Handbook home
Master of Science (Bioinformatics) (MC-SCIBIF)
Masters (Coursework)Year: 2023 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)
About this course
- Overview
- Entry and participation requirements
- Attributes, outcomes and skills
- Course structure
- Further study
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/
Principal Coordinator
Daniel Park
Overview
| Award title | Master of Science (Bioinformatics) |
|---|---|
| Year & campus | 2023 — Parkville |
| CRICOS code | 094592D |
| Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
| Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
| AQF level | 9 |
| Credit points | 200 credit points |
| Duration | 24 months full-time or 48 months part-time |
The Master of Science (Bioinformatics) is a coursework masters degree incorporating a research project.
The degree provides a broad education in bioinformatics, with strong foundations in computer science. You will undertake independent research in bioinformatics with the potential to progress to a PhD.
Links to further information
Entry requirements
1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- an undergraduate degree major in Biology and Biomedicine; Mathematics and Statistics; or Computer Science, and
- a weighted average mark of at least H3(65%) in the best 50 points in that major or relevant discipline studies at third year; and
- completion of MAST10005 Calculus 1 or equivalent.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- prior academic performance.
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.
Note:
- Quotas may be applied and preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research.
- Entry into this stream of the Master of Science (Bioinformatics) is subject to the capacity of the department(s) or school(s) to provide adequate supervision in a research project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student and may be subject to the agreement of a member of academic staff to supervise the project module
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to providingsupport to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Integrate knowledge of biological systems with bioinformatic analytical approaches;
- Apply programming and algorithmic theory and practical experience in a bioinformatics setting;
- Employ statistical theory in bioinformatics analytical settings;
- Communicate scientific information in a variety of written and oral formats;
- Combine reasoning and problem-solving skills to work independently within a bioinformatics research setting.
Graduate attributes
Graduates will:
- have the ability to demonstrate advanced independent critical enquiry, analysis and reflection;
- have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
- have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s);
- reach a high level of achievement in writing, research or project activities, problem-solving and communication;
- be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
- be able to examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines;
- have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment; and
- be able to initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces.
Course structure
The Master of Science (Bioinformatics) requires the successful completion of 200 credit points.
Students undertaking the Master of Science - Bioinformatics program will complete 200 points comprising:
- Discipline subjects (137.5 points) including compulsory subjects listed for each specialisation plus electives
- Professional Skills subject (12.5 points)
- Research Project (50 points), commencing in Semester 2.
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 achieve a Course total 200 points.
First year coursework
Biology/Biomedicine stream (for students with a biology /biomedicine background) must complete:
- 37.5 credit points of Year 1 core coursework subjects
- 12.5 credit points of Probability electives
- 12.5 credit points of Statistics electives
- 25 credit points of Year 1 general electives
Mathematics/Statistics stream (for students with a mathematics and statistics background) must complete:
- 75 credit points of Year 1 core coursework subjects
- 12.5 credit points of Year 1 general electives
Computer Science stream (for students with a computing background) must complete:
- 50 credit points of Year 1 core coursework subjects
- 12.5 credit points of Probability electives
- 12.5 credit points of Statistics electives
- 12.5 credit points of Year 1 general electives
Second year - all streams
- 50 credit points of Year 2 core coursework subjects
- 12.5 credit points of Year 2 Professional Skills selectives
Research project
Choose a research project stream:
- 50 credit points of Stream A research project subjects
- 50 credit points of Stream B research project subjects
- 50 credit points of Stream C research project subjects
All students undertake a research project for a total of 50 points. The research project comprises of a series of two, three or four consecutive subjects commencing in the first or second semester of enrolment. The following research project structures are possible. Students will determine which stream they follow in consultation with the project coordinator.
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 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90059 | Introduction to Programming |
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Note: Completing COMP90059 meets the prerequisite for COMP90038
and one of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20004 | Probability |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST90057 | Elements of Probability | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Note: Completing MAST20004/MAST90057 meets the prerequisite for MAST20005/MAST90058
and one of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20005 | Statistics |
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST90058 | Elements of Statistics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Elective subjects
Students must take two 12.5-point Year 1 elective subjects (see electives list below).
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 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90059 | Introduction to Programming |
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| GENE20001 | Foundations of Genetics and Genomics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PHYS20008 | Human Physiology |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Elective subjects
Student must take one 12.5-point Year 1 elective subject (see electives list below).
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 |
| PHYS20008 | Human Physiology |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
and one of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20004 | Probability |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST90057 | Elements of Probability | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
and one of:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20005 | Statistics |
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST90058 | Elements of Statistics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Elective subjects
Student must take one 12.5-point Year 1 elective subject (see electives list below).
Year 1 electives
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMP90050 | Advanced Database Systems |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Winter Term (Dual-Delivery - 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 |
| PSYC20006 | Biological Psychology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| SCIE90026 | Biomolecular Structure Determination | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| POPH90013 | Biostatistics | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
| BTCH30003 | Biotechnology in Practice | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MAST10006 | Calculus 2 |
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BCMB30004 | Cell Signalling and Neurochemistry | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| INFO90002 | Database Systems & Information Modelling |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| ISYS90086 | Data Warehousing | Not available in 2023 | 12.5 |
| COMP90048 | Declarative Programming | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| INFO90003 | Designing Novel Interactions | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ISYS90069 | Digital Transformation of Health |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
July (Online)
|
12.5 |
| COMP20008 | Elements of Data Processing |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| POPH90014 | Epidemiology 1 | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
| FOOD90008 | Food Safety and Quality | Semester 2 (Online) |
12.5 |
| COMP90007 | Internet Technologies |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| COMP90049 | Introduction to Machine Learning |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| HLTH90021 | Biomedical Enterprise Research to Impact | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MAST90101 | Introduction to Statistical Computing | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MIIM30003 | Medical and Applied Immunology | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PSYC10003 | Mind, Brain & Behaviour 1 | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PSYC10004 | Mind, Brain and Behaviour 2 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| PSYC90098 | Mind, Brain & Behaviour 2 | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90089 | Machine Learning Applications for Health | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MIIM20001 | Principles of Microbiology & Immunology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90041 | Programming and Software Development |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| POPH90144 | Regression Methods in Health Research | July (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90044 | Research Methods |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| SCIE90017 | Science and Technology Internship |
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
|
12.5 |
| POPH90226 | Societal Implications of Genomics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MAST90007 | Statistics for Research Workers | Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90051 | Statistical Machine Learning |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST90139 | Statistical Modelling for Data Science | Semester 1 (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.
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 |
| SCIE90013 | Communication for Research Scientists |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Winter Term (Online)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
and one of the following subjects:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTCH90009 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP90016 | Computational Genomics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - 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 consecutive subjects commencing in the first or 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) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90009 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90010 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 3 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
Stream B
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90008 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90009 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90011 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 3 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BINF90012 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 4 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Stream C
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINF90013 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 1 |
Semester 1 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Extended) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
| BINF90014 | Bioinformatics Research Project Pt 2 |
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
Further study
The Master of Science offers a pathway to a PhD.
Last updated: 27 April 2023