Master of Bioinformatics
Leuven, Belgium
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English, Dutch
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jun 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 7,771 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for EEA students | 01 March 2025 for non-EEA students
** non-EEA fee
Introduction
Modern biology is characterized by the generation of large amounts of data. Consider, for instance, genomic sequencing of patients as well as plants, bacteria, and viruses. Moreover, the technologies used to generate these data are constantly changing. During this program, you will learn how to formulate biologically relevant questions, how to design the correct solution and implement it by managing and analyzing biological and sequencing data, and how to interpret the obtained results. Bioinformatics is essential to modern molecular biology and biotechnology.
The program consists of three parts
- A reorientation package provides you with extra background knowledge in disciplines that were not included in your bachelor’s program
- A common package that builds upon the elementary knowledge and skills achieved during prior studies as well as during the reorientation package, integrating them in different bioinformatics courses. This package consists of a biology module, a statistics module, and a bioinformatics module
- Depending on your prior education, you choose one of three majors with which you strengthen your profile: science, bioscience engineering, or engineering
Program strengths
- The program is truly multidisciplinary. On the one hand, students obtain detailed theoretical knowledge of quantitative methods and on the other hand become familiar with the molecular techniques that are used in modern biology
- The input from teaching staff from different faculties provides a broad view of the application areas of bioinformatics, from basic science to plant breeding and medical applications
- We offer a high academic level and have high expectations of our students. Students appreciate that they learn a lot during the two-year program.
Curriculum
Reorientation Package
The student takes a maximum of 26 ECTS from this group.
The Reorientation gives students an additional basis in disciplines in which they had no training during their Bachelor's program. The complete basis is essential to follow further courses in this master's. The Permanent Education Committee (POC) determines a specific program for every student, based on their previous education. Following approval, these courses are mandatory for the student to finish the master's.
Students in the track Engineering only choose courses from the Reorientation Package Biology.
Students in the track Bioscience Engineering choose only courses from the Reorientation Packages Information Technology and Biology.
Students in the track Science may choose courses from all Reorientation Packages up to 26 ECTS. If the student needs less than 26 ECTS, the remaining credits can be chosen from a list of optional courses.
Reorientation Package Biology
- Structure, Synthesis, and Cellular Function of Macromolecules
- Basics of Biological Chemistry
- Basic Concepts of Cell Biology
- Introduction to Genetics
- Gene Technology
Reorientation Package Statistics
- Univariate Data and Modelling
Reorientation Package Mathematics
- Introduction to Programming
- Principles of Database Management
- Object Oriented Programming
Common Package
Biology Module
- Molecular Interactions: Theories and Methods
- Structural Bioinformatics
- Model Organisms
Statistics Module
- Dynamical Systems
- Statistical Methods for Bioinformatics
- Machine Learning and Inductive Inference
- Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis
- Support Vector Machines: Methods and Applications
Bioinformatics Module
- Fundamentals of Bioinformatics
- Omics Techniques and Data Analysis
- Management of Large-Scale Omics Data
- Bayesian Modelling for Biological Data Analysis
- Evolutionary and Quantitative Genetics
- Comparative and Regulatory Genomics
- Integrated Bioinformatics Project
Major
Science
Master's Thesis Science
- Master's Thesis Science
Bioscience Engineering
Compulsory Course Bioscience Engineering
- Biofluidics
Engineering
Compulsory Course Engineering
- Design of Software Systems
Choice
- Longitudinal Data Analysis
- Comparative Programming Languages
- Biomedical Data Processing
- Selected Topics in Biomedical Signal Processing
- Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence
- Neural Computing
- Genetic Algorithms and Evolutionary Computing
- Optimization
- System Identification and Modeling
- Innovation Management and Strategy
- Advanced Time Series Analysis
- Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence
- Privacy and Big Data
- Programming Languages and Programming Methodologies
- Biosensors and Bioelectronics
- Nanobiology
- Statistical Analysis of Reliability and Survival Data
- Experimental Design
- Meta-Analysis
- Bayesian Data Analysis II
- Medical Imaging and Analysis
- Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Data Mining
- Information Retrieval and Search Engines
- Robust Statistics
- Plichtenleer van de ingenieur
Master's Thesis Engineering
- Master's Thesis Engineering
Ideal Students
Student Profile
Are you a biochemist or molecular biologist with a keen interest in mathematics and programming? Are you a mathematician or statistician and want to apply your knowledge to complex biological questions? Do you want to develop new methods that can be used by doctors, biologists, and biotechnology engineers? Then this is the right program for you!
This program provides you with fundamental knowledge on the theoretical basis of bioinformatics technologies. Therefore, an aptitude for mathematics is required. In your previous higher education, a good grade should have been obtained for a course in at least one of the areas Statistics, Calculus, or Linear Algebra.
This interdisciplinary program is open to students with different backgrounds and during the project work, you will be part of interdisciplinary teams. The international student population prepares you to work in an international environment in your future career.
Admissions
Program delivery
The courses are fully taught in English and also available in Dutch.
Program Outcome
- Credits: 120 ECTS
- Degree Type: Master
- Specifications: Master of Science.
Program Tuition Fee
Why study at KU Leuven
What sets us apart as a university?
A highly-ranked university
KU Leuven is among the best 100 universities in the world according to both Times Higher Education World Rankings and QS World University Rankings. All of KU Leuven’s disciplines proudly belong to the top 100 of their field.
Research-based education
Education at KU Leuven is research-based, which means students will learn from the same professors who are performing the ground-breaking research you read about in the press. New insights are instantly integrated into classes and students are encouraged to perform their research. In our FabLab, students can use several high-tech machines to create whatever they want – all free of charge.
Affordable tuition fees
Higher education is highly valued in Belgium and therefore subsidised by the government. This allows KU Leuven to keep tuition fees relatively low, which gives you a price/quality ratio very few top-100 universities can match. We take pride in keeping our programs as accessible as possible to allow the brightest students from around the globe to join our courses.
International student life with respect for diversity
According to Times Higher Education, KU Leuven is in the top 50 of most international universities worldwide with staff and students from over 150 different nationalities. For all our international students, the Pangaea student center is their home away from home. Our university also strives for diversity and inclusion and wants to work together on a pact for more respect.
Program Leaders
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.
Info Sessions
KU Leuven combines the best of both worlds by hosting both online and live info sessions. You choose how, where and when to get your information in your search for the right program
Rankings
KU Leuven is among the best 100 universities in the world according to both Times Higher Education World Rankings and QS World University Rankings. KU Leuven’s disciplines proudly belong to the top 100 of their field. Furthermore, KU Leuven was ranked by Reuters as the most innovative university in Europe in 2016.
Accreditations
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Bioinformaticians find careers in the life sciences domain in the broadest sense: industry, the academic world, health care, etc. The expanding need for bioinformatics in biological and medical research ensures a large variety of job opportunities in fundamental and applied research. 60% of our graduates start a PhD after graduation.