卡迪夫大学

Overview

The aim of this programme is to provide individuals with a platform to explore, analyse and interpret contemporary biological data. This course offers Masters level instruction in Bioinformatics and Genetic Epidemiology with a focus in genetic epidemiology. With a focus on genetic epidemiology, this programme is ideal for graduates from a life sciences, mathematics, or computer sciences discipline. It will provide you with the skills and knowledge of computational and statistical biosciences to prepare you for a challenging career in academic research, biotechnology, or the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Bioinformatics is the field of study that utilises computational tools to understand biology. Genetic Epidemiology is the study of how genetic factors play a role in determining health and disease, and their interplay with the environment. As well as developing core skills in computational and statistical biosciences, you will focus gene discovery approaches including GWAS, explore copy-number variation (CNV) analysis, and post-GWAS approached such as pathway/network, gene-set and polygenic epidemiological methods. This programme has been designed to meet the growing demand from academic research, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical and health care industries for capable informaticians with bioinformatics skills. We will provide instruction in computational and statistical biosciences and you will foster the additional complementary skills required to enable you to work effectively within a multidisciplinary bioinformatics arena.

Course structure

This course was first established over a decade ago in response to the emerging informatics needs of the genetics and genomics communities following the completion of the first drafts of the human genome project. Subsequent advances in research technologies and analytic approaches have dictated the continuing evolution of this programme to provide contemporary instruction in these new essential skills. Both full-time and part-time students register initially for the MSc Bioinformatics and Genetic Epidemiology. You may exit the course with a Postgraduate Certificate if you successfully complete 60 credits. Alternatively, you may leave with a Postgraduate Diploma on successful completion of 120 credits. Module restrictions apply in both cases.

Learning and assessment

The programme is delivered face-to-face in Cardiff. You will have access to course materials, links to related materials and assessments via our virtual learning environment. Our preferred assessment methods include coursework and presentation. You will generally receive two coursework elements; a theory-driven review paper (e.g. a “compare and contrast” essay), and an applied research project. Coursework and assessments will vary depending on the module and will be designed to test your knowledge and understanding of topics, as well as key intellectual skills, practical skills, and transferable skills. Coursework may include data analysis, programming exercises, written reports, problem-based exercises, case studies, practical assignments, slide and poster presentations.

Career prospects

We are committed to developing transferable skills and to improving graduate employability. We want highly capable graduate informaticians who can fulfil the growing bioinformatics needs of local, national and international employers. That is why this programme has been designed with the needs of academic research, the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health care industries in mind. Instruction in computational and statistical biosciences will enable you to work effectively within a multidisciplinary bioinformatics arena.