Bioinformatics and Genetic Epidemiology (MSc)

at Cardiff University

Both full-time and part-time students register initially for the MSc Bioinformatics and Genetic Epidemiology.
 

You may exit the course with a Postgraduate Certificate if you successfully complete 60 credits. Alternatively, you may leave with a Postgraduate Diploma on successful completion of 120 credits. Module restrictions apply in both cases.
 

The full-time MSc is delivered across a single year consisting of two stages – the taught stage (T) and the research dissertation stage (R).

The taught stage of the programme runs from the last week of September to first week of June and consists of six 20-credit modules, totalling 120 credits. The dissertation stage of the programme runs from mid-June until mid-September and includes a dissertation of 60 credits.
 

Your dissertation will embody the results of your prior project work.  The subject of each dissertation will be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies concerned or his/her nominee. The dissertation will be assigned 60 credits and be weighted 50% for calculating the final mark.

 

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2022/23 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2022.

The full-time course will be delivered across a single year. The course will be assessed using coursework and via student presentations. In the Autumn Semester, you will first take a 5-week 20-credit module designed to develop and reinforce necessary computational and scripting skill for data handling and analysis; this will include elements on command-line, high-performance computing, scripting languages and data visualisation.
 

From the middle of the Autumn Semester, Students will receive concurrent delivery of 2x 20-credit modules in statistical methods and introduction to bioinformatics approaches and resources. These 2 courses will be delivered over 10-weeks and extend into the Spring Semester.
 

In the Spring Semester, students will undertake a 20-credit case-study extending over 10-weeks. This will involve working with a client and real data. Midway through the Spring Seminar the students will undertake 2x 20-credit modules focusing on genetic epidemiological approaches. These modules will run in series, and will be complete at the end of the Spring Semester.
 

Finally, in the Summer Semester, students will undertake a 15-week research project leading to the production of their research dissertation.

In addition to satisfying the requirements of the Cardiff University General Entrance Requirements, meeting English language requirements of IELTS 7.5 with at least 6.5 in each subsection, at the discretion of the relevant Board of Studies, applicants will:   

• normally possess a minimum of an upper second-class (or equivalent) primary degree in a bioscience or computing or mathematics/statistics.
• Graduates in other subject areas with a degree awarded by a recognised Institution will be considered by the course Admissions Committee.
At the discretion of the Board of Studies, non-graduates whose relative lack of formal qualifications or graduates who were awarded a lower-second class (or equivalent) degree may be accepted for study by compensation for their relevant work experience. The candidate must provide evidence that they have held, for a minimum period of two years, a position of responsibility relevant to the programme.
 

You will also need to provide a personal statement. Your personal statement should provide information that is relevant to your application for admission to tell us why you wish to follow this programme, what benefits you expect to gain from it, and what skills and experience you possess which make you a suitable applicant. You must use the questions below as headings in your document:

•  What motivates you to apply for this course?
•  How would you describe your computer literacy and what coding experience do you have?
•  How would you describe your knowledge of statistics?
•  How would you describe your knowledge of molecular biology and genetics?
•  If you have previously applied for this course and were unsuccessful, describe what further experience you have gained which may strengthen your application.
   

Application deadline

Please note: the programme requires a minimum number of students in order to run. Places are limited and early application is recommended. The closing date for applications is 31 July. If student numbers are not met by the 31 July we cannot guarantee that the programme will run.

Fees for home status

Tution Fees - £10,200
Deposit - £1000

Fees for overseas status

Tution Fees - £23,450
Deposit-£1,000

 

You will need to provide a reliable computer with appropriate Internet access, with up-to-date virus and malware protection
 

Word processing software, compatible with Microsoft Word, will be required to complete the summative and formative tasks and assessments. Other software may also be useful at some points in the programme for conducting data collection/analysis, for instance Microsoft Excel, or producing presentations, for instance Microsoft PowerPoint.

We are committed to developing transferable skills and to improving graduate employability. We want highly capable graduate informaticians who can fulfil the growing bioinformatics needs of local, national and international employers. That is why this programme has been designed with the needs of academic research, the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health care industries in mind. Instruction in computational and statistical biosciences will enable you to work effectively within a multidisciplinary bioinformatics arena.
 

Our first cohort of five students enrolled to the reconfigured MSc in September 2018. As of July 2019 one student has accepted a PhD post, and two have accepted research associate posts in bioinformatics.   We eagerly await the result of upcoming interviews!
 

Historically, from 2004-2017 this programme has seen approximately 24% students enter a PhD directly related to bioinformatics, 17% students entered other PhD in other areas of biomedicine; 10% entered MSc/PGCE/medical degrees; and approximately 49% gained employment related to bioinformatics, biostatistics or other data science.