Skip to main content

Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics) MSc

2 years with professional placement, starting in September 2025

Apply to Bath Chat with our students Sign up to a virtual open day

Study at the interface of biological and computational sciences and help address the world’s biggest challenges in health, food biosecurity and environmental sustainability.

Biosciences research has a huge impact on helping people live longer and healthier lives. With the World Economic Forum identifying healthcare as one of the top 10 Global Challenges for 2030, there is a growing demand for specialists in this field.

This course provides you with a broad understanding of the molecular basis of biological systems, with a focus on the increasingly crucial role bioinformatics plays in modern biosciences.

Course highlights

  • Study at a Top 10 University, on a course designed in consultation with clinical and industrial partners to give you the skills employers are looking for.
  • Develop extensive knowledge in your specialist area of bioinformatics, as well as a broad understanding of molecular biosciences.
  • Gain extensive research experience by carrying out two separate research projects.
  • Further strengthen your employability with a project addressing the challenges of global environment sustainability, applying skills related to either entrepreneurship, teaching, media and communication, or public engagement.
  • Get support from your dedicated Personal Tutor who you can go to for academic and non-academic support.

Specialise in bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is an exciting and rapidly growing field in biology offering career opportunities at the interface of biological and computational sciences. This interdisciplinary field applies computational approaches to analyse large biological datasets generated by the revolutionary technological advances in the field, including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and omics-based technologies.

  • You’ll learn to apply computational methods to answer biological questions ranging from bacterial epidemiology, healthy ageing and genomic medicine to evolution and conservation biology.
  • You’ll work with researchers from our Milner Centre for Evolution, supported by teaching staff in the Department of Computer Science.
  • You'll have access to our bioinformatics sessions, enabling you to develop your scripting skills and study big data.
  • You'll study some modules alongside data science students to ensure you are being taught the latest developments in computer science, and will also be able to participate in extra coding sessions to consolidate your learning.

Research projects

You'll undertake two research projects; a group computational project and a computational project working with a researcher in the department. These projects will give you extensive research experience, helping you stand out when applying for jobs or a PhD.

Examples of projects include:

  • Analysis of Gastrointestinal pathogen surveillance sequencing data using whole genome MLST
  • Pan-genome assembly in Covid-19 and/or Staphylococcus epidermidis

Career prospects

You’ll graduate with the specialist knowledge and sought-after skills for a career in further research, such as a PhD, or roles in academic, clinical, industrial or commercial sectors anywhere in the world. Our dedicated careers team offers individual guidance and help you decide between employment and further study.

Recent examples of graduate roles include healthcare scientist, analyst, production technician and agricultural engineer.

Find out more on maximising your employability while at Bath.

Who is this course for?

This course is for you if you’ve graduated from any biosciences, medical, veterinary or related discipline and you’re interested in specialising in a career within the field of bioinformatics.

We also offer the Molecular Biosciences course with specialisms in Microbiology and Medical Biosciences and we have a new dedicated MSc Biotechnology with specialisms available in Healthcare Technologies, Sustainable Biotechnologies or with Entrepreneurship.

Find out more about studying at Bath

2025/26 Academic Year

Before you apply for a course, please check the website for the most recently published course detail. If you apply to the University of Bath, you will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

We understand that you will want to know more about the shape of the academic year. We work hard and plan for different scenarios, to be able to welcome you to the University of Bath at the start of each semester.

Course structure

This course lasts 2 years. It starts in September 2025 and ends in 2027. Welcome week starts on 22 September 2025.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Units

In addition to the compulsory and optional units studied during the course, you'll have access to online study materials two weeks before the start of semester 1, to help you prepare for study at Bath.

Year 1

Semester 1

You’ll choose 15 credits of optional units across Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Compulsory units

  • Advances in bioinformatics

    20 credits

  • Broadening horizons

    10 credits

  • Research project 1B

    15 credits

Optional units

  • Applied data science in biology

    15 credits

  • Molecular phylogenetics and epidemiology

    15 credits

Semester 2

You’ll choose 15 credits of optional units across Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Compulsory units

  • Advances in bioinformatics

    Continued

  • Broadening horizons

    Continued

  • Research project 1B

    Continued

Optional units

  • Applied data science in biology

    Continued

  • Molecular phylogenetics and epidemiology

    Continued

Year 2

Semester 1

Compulsory units

  • Professional training placement

    60 credits

  • Research project 2

    30 credits

Semester 2

Compulsory units

  • Professional training placement

    Continued

  • Research project 2

    Continued

Placement

Going on placement gives you the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge working in industry. You’ll be employed full-time in a role to match your future career ambitions, broadening your experience and transferable skills.

