Master of Bioinformatics
Overview
Capitalise on the expanding demand for bioinformaticians with an interdisciplinary skill-set that will make you employable anywhere in the world.
The program is designed for graduates who wish to increase their technical and research skills in core areas of bioinformatics, update their knowledge of recent technologies and methodologies, and obtain practical laboratory and computational skills through immersion in a research laboratory.
Select from more than 20 courses, allowing you to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career goals.
You'll also have the opportunity to complete an independent research project, which will increase your technical and research skills.
As industries are moving more deeply into genetic technologies, the demand for bioinformaticians is expanding. This program will prepare you for a highly rewarding career in a variety of organisations, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research organisations and government.
Program highlights
- Gain advanced expertise in computational statistics, software engineering, data mining, AI and genome informatics.
- Learn from academics who are leading researchers in their fields.
- Engage in laboratory research across disciplines such as neuroscience, medicine and agriculture.
- Take advantage of links to industry, government and academic institutions in Australia and overseas.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Research experience
- Laboratory work
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Issues in Biotechnology
- Machine Learning
- Advanced Genome Informatics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Advanced Proteins & Nucleic Acids
- Molecular Systems Biology
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Bioinformatician
- Data scientist
- Data analyst
- Biostatistician
- Clinical data manager
- Geneticist
- Medical writer
- Technical writer
- Research scientist
- Software/database programmer
Average annual salary range
Data Scientist
seek.com.au
Average annual salary range
Technical Writer
seek.com.au
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
It's possible to complete this degree in 2 years, 1.5 years or 1 year depending on your qualifications and experience.
You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements. You may also be eligible to apply for credit or exemptions to shorten your degree further. You'll graduate with the same qualification no matter how long you take to complete the degree.
2-year degree (32 units of study)
To be eligible to complete the degree in 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, including two courses in any combination of computer science, biology or statistics, or
- a graduate certificate or graduate diploma (or equivalent) in bioinformatics, or
- to have successfully completed at least 3 years of study towards an approved qualification at an overseas partner institution, with a formal pathway to the Master of Bioinformatics.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
1.5-year degree (24 units of study)
If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.
To be eligible to complete the degree in 1.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in science, information technology or engineering, including two courses in any combination of computer science, biology or statistics.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
1-year degree (16 units of study)
If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.
To be eligible to complete the degree in 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a bachelor honours degree in science, information technology or engineering, with a major or minor (or equivalent volume of learning) in bioinformatics.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Bioinformatics are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$8,180
2024
Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.
$8,180
2025
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $47,200
2024
Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.
AUD $47,200
2025
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Master of Bioinformatics are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government has approved this master's program for income support payments to be made to eligible students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Bioinformatics is 5755.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. If you don't meet the requirements for your first preference, we'll automatically consider you for entry into a longer duration.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Bioinformatics is 5755.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. You can also ask us to consider you for a longer duration if you don't meet the entry requirements for your first preference.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - September 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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