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Master of Science (Bioinformatics) (MC-SCIBIF) // Course structure
About this course
Principal Coordinator
Vicky Perreau
Contact
Principal Coordinator
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Contact Stop 1
Future students:
- Further information: http://science.unimelb.edu.au/
This course is available in My Course Planner
Course structure
Completion of one entry point program is required.
Master of Science (Bioinformatics) has two entry point programs: 200pt Program and 150pt Program (Bioinformatics cognate pathway).
Exemptions will be granted for students who have completed equivalent subjects in their undergraduate studies. Students who meet subject equivalency criteria will take additional elective subjects to accomplish the course in a total of 200 or 150 credit points (Biology/Biomedicine, Mathematics/Statistics and Computer Science entry streams – 200 points; Bioinformatics major entry stream – 150 points).
Students undertaking the Master of Science (Bioinformatics) 200pt Program will complete:
- 125 credit points of Discipline core subjects including compulsory subjects listed for each stream
- A minimum of 12.5 credit points of Elective subject
- 12.5 credit points of Professional Skill subject
- 50 credit points of Research Project subjects, undertaken consecutively
Progression Rules
- Completion of at least 37.5 points of core subjects, or stream specific compulsory subjects, before commencing the research project is normally required. Completed subjects must include BINF90002 and COMP90059 if subject is a required core subject in the stream.
- Students in all streams must complete BINF90002 Elements of Bioinformatics.
- Students in Biology/Biomedicine and Mathematics/Statistics streams must complete COMP90059 Introduction to programming.
Students undertaking the Master of Science (Bioinformatics) 150pt Program - Bioinformatics cognate pathway will complete:
- 75 credit points of Discipline core subjects including compulsory bioinformatics subjects
- 12.5 credit points of Elective subject
- 12.5 credit points of Professional Skill subject
- 50 credit points of Research Project subjects undertaken consecutively
Subject options
First year
First year Core Coursework - Biology/Biomedicine stream (for students with a biology /biomedicine background)
Students must take:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90002 | Elements of Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90038 | Algorithms and Complexity |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90059 | Introduction to Programming |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90018 | Skills for Data-intensive Research | Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Note: Completing COMP90059 meets the prerequisite for COMP90038
and both of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST90044 | Thinking and Reasoning with Data | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BINF90017 | High-Dimensional Omics Data Analysis | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Note: Completing MAST90044 meets prerequisite enrolment requirements for BINF90017
or both of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20006 | Probability for Statistics |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST20005 | Statistics |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Note: Completing MAST20006 meets the prerequisite for MAST20005.
Note: Students choosing MAST20006 and MAST20005 must meet the prerequisite enrolment requirements for MAST20006
Note: Completing MAST90044 or MAST20005 meets prerequisite enrolment requirements for BINF90001
Elective subjects
Students must take one 12.5 credit point General elective subject.
First year Core Coursework - Mathematics/Statistics stream (for students with a mathematics and statistics background)
Students must take:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90002 | Elements of Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| CEDB20003 | Fundamentals of Cell Biology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90038 | Algorithms and Complexity |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90059 | Introduction to Programming |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| GENE20001 | Foundations of Genetics and Genomics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BINF90018 | Skills for Data-intensive Research | Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Elective subjects
Students must take one 12.5 credit point General elective subject.
First year Core Coursework - Computer Science stream (for students with a computing background)
Students must take:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90002 | Elements of Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| CEDB20003 | Fundamentals of Cell Biology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GENE20001 | Foundations of Genetics and Genomics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BINF90018 | Skills for Data-intensive Research | Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
and both of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST90044 | Thinking and Reasoning with Data | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BINF90017 | High-Dimensional Omics Data Analysis | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Note: Completing MAST90044 meets prerequisite enrolment requirements for BINF90017
or both of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20006 | Probability for Statistics |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST20005 | Statistics |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Note: Completing MAST20006 meets the prerequisite for MAST20005.
Note: Students choosing MAST20006 and MAST20005 must meet the prerequisite enrolment requirements for MAST20006
Note: Completing MAST90044 or MAST20005 meets prerequisite enrolment requirements for BINF90001
Elective subjects
Students must take one 12.5 credit point General elective subject.
All Streams - General Elective subjects
Students must take one 12.5 credit point General elective subject.
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTCH90009 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BTCH90005 | Advanced Molecular Biology Techniques | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MAST90125 | Bayesian Statistical Learning | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| INFO90002 | Database Systems & Data Modelling |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90048 | Declarative Programming | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ISYS90069 | Digital Transformation of Health |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
July (Online)
|
12.5 |
| POPH90014 | Epidemiology 1 |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| FOOD90008 | Food Safety and Quality | Semester 2 (Online) |
12.5 |
| COMP90007 | Internet Technologies |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90049 | Introduction to Machine Learning |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| HLTH90021 | Biomedical Enterprise Research to Impact | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90089 | Machine Learning Applications for Health | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90041 | Programming and Software Development |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| POPH90144 | Regression Methods in Health Research |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
July (Online)
|
12.5 |
| SCIE90017 | Science and Technology Internship |
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90051 | Statistical Machine Learning |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST90139 | Statistical Modelling for Data Science | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MULT90004 | Environmental Sustainability |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| POPH90112 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology |
March (On Campus - Parkville)
March (Online)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90090 | Text Analytics for Health | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| GEOM90007 | Information Visualisation | Semester 2 (Online) |
12.5 |
| BINF90017 | High-Dimensional Omics Data Analysis | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
If a student wishes to take another 12.5pt subject that is not listed within the elective list, and for which they have satisfied the prerequisite requirements for, they may consult with the Course Coordinator to request approval to enrol.
If a student wishes to take an undergraduate subject as an elective they must take the subject in the first 100 points of their course.
Second year - all streams
Students must take:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90001 | Statistics for Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BINF90004 | Bioinformatics Case Studies | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90014 | Algorithms for Bioinformatics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90016 | Computational Genomics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Professional Skills subject
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCIE90013 | Communication for Research Scientists |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Note: SCIE90013 should not commence until the Research Project has begun.
Research project
All students undertake a research project for a total of 50 points. The research project comprises of a series of two, three or four subjects which must be completed in consecutive semesters. The research project is normally commenced in the second semester of enrolment. The following research project structures are possible. Students will determine which stream they follow in consultation with the project coordinator.
Stream A
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90008 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90009 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90010 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 3 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
Stream B
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90008 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90009 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90011 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 3 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90012 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 4 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Stream C
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90013 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| BINF90014 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
Stream D
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90008 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90016 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| BINF90015 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 3 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Stream E
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90013 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
| BINF90009 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90015 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 3 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Last updated: 25 January 2026