CourseMaster's Degree (Coursework)MBioInfo

M6049 Master of Bioinformatics

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Master of Bioinformatics (M6049) is a 2 years full-time, 96-credit-point, master's degree (coursework) course from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, taught at Clayton. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.

Credit points
96
Duration
2 years full time
4 years part time
Campus
Clayton
On campus

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Requisite map

Overview

The Master of Bioinformatics is a coursework/research degree to be undertaken in key research areas in the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

You will gain advanced knowledge in areas of bioinformatics, including integration of different types of biological data. You will develop critical multidisciplinary bioinformatic skills gained by broad foundational studies in key concepts such us biostatistics, computational biology and genomics, and advanced case-based learning and research.

You will be taught theoretical knowledge that underpins bioinformatics and develops critical thinking and research skills. Beginning in the third semester of the course, there are two streams. In the research stream, you will be taught how to develop and communicate a research project and undertake original research in a host laboratory, where you will apply your bioinformatic skills to address important research problems. You will be supported in your research by a supervisory team. In the coursework stream, you will take additional advanced bioinformatic and project management units.

Course structure

Part A. Foundation studies12 credit points
Depending on your prior studies you may be required to complete up to 12 credit points of the following:

Note 1. If you have a science, biology, biomedical science and medicine background you must complete BIO2010 and EPM5033.
Note 2. If you have an IT/engineering background you must complete MCB2011 and 6 credit points of electives.
Note 3. Students who are not required to complete BIO2010, EPM5033 and MCB2011 must complete 12 credit points of additional elective units.
Note 4: Elective units can be from MNHS or across the university providing you meet the respective pre-requisites.
Part B. Core studies54 credit points
Part C. Application studies30 credit points
You must complete either the Coursework or Research pathway

Research pathway

30 credit points
You must complete the following units
The handbook's description of this structure

The course is structured into three parts: Part A. Foundation studies, Part B. Core studies and Part C. Application studies.

Part A. Foundation studies

Part A comprises foundation studies for students with different educational backgrounds to ensure all students have a solid foundational knowledge in order to complete the course. 

Part B. Core studies

In these studies, you will develop skills in core bioinformatics approaches and understand how genomics and other “omic” data can be used in research and clinical contexts.

Part C. Application studies

There are two streams in Part B, a research stream and a coursework stream. In the research stream you will further advance and broaden your understanding and capacity to conduct independent bioinformatic research where you will apply your bioinformatic skills to address important research problems. In the coursework stream you will receive further training in bioinformatics and project management.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 96 points structured in three parts: Part A. Foundation studies (12 points), Part B. Core studies (54 points), Part C. Application studies (30 points)

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundation studies (12 points)

Depending on your prior studies you may be required to complete up to 12 credit points of the following:

Note 1. If you have a science, biology, biomedical science and medicine background you must complete BIO2010 and EPM5033.
Note 2. If you have an IT/engineering background you must complete MCB2011 and 6 points of electives.
Note 3. Students who are not required to complete BIO2010, EPM5033 and MCB2011 must complete 12 credit points of additional elective units.
Note 4 : Elective units can be from MNHS or across the university providing you meet the respective pre-requisites.

  • BIO2010 Data science for biologists
  • EPM5033 Programming principles for health data analytics using Python
  • MCB2011 Molecular biology and the cell plus 6 points of electives

Part B. Core studies (54 points)

 You must complete the following units:

  • MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics
  • BMS5XXX AI integrated proteomics and protein design (12 points)
  • BMS5013 Research training: Ethics and integrity, biostatistics and critical thinking
  • BMS5302 Machine learning: AI for bioinformatics
  • BMS5303 Research case studies in bioinformatics
  • BMS5309 Advanced transcriptomics: Bulk, single-cell, and spatial analysis (12 points)
  • FIT9136 Introduction to Python programming

Part C. Application studies (30 points)

You must complete either the Coursework or Research pathway:

a. Coursework pathway

You must complete the following units:

  • BMS5305 High performance computing for bioinformatics
  • BMS5307 Research advanced case studies in bioinformatics (12 points)
  • BMS5308 Integrative bioinformatics and multi-omic bioinformatics research
  • MGF5910 Project management fundamentals

a. Research pathway

You must complete the following units:

  • BMS5304 Bioinformatics research proposal
  • BMS5306 Bioinformatics research project (24 points)

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

  1. 1

    evaluate and apply computational methods, statistical techniques, and data analysis tools relevant to bioinformatics.

  2. 2

    integrate knowledge from biology, computer science, statistics, and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-driven data analysis to systematically approach bioinformatics challenges.

  3. 3

    employ advanced critical thinking abilities to analyse, and propose innovative solutions to, complex biological and computational problems.

  4. 4

    design, conduct and report original bioinformatics research under the guidance of a supervisory team.

  5. 5

    effectively communicate scientific findings and research outcomes to diverse audiences, both orally and in writing.

  6. 6

    demonstrate professional and ethical practice required for working in laboratories and/or commercial workplace settings.

Entry requirements

English language

Monash Level C: IELTS (Academic): 7.0 overall (no band lower than 6.5); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 65 overall with no band lower than 58; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 94 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 24, Listening: 20, Reading: 19 and Speaking: 20; or Equivalent approved English test

More information

Progression to further studies

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a graduate research degree.

Other information

The Master of Bioinformatics course places you at the heart of modern biomedical research and innovation, where computational power meets biological complexity. As science advances, vast amounts of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data are being generated, and bioinformatics provides the essential tools to analyse, interpret, and apply these data to real-world challenges. In this course, you will gain knowledge in the fundamental mechanisms of disease, to drug discovery and precision medicine, bioinformatics as the backbone of cutting-edge breakthroughs. Further to this you will also gain knowledge about this field and how it is revolutionising healthcare by integrating multi-omic datasets, enabling scientists to uncover hidden biological patterns, predict disease risks, and develop targeted therapies with unprecedented accuracy.

You will develop skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), which are transforming the way biological data is processed and interpreted. By mastering these skills, you will be prepared to develop predictive models, automate complex analyses, and drive discoveries in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, and clinical applications. Through hands-on experience with multi-omic data integration-combining genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics - you will learn to construct comprehensive models of biological processes that reveal intricate relationships between molecular events and phenotypic outcomes. With the growing demand for bioinformatics professionals, this Master’s course offers a pathway for you to have a dynamic and impactful career at the forefront of biomedical research and innovation.

Contacts

Academic Coordinator
Associate Professor Peter Boag

Common questions

How long is Master of Bioinformatics?

2 years full time, 96 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 4 semesters of full-time study.

Where can I study Master of Bioinformatics?

At Clayton.

How do I plan my Master of Bioinformatics units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification
Master's Degree (Coursework)
AQF level
Level 9
Credit points
96
Full time
2 Years
Part time
4 Years
Maximum time
6 years
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
CRICOS code
116951M
Abbreviation
MBioInfo
Award title
Master of Bioinformatics
Handbook years
20262027