MSc in Computational Biology
About This Programme
A two-year research MSc in Computational Biology bridging single-cell biology, genomics and machine learning for biomedicine.
Course Highlights
- Not automatically funded: MBZUAI classes M.Sc. students as fee-paying by default, with merit-based funding considered at admission and otherwise secured through a faculty-sponsored assistantship or a government scholarship.
- Bridges single-cell biology, genomics and machine learning.
- Links to the Emirati Genome Project and precision-medicine research.
- One-year Master's research dissertation.
What You'll Study
A full-time, English-language MSc on the Masdar City campus combining computational-biology cores, machine-learning electives, research methods, an internship and a one-year dissertation. MBZUAI classes M.Sc. students as fee-paying by default; merit-based funding is considered at admission, and is otherwise secured through a faculty-sponsored assistantship or an approved government scholarship.
Core courses
Core: 4 courses, 16 credit hours, taken by every student.
- Introduction to Single Cell Biology and Bioinformatics (CBIO7101)4 credits
- Introduction to Molecular Biology for Machine Learning (CBIO7102)4 credits
- Analyzing Multi-omics Network Data in Biology and Medicine (CBIO7103)4 credits
- Computational Genomics and Epigenomics (CBIO7104)4 credits
Research methods, internship and thesis
- Graduate Research Methods (RES799)2 credits
- Internship (INT799)2 credits
- Computational Biology Master's Research Dissertation (CBIO799)8 credits
Elective courses
Students select two elective courses totalling 8 credit hours.
Published elective list
- Machine Learning with Python (AI7101)2 credits
- Introduction to Deep Learning (AI7102)2 credits
- AI and Deep Learning for Biomedical Data (CBIO8501)4 credits
- Advanced Topics in Machine Learning for Biology (CBIO8502)4 credits
- Evolutionary Genomics and Population Genetics (CBIO8503)4 credits
- Human and Computer Vision (CV701)4 credits
- Geometry for Computer Vision (CV702)4 credits
- Visual Object Recognition and Detection (CV703)4 credits
- Digital Twins (CV707)4 credits
- Data Mining (DS701)4 credits
- Big Data Processing (DS702)4 credits
- Information Retrieval (DS703)4 credits
- Statistical Aspects of Machine Learning Theory / Statistical Theory (DS704)4 credits
- Medical Imaging: Physics and Analysis (HC701)4 credits
- Machine Learning (ML701)4 credits
- Parallel and Distributed Machine Learning System (ML710)4 credits
- Advanced Topics in Continuous Optimization (ML804)4 credits
- Advanced Topics in Reinforcement Learning (ML806)4 credits
- Causality and Machine Learning (ML808)4 credits
- Probabilistic and Statistical Inference (ML7101)2 credits
- Foundations of Machine Learning (ML8101)2 credits
- Advanced Machine Learning (ML8102)2 credits
- Algorithms for Big Data (ML8501)2 credits
- Predictive Statistical Inference and Uncertainty Quantification (ML8507)2 credits
- Collaborative Learning (ML8509)4 credits
- Optimization (MTH702)4 credits
- Mathematics for Theoretical Computer Science (MTH703)4 credits
- Mathematical Foundations of AI (MTH7101)2 credits
- Natural Language Processing (NLP701)4 credits
- Advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP702)4 credits
- Speech Processing (NLP703)4 credits
- Current Topics in Natural Language Processing (NLP808)4 credits
- Advanced Speech Processing (NLP809)4 credits
- Generative AI-powered Educational Applications (NLP8506)4 credits
- Agent Systems Powered by Large Language Models (NLP8507)4 credits
Entry Requirements
Screening exam and technical interview; two references; GRE optional.
Careers
Graduates work in bioinformatics, computational genomics and biomedical AI across research institutes, healthcare and biotech, or continue to a PhD.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (status Active on the CAA register).
Programme Details
Award
Master of Science (MSc) in Computational Biology
Start Date
Annual Fall intake (August)
Typical Offer
STEM bachelor's, CGPA 3.0/4.0; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
Duration
2 years
Qualification
Masters
Subject Area
Computational Biology
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person