Course information
UK fee £10,950
International fee £23,650
Contact
CLSPGT
+44 (0)116 252 5710
Dr Ralf Schmid (Course Convenor)
+44 (0)116 229 7023
clspgt@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
Bioinformatics is a major growth area and qualified bioinformaticians are in high demand. The MSc in Bioinformatics is a one-year full-time course for biological sciences graduates which will equip you with the theoretical and practical skills in data analysis and computing for a career in this multidisciplinary field.
The course covers working in a Linux environment, programming in Python, “Big Data”, learning about Bioinformatics algorithms and cutting edge topics in genomics, transcriptomics and protein bioinformatics.
During the course you will work on a Linux laptop on which you install and develop your own Bioinformatics toolkit. This laptop is provided as a loan by the University of Leicester, but ownership of the laptop will be transferred free of charge to you on successful completion of the course.
Our MSc in Bioinformatics course culminates in your independent research project where you will apply the skills you have acquired in the taught phase on one of our many exciting research topics with internal and external contributions on offer.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
2:2 degree (or equivalent) in Biological Sciences or related discipline. We will also consider appropriate experience in industry.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2025
- £10,950
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you’re eligible.
If you are a University of Leicester alumni, you may be eligible for the Centenary Alumni Discount which offers a 20% fee reduction
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- £23,650
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are a University of Leicester alumni, you may be eligible for the Centenary Alumni Discount which offers a 20% fee reduction
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Bioinformatics is a major growth area and qualified bioinformaticians are in high demand. A huge amount of biological data has resulted from genome projects, next generation sequencing and other 'omics' techniques. Our MSc in Bioinformatics course provides the skill set to exploit and make sense of such data. These skills are highly valued by PhD programmes and employers.
International students who study at the University of Leicester may be eligible for a Graduate Visa which grants permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successful completion of their course.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Course structure
Modules
Modules
- Gene and genome analysis
- Proteins: Structure and Bioinformatics
- Bioinformatics Programming and Advanced Topics in Bioinformatics
- Steered Research Project
- Algorithms for Bioinformatics
- Big Data and Predictive Analytics
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Project
Project
Building on the skills you have acquired in the taught modules and the steered research project, you will undertake a three month individual research project typically in research groups at the University of Leicester, though some will have external collaborations.
Examples of recent projects:
- Comparative genomics of blood flukes
- Identifying the transcriptional start sites of L1 retrotransposons
- Natural variation in miRNA target sequences
- Unravelling the significance of bidirectional promoters and the function of 'unknown' genes in genomes
- Constructing whole genome recombination maps from Next Generation Sequencing Data
- Trawling for satellites and transposons in living fossil genomes
Published project work by MSc Bioinformatics students
- Saunders GI, Wasmuth JD, Beech R, Lainga R, Hunt M, Naghra H, Cotton JA, Berriman M, Britton C, Gilleard JS. (2013) 'Characterization and comparative analysis of the complete Haemonchus contortus β-tubulin gene family and implications for benzimidazole resistance in strongylid nematodes'. Int. J. Parasitol. vol.43 no.6 pp.465-475 doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.12.011
- Ray J, Dondrup M, Modha S, Steen IH, Sandaa R-A, et al. (2012) 'Finding a needle in the virus metagenome haystack – Micro-metagenome analysis captures a snapshot of the diversity of a bacteriophage armoire'. PLoS ONE 7(4): e34238. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034238
- Malone J, Badarinarayan N, Ison J, Stevens R, Parkinson H. (2010) 'An ontology of bioinformatics software' Bio-Ontologies 2010, a Special Interest Group meeting at ISMB 2010. Boston, MA.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Bioinformatics is a very practical subject and from day one of the course you will start working on your Linux laptop to develop your own bioinformatics toolkit. Ownership of the laptop is transferred to you, free of charge, on successful completion of the course.
The course is run in dedicated teaching labs which are ideally suited for working in small groups to ensure optimal student experience.
Teaching and learning
The course material is taught using a combination of lectures, problem-solving, small group work, drop-in sessions and self-directed learning. The taught modules are assessed by in-module assessments (e.g. practical reports, programming assignments, presentations) and by exams.
In your research project you will develop independence, initiative and understanding whilst performing the project and present your results in a thesis and a final oral presentation. To bring you right up-to-date with your chosen topic, you can attend departmental seminars and College research days dedicated to specific topics that include both visiting and internal speakers.
Key dates
September 2025 start
- Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
- Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
- CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Bioinformatics | Qualification MSc | Duration 1 year, full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
