MASTER OF BIOINFORMATICS

Prerequisites/entry criteria: High level of achievement in a relevant bachelor's degree. Applicants must have completed level 1 mathematics and computer programming courses and a level 1 course in biology, biochemistry, chemistry or physics.

Duration: 2 years Intakes: February and July
English Language: IELTS of 6.5 (or equivalent).

Inquiries contact: bioinformatics[at]adelaide.edu.au

Program overview:
The Master of Bioinformatics is an innovative postgraduate program combining coursework and a major research project. The curriculum is based on the fundamentally interdisciplinary nature of bioinformatics research, with a focus on translational applications of bioinformatic analyses to real world problems in research, human health and agriculture.

The program has a strong experimental and application focus and exposes students to individual data generation technology platforms as well as developing competitive analytical and research skills. Students will also be exposed to the many interlinked issues in translational bioinformatic research; translation and development, including analytical reproducibility for downstream compliance and regulatory issues; analysis of big data; and project management, team skill development and bioinformatics software development.

Assessment:
For individual courses, assessment includes examinations, written and oral assignments and investigative projects (both individual and group). The research project is assessed by a literature review, research proposal, seminar, viva voce and a thesis.

Potential careers:
Bioinformatics offers rewarding and well-paid careers using advanced technologies that will transform the biomedical and agricultural industries. Career opportunities also exist in research and development, and advisory and consultancy positions in private companies, government departments and universities.

Indicative program structure:
The 48-unit master's program is made up of 24 units of coursework and 24 units of laboratory based research.

Core courses: Biology for Bioinformatics, Research Methods in Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics and Systems Modelling, Bioinformatics Practice, Statistical Modelling and Inference or Statistical Modelling, Algorithm & Data Structure Analysis, Specialised Programming or Mining Big Data, Statistics for Bioinformatics.

Bioinformatics Electives: In the case that students have recognition for prior learning in the above course(s), to extend their learning they may choose electives from Advanced Research Platforms, Drug Discovery and Development, Stem Cells and Advanced Tissue Culture, Molecular Microbiology and Vaccines, Distributed Databases and Data Mining, Advanced Algorithms, Introduction to Statistical Machine Learning.

Related programs: This program has been constructed to provide progression to a PhD.