Bioinformatics (Master's program)

Target group

Students holding an above-average Bachelor’s degree in Bioinformatics, Biology, Computer Science or an equivalent degree who are interested in current bioinformatics research and in modern methods applied in life sciences may continue their studies to obtain a Master’s degree (a good command of English is prerequisite).

Program contents

The Master’s program in bioinformatics offers a wide choice of courses in computer science and life sciences and allows students to choose their subjects according to interest. Students will attend lectures, seminars, and project lab courses under the supervision of scientists who introduce them to basic and applied research and current topics in bioinformatics.

As interdisciplinarity is an important aspect, the Master’s thesis will be supervised by both a professor of bioinformatics or computer science and a professor or faculty member of the life sciences.

Program goals and objectives

The Master’s program in bioinformatics is research-oriented and enables graduates to research issues regarding the application of computer science and bioinformatics in the life sciences.

Students have the opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills to a level which will allow them to get involved in top national and international research in bioinformatics and its application to the life sciences. This includes a critical discussion of research goals, contents, proposals, and research problems, and requires a high scientific level.

Career opportunities and prospects

Due to very fast technological developments in the use of high-throughput techniques for data generation in biology, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, there is an ever growing need for bioinformaticians. Since this is a highly demanding area, a PhD degree is usually required. Currently, many bioinformatics graduates either directly enter industrial positions in biology research areas or first obtain a PhD degree.

In the long run, it is expected that even outside the universities there will be at least one bioinformatician in almost every group working in biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, in other areas of the life sciences, or even in hospitals.

Enrollment

Admission to the Bioinformatics Master’s program is not restricted on the number of participants, but there are academic requirements concerning the affinity of a Bachelor’s degree in Bioinformatics as well as other requirements.
Therefore, all students, including students with a bioinformatics Bachelor's degree, are requested to submit a formal application.

Admission requires either a (Bachelor)degree with a grade average of at least 2.5 or an adequate number of provisional credit points; both the degree and the provisional credit points must have been obtained in subjects related to Bioinformatics, i.e. bioinformatics, computer science, biology, biochemistry, or molecular medicine. Note that a degree in pharmacy or medicine as well as in Engineering Sciences is not considered eligible to apply.

Please apply online for admission to the Master’s program - click on the central study website of the University of Tübingen for information on how to apply and enroll.

For the application you need the Bachelor's degree certificate, Transcript of Records, proof of English language skills on the level GER C1/B2 or IELTS Band >6,5 resp. TOEFL at least 80 (for those with a German Abitur certificate and at least 6 years of English this is sufficient to document your English language skills), CV, letter of motivation (approx. 1 page) and, if applicable, proof of German language skills on the level GER B2. A degree in Computer Science or Life Sciences requires proof of German language skills on the level GER B2. This requires one of the following certificates:

DSH certificate, with grade 2 oder (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang; German language exam for university entrance);
TestDaF certificate level 4 or 5 (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache; German language test for German as a foreign language);
Prüfungsteil Deutsch der Feststellungsprüfung an Studienkollegs (German language examination part of the assessment test for university entrance at a preparatory college );
The Telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam.

Please note that it is not possible to start learning German alongside the course.

For further information about language certificates please see the general study website of the University of Tübingen. Proof of internships or work experience is not required. If you already have a Master's degree or are currently studying for a Master's degree, please also include the certificate or current Transcript of Records with your application.

Application deadline for German students and students who are EU citizens with a status equal to Germans is 15 March or 15 September, for all other international students 15 January or 15 July. Applications for the winter semester can be submitted via the application portal ALMA as of June 1, for the summer semester as of December 1.