Please note that the BSc Bioinformatics programme will not be offered from 2009-2010 onwards.
Bioinformatics brings together the life and computational sciences. A simple definition would be that "Bioinformatics is the cross-disciplinary field that uses computational methods to address problems in the life sciences, especially biomedicine".
With the sequencing of the human genome and modern genomic approaches to biological and medical research, many new opportunities have been created for biologists and computer scientists. Now much of the life and bio-medical sciences depend on studies that cannot proceed without computational methods. People with skills in bioinformatics are greatly needed.
Since September 2001, the Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science of this University have combined to offer the BSc (Bioinformatics) programme to students.
The aim of this programme is to link learning of the life and computational sciences with specialised training in bioinformatics. A balance is made between biology and computing to give students a solid foundation in both areas. Later, students may wish to focus more on either biology or computing or they may remain multi-disciplinary in their approach.
To date, 51 students have graduated from the programme. They have been very successful in obtaining jobs. Approximately half the graduates are working or taking research higher degrees in Universities, proving their importance to modern research and technology.
