Bioinformatics MSc
About This Programme
The MSc Bioinformatics at the University of Birmingham Dubai trains students to work with the world's most advanced biological and clinical datasets, for careers in omics-enabled bioscience, one of the fastest-growing fields in industry and academia. It builds the sought-after combination of statistics, computer programming and molecular biology, and runs for 12 months full-time or on a part-time basis. Students learn to analyse many kinds of omics data, including next generation sequencing, mass spectrometry, emerging single-molecule techniques, genome engineering and imaging, with integrative analysis tools, and explore frontiers from precision medicine and precision agriculture to molecular ecosystems biology and topological data analysis. The course suits wet-bench biologists and clinicians interested in data analysis as well as statisticians and computer scientists who want to work in biology.
Course Highlights
- A foundation in statistical machine learning for a career in the life sciences.
- Teaching from leading researchers in the field.
- The same world-class education as at the UK campus, with a high-quality curriculum and rigorous quality assurance.
- Evening and weekend classes designed for working professionals as well as full-time students.
- Birmingham is ranked 62nd in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine in the QS World Rankings 2026, and is one of the UK universities most targeted by leading graduate employers (top 2 in High Fliers' Graduate Market 2026 report), as stated on the course page.
What You'll Study
The degree combines lectures, tutorials, practicals and projects, taught by the University's academics and researchers, and encourages students from the outset to become independent, self-motivated learners. Classes run in the evenings and at weekends to suit working professionals as well as full-time students: typically 18:00 to 21:00 on selected weekdays and 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Each module is block-taught over three weeks; full-time students take four modules a semester and part-time students two.
Course modules
2026/27 session. First term: Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics, Genomics and Next Generation Sequencing, Data Analytics and Statistical Machine Learning, and the basic programming and biology the course needs. Second term: Metabolomics and Advanced (omics) Technologies and Computational Biology for Complex Systems, analysing data from different omics fields with statistical machine learning and relating genome dynamics to ecosystems. Third term: an individual thesis project on a real-life bioinformatics problem. Content may change.
- Introduction to Biology and Programming20 credits
- Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics20 credits
- Genomics and Next Generation Sequencing20 credits
- Data Analytics and Statistical Machine Learning20 credits
- Metabolomics and Advanced (omics) Technologies20 credits
- Computational Biology for Complex Systems20 credits
- Individual Project60 credits
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet both the University's general entry requirements and the course's own criteria. Each application is reviewed by the course's Admissions Tutor, who decides whether to make an offer.
Careers
Graduates can go on to PhD study or research roles in pharmaceutical companies, government institutions and medical publishing, or work as bioinformaticians, pharmaceutical scientists, biostatisticians, medical data scientists and medical AI architects, helping to drive innovation in health services. The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance to identify options, build skills and reach opportunities.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Master of Science Bioinformatics.
Programme Details
Award
Master of Science (MSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Typical Offer
2:1 Honours degree in biology, mathematics, computer science or a related subject
Duration
1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Qualification
Masters
Subject Area
Health Sciences
Campus
Dubai
Study Pattern
Full time, Part time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 155,483/yr
AED 155,483 a year full-time or AED 77,742 a year part-time, for September 2026 entry. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation and is charged for each year of study, so part-time students pay it in both years; it can be paid in full or in three instalments a year, and it does not include visa or living costs. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made online through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal, with no application fee; postgraduate applicants upload transcripts for study completed so far, their degree certificate if available, and a CV. Decisions are usually made within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form, and full-time students can apply for a student visa sponsored by the University.