The course is now open for applications. The closing date for EU applicants is 1st June 2012, and the closing date for non-EU applicants is 1st June 2012.

The MSc Degree is a full-time or part-time taught Masters' Degree programme running for 12 months from the date of first registration for full-time students (for example, September 2012 to September 2013) or 24 months from the date of first registration for part-time students.

Yes, most of the modules in the course (including modules on bioinformatics methods, programming, statistics, mathematics) include practical classes, so that students can gain hands-on experience.

Mathematics, statistics or computer science graduates who take the course will also take several biology modules that include pratical 'wet' laboratory classes.

It is not necessary to have prior knowledge of computer programming or bioinformatics to take the course. All the necessary computer skills will be taught as part of the course.

Please note that for computer science graduates taking the course, there is a specific computer science stream that includes more modules on biology, statistics and mathematics rather than computing, as it is assumed that computer science graduates will already have substantial knowledge of computing.

Yes, the MSc Degree is a full-time or part-time taught Masters' Degree programme running for 12 months from the date of first registration for full-time students (for example, September 2012 to September 2013) or 24 months from the date of first registration for part-time students.

Full-time students take 12 taught modules, and undertake a research project. Part-time students take six taught modules in each academic year and undertake the project in the second academic year.

Each taught module consists of approximately 20 one-hour lectures (roughly two lectures per week over one academic term), as well as approximately 10 hours of practicals or tutorials (roughly one one-hour practical or tutorial per week over one academic term), although the exact amount of lectures, practicals and tutorials varies between modules.

A full-time student would take about 6 taught modules in each period (Sept-Dec or Jan-Mar) over one academic year (eg. Sept 2012-Sept 2013), and so have about 12 one-hour lectures per week and about 6 hours of practicals or tutorials per week in the time from Sept-Dec and Jan-March. So in total, a full-time student would have roughly 18-20 hours of lectures/practicals/tutorials per week on average. There are exams for most of the taught modules in May. A full-time student will also carry out a research project during the summer (eg. June-Sept 2013).

A part-time student would take about 3 taught modules in each period (Sept-Dec or Jan-Mar) over two academic years (eg. Sept 2012-Sept 2014), and so have about 6 one-hour lectures per week and about 3 hours of practicals or tutorials per week in the time from Sept-Dec and Jan-March. So in total, a part-time student would have roughly 9-10 hours of lectures/practicals/tutorials per week on average. There are exams for most of the taught modules in May of each of the two academic years. A part-time student will also carry out a research project during the summer of their second academic year (June-Sept).

The timetable for the taught modules in the 2012-2013 academic year will not be available until mid-summer 2012. However, almost all of the lectures/practicals/tutorials will be scheduled during normal working hours of 9am - 5pm between Monday and Friday.