We have links with companies of all sizes from household names to start-ups.

Placement opportunities can't be guaranteed but you will receive tailored support from our specialist team to help you secure a placement.

Find out more about going on placement

Learning and assessment

You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.

Learning

  • Laboratory sessions
  • Lectures
  • Online resources
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Assessment

  • Coursework
  • Essay
  • Online assessment
  • Presentations
  • Written examination
  • Other

These lists are to give you an idea of some, but not all, of the learning and assessment methods used on this course. They are not exhaustive lists and methods are subject to change.

Learning and teaching

Overall workload

You should expect to spend approximately 35 to 40 hours a week studying on your course. These hours consist of structured activities and independent learning. You will experience a mix of in person teaching, that will take place on campus, and structured online learning delivered through the University’s virtual learning environment.

Structured learning activities

MSc programmes deliver taught unit/modules in the first and second semester, with the Summer dedicated to a dissertation. The second semester will have less structured learning as you will start to prepare for your dissertation. Both during the dissertation preparation and the dissertation, supervision will take place at times suitable to you and your supervisor.

Typically, you can expect to spend between 20 to 25 hours on structured learning activities per teaching week, of which approximately 60 to 80% will be in timetabled sessions on campus, and the remainder online. The hours of structured time are dependent on the optional units you decide to take, with more practical subjects normally having more structured time than more theoretical ones.

In-person teaching and online activities

Timetabled sessions delivered in person on campus will be a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and laboratories. Online activities may include following a recorded lecture, or other learning materials, or joining a timetabled live interactive session through Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

Independent learning

The remainder of your time outside these structured activities will be spent in independent learning which includes individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments, presentations, or revising for exams.

To support you in your studies you will be able to access, outside of timetabled learning, facilities on campus and in Bath such as study spaces, computers, and the Library.

Recognition of professional qualifications

As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).

The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.

‘The Bioinformatics stream combines classical microbiology with state of the art genomics.’
— Dr Nick Priest Evolution & Biodiversity research theme lead

Entry requirements

Origin of qualifications

British qualifications

You should have a Bachelor’s honours degree or international equivalent, typically a high 2:2 or above.

To apply for this course, you should have an undergraduate degree in any biological, computational or mathematical subject, such as biosciences, medical, biomedical, life sciences, nutritional veterinary, biotechnology, pharmacy, pharmacology or computer science.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree.

If your first language is not English but within the last 2 years you completed your degree in the UK you may be exempt from our English language requirements.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in all components
  • The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 62 with no less than 59 in any element
  • TOEFL IBT: 90 overall with a minimum 21 in all 4 components

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

If you need to improve your English language skills before starting your studies, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course to reach the required level.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics) MSc with professional placement

Fees

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees

See the most recent fees for postgraduate courses.

Extra costs

IT requirements

We recommend that students on the MSc Molecular Biosciences have a computer with the current Windows, Mac or Linux operating system; iPads, tablets and Chrome OS are insufficient for some of the software we use.

How to pay

Tuition fee loans

If you are studying a postgraduate course, you may be able to take out a loan for your tuition fees and living costs.

Read more about tuition fee loans

Scholarships and bursaries

You could be considered for a bursary or scholarship to help you study at Bath. You do not have to pay it back.

Read more about bursaries and scholarships

Other payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer. You may also be eligible for a student loan to help you pay your fees.

Read more about your payment options

Budgeting

You will need to budget at least £100 for the cost of photocopying, printing and binding. You will also need to budget for the cost of textbooks.

Some courses involve visits away from campus and you may be required to pay some or all of the costs of travel, accommodation and food and drink.

If you’re on a placement, you’re responsible for your own travel, accommodation and living costs. You should also consider the financial implications if you go on an unpaid or overseas placement.

Application information

  • Course title
    Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics)
  • Final award
    MSc
  • Mode of study
    Full-time
  • Course code
    TDUSL-MB14
  • Department
    Department of Life Sciences
  • Location
    University of Bath
    Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
  • Home application deadline
    31 August 2025

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full.

  • Overseas application deadline
    31 July 2025

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full. We may consider late applications but if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK, you will need time to apply for and receive your visa to be in the UK by the start of the course.

  • Application eligibility
    Home and Overseas students are eligible to apply
  • Regulator
    The Office for Students (OfS)

Course enquiries