Work-integrated Master’s degree programme (4 years)
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September Programme type: Flexible work-integrated Master’s degree programme (4 years) |
The flexible work-integrated Master’s degree program in Bioinformatics is designed for students who are employed while studying. You complete the program alongside your job or entrepreneurial activities.
Bioinformatics is a fusion of biology, statistics and computer science that focuses on the development and application of computational solutions for analyzing and handling biological and biomedical data. Bioinformatics plays a key role in modern biology and biomedicine, where collecting and analyzing large data sets is essential. To address the challenges of big data in modern biology and biomedicine, a bioinformatician must be able to combine practical and theoretical skills in statistical modelling, data analysis, and computer programming with a deep knowledge of biology and biomedicine data.
The work-integrated Master’s program in Bioinformatics builds upon a Bachelor’s education in either natural, technical or health science containing strong elements of either mathematics, biology, or programming. The program is taught in English and creates a strong link between theory and practice, as you can apply your academic learning directly to relevant work tasks. You bring the latest academic knowledge into your workplace, while at the same time gaining valuable experience in applying this knowledge in practice.
The program has a standard duration of four years.
The specific requirements regarding the number of working hours needed for admission to the scheme are outlined under Admission Requirements.
Read more about the work-integrated Master's degree scheme.
During the course, you will specialise in specific areas of bioinformatics. You must follow at least two of the following specialisations:
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the work-integrated Master's degree programme in Bioinformatics. Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the employment requirement and the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| Basic elements within Mathematics and Statistics | 15 |
| Basic subject elements within either Computer science, Molecular biology and Genetics or Bioinformatics | 15 |
| Additional subject elements within at least one of the subject areas (Statistics, Computer science, Molecular biology and Genetics or bioinformatics) | 60 |
| Total | 90 |
Certain Professional Bachelor's degrees or similar covering specific subject areas from other Danish institutions have been determined to fullfill the admission requirements to this Master's degree programme in Bioinformatics:
| A Bachelor of Science degree in Physics with additional courses within: | Number of ECTS |
| Computer Science | 15 |
| A Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science with additional courses within: | Number of ECTS |
| Biology or Molecular Biology | 15 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
There is no Bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University that provides a legal right of admission to the Master's degree programme in Bioinformatics.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this work-integrated Master's degree programme in Bioinformatics.
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree from a non-Danish university, you must complete the appendix below and upload it to the application portal. The appendix helps the academic assessors with the assessment of your application.
Download appendix
When applying for a work-integrated Master’s degree programme, you must meet the requirement of being in relevant employment.
“Relevant employment” means that you work at least 25 hours per week in a public or private company, or as an entrepreneur, and that your work tasks are professionally related to both your qualifying education and the education you are applying for.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
Grades from the qualifying degree
Grades achieved in relevant subject fields:
Mathematics
Probability Theory
Statistics
Programming and Algorithmics
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Relevant subject fields (measured in ECTS). In this assessment, ECTS credits that are a part of the admission requirements described under ‘Other qualifying degrees’ are not included.
Mathematics
Probability Theory
Statistics
Programming and Algorithmics
Molecular Biology and Genetics
In criterion three, the score is based on the proportion of subjects on the bachelor’s degree diploma that fall within the relevant subject fields. In this assessment, ECTS credits that are a part of the admission requirements described under ‘Other qualifying degrees’ are not included.
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
With a combination of specializations, elective courses, and projects, there are many ways to structure your Bioinformatics master’s program. All students must do 30 ECTS thesis and a 10 ECTS project. All students must also follow a mandatory course in either computational thinking or molecular evolution depending on their BSc background. The mandatory course can be part of a specialization, which makes it possible to have one more elective course. The 10 ECTS project can be scheduled in any semester, which makes it possible to study abroad during the third semester.
Current specializations are:
The work-integrated Master’s programme in Bioinformatics combines lectures with work in project groups and problem solving. The teaching is done by active researchers is application- and research-oriented, and high demands are placed on both your level of professionalism and independence.
But there is more to your life as a bioinformatics student at Aarhus University than just studying and classes. During your studies, your daily life will be based at Section for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. The Section for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology is a dynamic environment and regularly hosts academic and social activities in which both students and staff participate. In addition, students have access to study facilities such as a computer room and a reading room. As a bioinformatics student, you will meet students from several other science degree programmes in joint lectures. You, therefore, naturally participate in both social and academic activities with students from programmes such as molecular biology or computer science. Additionally, Aarhus University is home to a number of student associations related to different science degree programmes. These associations organise study-related activities as well as excursions, celebrations, and social get-togethers in which you can participate and use as an opportunity to grow your network.
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With a work-integrated Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, you have the following competences:
