Master's Degree Programme in Bioinformatics

The MSc programme in bioinformatics is taught entirely in English, and it is two years in duration, with an extent of 120 ECTS credits. The programme consists of studies in bioinformatics and in obligatory minor subjects, MSc thesis of 40 ECTS and optional studies.

Bioinformatics is a relatively young discpline, with research problems from biology and medicine, and methods from information technology, statistics, and mathematics. Bioinformatics is needed in modern biological and biomedical research and development, especially when dealing with large data sets.

Teaching in the programme is collaboration between Institute of Biomedical Technology (http://www.uta.fi/ibt/) and Department of Information Technology at the University of Turku (http://www.it.utu.fi/).

See also Degree Programmes Taught in English (http://www.uta.fi/admissions/degreeprog/programmes/bioinformatics.html) and our home page at http://bioinformatics.fi

Number of study places

Intake on application round 2013-2014 is 15 new students.

Application period

International Master's degree programme application period I, 3.12.2012-31.1.2013

Language of tuition

English

Application procedure

APPLICATION FORM AND ENCLOSURES

• Application form is electronic and filled out at www.universityadmissions.fi.

In addition, applicants must submit the following documents to University Admissions Finland by mail:

• A copy of the application form bearing the original signature of the applicant
• An officially certified copy of the original university or polytechnic degree certificate, and an official English, Swedish or Finnish translation
• An officially certified copy of the original university or polytechnic transcript of records, and an official English, Swedish or Finnish translation
• A copy of the applicant's passport's ID page
• English proficiency test results (PTE, TOEFL or IELTS, see Language requirements) must be sent directly from the testing centre to University Admissions.

All officially certified copies must bear the official stamp and signature of an official entitled to attest documents: an authorised official at the awarding institution or a notary public. Translations must be either:

• issued by the awarding institution
• officially certified copies of a translation issued by the awarding institution
• translated by an official translator, or
• officially certified copies of a translation made by an official translator.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

The paper application with all its enclosures and the English language test results must reach University Admissions Finland, Yliopistonkatu 2, FI-00170 Helsinki before the application deadline. If the applicant graduates after the application deadline, the degree certificate must be received by the University of Tampere Admissions Office by 31 July 2013.

NB! Applicants from certain countries need to pay special attention to the documentation before submitting them for admissions procedure. All applicants, whose education degrees have been awarded in these countries, must follow the given guidelines. University Admissions Finland will not make any exceptions to these requirements. For more information, please see http://www.universityadmissions.fi/index.php?page=countrySpecificDocuments.

Eligibility

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Students who have a good knowledge of English for academic purposes are eligible to apply if they have at least: 

a) B.Sc. degree in an applicable field, equivalent to a Finnish B.Sc. degree (180 ECTS, at least 3 years of full time study).

b) Polytechnic degree in an applicable field, which can be considered to be sufficient for Master's degree studies when combined with possible work experience and additional studies.

If the applicant has a degree in which the relevant studies in applicable fields are insufficient, the university may require that the student performs additional studies (max. 60 credits) in addition to Master's degree studies. These studies are offered mainly in the Finnish language. Therefore a sufficient knowledge of Finnish may be necessary for applicants. The required amount and content of additional studies is decided for each student individually.

Applicable fields of prior studies are biosciences and information technology, or other relevant fields of studies where sufficient knowledge of information technology and/or biosciences is achieved for studying in the Master's Degree Programme in Bioinformatics. NB! Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics is not applicable.

The decision for admission will be made by the relevance of the awarded degrees; the amount, relevance and grades of the courses in the degree; language test result (see Language requirements); and applicant's preference for home University.

The applicant shall give evidence of his/her educational background by submitting officially attested copies of certificates in time and, in addition, the accepted student will have to show the original documents in the respective school in order to be able to register at the university.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Language proficiency is to be verified by one of the ways listed below.

a) Applicants must pass an internationally recognised English language test. The following tests are accepted:

• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English): 62
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): 90 in internet-based test (iBT), or 575 in paper version
• IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): 6.5 and no individual score below 5.5

University will only accept score reports received directly from the testing center. Please note that it is the applicant’s duty to arrange the test.

b) The applicant is exempted from language test if he/she has demonstrated skills in English language in a level which is demanded for foreign language in all Bachelor's and polytechnic degrees in Finland.

c) Applicants who have completed their Bachelor's degree or equivalent in English can be exempted from the language test if English has been the exclusive language in teaching and examinations in their degree and this fact is clearly stated in the degree certificate, or if they can provide an original certificate (not photocopy) to attest this fact, signed by an official from their university/college. The position and contact information of the person who signs such an additional certificate must be included in the certificate.

We strongly recommend that applicants take the PTE, TOEFL or IELTS language test. In case we need to have an order of preference, we will give priority to students who have taken the language test.

Announcement of results and rectification procedure

Admissions results will be announced by 15 May, 2013. All applicants will be informed about the admissions results by mail.

Please see the University's general instructions concerning rectification procedure.