Overview

The information necessary to build and control any living organism is written in its genome and stored in the language of the genetic code. It took 13 years and 3 billion dollars to decipher the human DNA blueprint. A single decade later, sequencing a whole genome takes but a few hours on a machine that fits on a tabletop and it costs just shy of 5000 dollars. Consequently, biological and medical sciences are now collecting enormous amounts of information. This tsunami of data generates new problems: it needs to be analysed properly to unearth and retrieve the exciting knowledge it contains. And, most importantly, it also has to be made available to the scientific community in a useful way.

Scientists with skills in biology and in computer technology are challenged to extract the relevant information out of this phenomenal sea of data. Information technologies are essential for a proper understanding of the regulatory modalities of cells, organisms and even entire ecosystems. Developing algorithms and sound statistical tools to grasp the folding of macromolecules are the first steps on our way to model the mechanisms behind the pure DNA sequence. Ultimately, we want to understand how organisms that are as complex as a human being work.

Career outlook

The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology degree at the University of Bern prepares you for a career in the life science industry, in health care, in governmental or NGO organizations, or in academia. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology have direct and highly sought applications in basic and applied research ranging from conservation biology and modelling molecular networks to epidemiology, biomedical engineering and drug design, artistic data visualization and developing human-computer interaction.

We wish to promote exchange and interaction with people from many different fields. Contacts established during the master thesis provide valuable networking opportunities that will widen your job prospects.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Applied biostatistics

Cancer genomics

Bioinformatics

HPC and Cloud Computing

Proteomics and Metabolomics

Evolutionary genomics

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-14 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-04-30 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-31 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

Credits

120 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Bern, Switzerland

Disciplines

Biology Computer Sciences Bioinformatics & Biostatistics View 6 other Masters in Bioinformatics & Biostatistics in Switzerland

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

Bachelor's degree from a recognized Swiss university or an equivalent degree with at least 90 ECTS credits in one of the following branches of studies:

Biology

Biochemistry

Mathematics

Computer Science

Life Sciences and Technologies

Applied Biosciences

Computational Science and Engineering

other Swiss degree recognized as equivalent

Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university in another branch of studies, provided that the additional attainments do not amount to more than 60 ECTS credits.

Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences in Computer Science: Additional attainments of 40-60 ECTS credits will be required.

Bachelor of Science or an equivalent degree from a foreign university. Admission may depend upon evidence of additional knowledge and expertise.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Bern and/or in Switzerland, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

1900 CHF / year

≈ 1900 CHF / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

1500 CHF / year

≈ 1500 CHF / year

Additional Details

National: CHF 750 per semester

International: CHF 750 per semester + CHF 200 per semester, in addition to the regular tuition fee = 950 CHF

Living costs

Bern

Switzerland

1655 - 2130 CHF / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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