Bioinformatics MSc Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School School of Biological Sciences College College of Science and Engineering Study location King's Buildings campus Accreditation Not available Apply now 17 December 2025: Introduction to Postgraduate Study Join our live session for key insights into postgraduate study at Edinburgh. Register now Overview About the degree programme Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data.As an interdisciplinary field of science, bioinformatics studies and processes biological data, combining:computer scienceinformaticsstatistics/mathematicsengineeringThe emphasis is on leveraging aspects of these disciplines to efficiently explore biology.The aim of the Bioinformatics MSc programme is to equip you with a strong background in biology, at the same time training you in the application and development of methods used to interpret the vast amounts of data generated by high-throughput 'omics' technologies, be they proteins or nucleic acids.We recognise that all of our MSc Bioinformatics students come from different backgrounds, and have different interests in biology. This programme in Bioinformatics allows you to take advantage of all the advances in biology, as well as the bioinformatics tools to explore that biology. We aim to provide you with a set of core skills that all bioinformaticians should have. By offering diverse and extensive course options, you can choose the mix of courses you want and determine the specific content of your programme. Programme rankings 5th in the UK and 23rd in the world for Biological Sciences in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 20254th in the UK and top-ranked in Scotland for research power by Times Higher Education (based on the 2021 Research Excellence Framework)90.6% overall student satisfaction in Biological Sciences in the latest Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (response rate 45%) Programme benefits Learn from leading practitioners in the field, studying knowledge at the forefront of bioinformaticsGain postgraduate level scientific and experimental skills, suitable for PhD research; and transferable skills suitable for R&D or project management careers in industry or other fieldsGet involved with our research during your dissertation. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework 94% of our research activity was classed as ‘world-leading’ and 'internationally excellent'Take advantage of opportunities to engage with industry professionals, and potentially undertake an industrial research projectJoin one of the largest concentrations of biologists in the UK with a wide range of expertise and experience across over 150 research groups Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MSc Bioinformatics (1 year) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Deposit If you receive an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, you will be asked to pay some of your tuition fees in advance as a deposit.The deposit for this programme is £1,500.How and when to pay the deposit Costs Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Featured fundingSchool of Biological Sciences Taught Postgraduate BursariesSchool of Biological Sciences South and South-East Asia Academic Excellence Masters Scholarship Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in biological sciences. You must have a strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry or related sciences and some experience of computer science and mathematics, especially if your interests include learning about the application of machine learning based tools. We may also consider your application if you have a background in chemistry, physics, mathematics or engineering. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study The MSc comprises two semesters of taught courses followed by a research project and dissertation, for a total of 180 credits over the year.Semesters 1 and 2 each comprise a mixture of compulsory and optional courses which are worth a total of 60 credits each semester.The research project and dissertation is also worth 60 credits.DissertationThe dissertation, which you will submit in mid-August, is the write-up for the research project you complete over the summer. This independent research project involves doing, or applying, things that you learned about during the first two semesters, and is usually completed with full-time, in-person commitment. Most students find the project to be the most enjoyable part of the degree. Compulsory courses Semester 1Bioinformatics Programming and System Management (20 credits)Statistics and Data Analysis (20 credits)Semester 2Research Proposal (Bioinformatics) (10 credits)DissertationMSc Dissertation (Bioinformatics) (60 credits) Option courses There are a variety of option courses available. If you are interested in a specific course not listed in the Degree Programme Table, please get in touch with the programme director to discuss your options.Some option courses are compulsory for other MSc programmes, and these students will have priority for places. Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Full-time MSc Bioinformatics (1 year) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Teaching Teaching is delivered by staff who are active researchers in the field. Their expertise may be supplemented by selected guest speakers from industry or other research organisations.Teaching approaches vary from course to course. They include:lecturestutorialsseminarscomputer workshopslab demonstrations Assessment Taught courses can involve a combination of in-course assessments and exams.To help you develop skills for communicating your knowledge to others, you will practise talks and receive feedback on these from our staff, and some may be formally assessed. Learning outcomes By studying this programme, you will:develop and explore cutting-edge knowledge about 'omics' technologies, and how best to cultivate and apply tools to leverage the biological data they generaterealise and explore how these technologies can be used in different ways to answer different biological questions, and to gain practice integrating or combining these approaches to suit the research interestsbe provided with beneficial opportunities to practise talks to convey your knowledge to your classmatesgain expertise in writing interactive programmes, generating reports, summarising your knowledge on a subject, and drawing conclusions from a wide range of data types, with the aim of developing necessary communication skills for whatever career pathway you have chosen Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Where you will study Study location The majority of teaching and research project work will be carried out at the University's King’s Buildings campus. With over 100 years of scientific history, King's Buildings is the centre of science and engineering teaching at Edinburgh.The School of Biological Sciences is based in several buildings around the campus and you will visit these throughout your studies.Some research projects may be performed at other university sites or companies in the local area. Academic facilities From the more traditional styled Ashworth Building to the modern Nucleus Building, you will learn in a variety of teaching spaces, including: lecture theatrestutorial roomswell-equipped teaching laboratoriescollaborative learning spaces for group workcomputing suites You will have access to libraries and other study spaces across the University and its campuses, including a dedicated study room for MSc students in the School of Biological Sciences. There are a variety of physical textbooks and scientific papers available to borrow, as well as a range of online resources that you can use. Careers and further study Career opportunities On completing this programme you will be well qualified to undertake further studies, take up bioinformatics posts in industry, or perhaps start your own bioinformatics company.Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin. If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 3 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.We may make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis. However, the majority of applications will be held until the advertised deadline.We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you knowyour application is still being considered, it will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline, and we will be in touch once a decision is madeThe final deadline may be extended if any places remain on the programme.If the final deadline is extended, we encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.Selection deadlinesRoundApplication deadlineDecisions made or applications rolled to the next deadline115 December1 March231 March31 May331 May31 July Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must submit one reference with your application. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -MSc Bioinformatics (1 year) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh What our students say Hear from Zachary, one of our MSc Bioinformatics students who also studied with us for his Undergraduate degree. Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Please note that as this is a 12-month programme, you will need to be in Edinburgh from the start of your studies through to the end of the following August, when you will submit your research project/dissertation. Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply. Email us Academic contact Dr Al Ivens Programme Director MSc Bioinformatics School of Biological Sciences Contact details Email: biologyfuturestudents@ed.ac.uk
