Where to study bioinformatics: the current options

Bioinformatics plays an increasingly decisive role in our society, including the investigation of epidemics and the search for new drugs. This discipline is behind the study of Covid-19 genomes, but also the detection of disease patterns and the manufacture of medicines. With an increasingly long-lived population, this discipline promises to continue consolidating its place in the job market. If you are considering where to study Bioinformatics, our article presents the keys to choose the best option. Take note!

Where to study Bioinformatics: weight your choices

Bioinformatics is the science based on the treatment of large volumes of biological data. As a discipline, it’s in charge of analyzing this data to find medical solutions and investigating the components of organisms.

Developing the functions of a specialist in bioinformatics implies, therefore, having very specific knowledge in fields such as Programming, Statistics and Biology. While not every educational institute will provide you with the foundations you need to practice this science, you should think carefully when deciding where to study Bioinformatics.

The first thing you should consider is the type of study plan that interests you. A common route is to start with a degree in Biology, Computer Science or Mathematics, and then take part in a course specialization in the form of a master’s degree. There are several options within these programs. You may enroll in either face-to-face or online options, with each offering specific advantages over the others. Let’s go through them!

Face-to-face training

This type of master’s degree offers face-to-face classes for students. This means you will be able to enjoy the center’s facilities, and receive a more fluid process when it comes to solving doubts, since you will also be able to learn from the rest of your colleagues. Among this option’s disadvantages are the rigid schedules, which are set by the institution, as well as any potential transfers and difficulties to combine it with your personal life.

Today, there are very prestigious institutions from which to choose where to study Bioinformatics around the globe. Some options in the UK include the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, University College London and Imperial College London.

Online options

An online master gives you the opportunity to have access to much more up-to-date content. This is a fact that must be highlighted when considering where to study Bioinformatics, as this scientific field presents constant new discoveries and innovative algorithms.

Because these options tend to accept a larger number of students, prices tend to be more affordable, and training can be combined with other responsibilities such as a job fort those students that have already started their professional careers. There is a greater dependence on technology, but these master’s degrees include the possibility of offering a more varied panel of experts, since the physical borders are diluted.

For instance, as part of CEMP’s Master’s in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, we offer our students the chance to have contact with experts in Computer Science, Biochemistry, Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology. In addition to this, the program includes the possibility to take part in an internship program in a company, so you will be able to apply everything you have learned to real-life scenarios.

6 tips for deciding where to study Bioinformatics

What to look for when deciding where to study Bioinformatics? Once you’ve decided on the study model, you must analyze the center’s study plans to ensure they match your interests. Here are six tips to get your master’s degree decision right:

• Watch out with the certification: you should check if it is an official master’s degree that would allow you to access a phD program, in case this is one of your desires.
• Consider ‘2×1’ options: there are several master’s degrees that give you the option of obtaining two official certifications instead of just one at the end of the program. As part of CEMP’s Master’s in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, students get a double degree that multiplies their opportunities when entering the labor market.
• Take note of your teachers: some questions you should consider include who your teachers will be, what training they have and what their career has been like.
• The course’s curriculum: subjects represent the fundamental pillar of every master’s degree. Make sure that key subjects such as Molecular Biology, Statistics and programming languages are taught.

Go further: many master’s degrees offer similar training options, so it’s advisable to be very specific. This includes researching the extra resources they offer, such as questionnaires or meetings with experts.

1. Professional orientation: master’s degrees have the purpose of increasing the specialization and employment possibilities of their students. As such, internship programs are a key aspect to take into account, as well as the possibility of getting help in the form of an employability plan.

A career with many possibilities: why study Bioinformatics?

Like all new professions, qualifications related to Bioinformatics have been created very recently. This means that demand for trained professionals is now higher than the offer, granting great opportunities for those who opt for specific training.

Thanks to increasing technological advances, this scientific discipline is experiencing an outstanding growth in sectors as diverse as Environmental Sciences, Agriculture or Medicine. In fact, the applications of bioinformatics in the last sector have included the fight against SARS-CoV-2, as exemplified by this paper from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Shanghai on the pathogenesis of the virus.

Get ready with a Master in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics!

If you’re wondering where to study Bioinformatics you might also ask yourself about the mathematical side of this field in the short or medium term. With CEMP’s Master’s in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, you will gain a holistic vision of both disciplines so that you will be able to obtain a double degree and increase your potential for the labor market.

Our training also offers an employability plan tailored to your needs, so that you will be able contribute to the advances that are taking place in the sector as soon as possible. Upon completion, in addition to knowledge in Python, Biochemistry and Bacteriology, you will have both a CEMP degree and a certificate from the San Antonio de Murcia Catholic University.

Enhance your knowledge and shape the future!