25955 | Whole course |
| International | £25955 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
* This course has an annual registration fee and a fee per module. The fee quoted above is the annual registration fee and this amount is invoiced annually. The fee for taught modules is £1,445 per 10 credits, invoiced on attendance. Modules will usually be worth 5, 10, 20, or 30 credits, with the module fee for each calculated accordingly.
** Fees can be paid in full up front, or in equal annual instalments. Students who complete their course before the initial end date will be invoiced the outstanding fee balance and must pay in full prior to graduation.
Provider information
Cranfield University
Cranfield
Bedford
MK43 0AL