Master of Science in Bioinformatics (Engineering)
Ghent University offers an interfaculty Master of Science in Bioinformatics programme, which – depending on the chosen track – can result in an Engineering or Bioscience Engineering degree. Students are provided with the scientific knowledge, skills, attitudes and insights that enable them to function professionally and value-conscious in the domain of bioinformatics, but also in the broader context of the biotechnology/engineering and the different sectors of employment that are open to this master. As a bioinformatician, you will become an interdisciplinary scientist or engineer who can develop or use state-of-the art statistical and computer science techniques to mine molecular data in order to answer fundamental or applied biological and biomedical questions.
EUR-ACE® Master (EURopean ACcredited Engineering Master)
The EUR-ACE label was accredited to this programme by the Commission des titres d’ingénieur (CTI), under the auspices of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE).
EUR-ACE® is a framework and accreditation system that provides a set of standards that identifies high-quality engineering degree programmes in Europe and abroad.
About the programme
Programme summary
Find out more
Off to a good start
After graduation
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Lieven Clement
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Tim De Meyer
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Klaas Vandepoele
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Kathleen Marchal
|
3
|
|
|
|
1
|
year
|
en
|
Tim De Meyer
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Kathleen Marchal
|
3
|
|
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Jan Fostier
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Jan Fostier
|
6
|
|
Subscribe to 12 credit units from the following list.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Lieven Eeckhout
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Heidi Steendam
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Eric Laermans
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Patrick Segers
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
An Hendrix
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Hiep Luong
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Koen De Turck
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Dieter De Witte
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Seppe vanden Broucke
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Thomas Demeester
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Aleksandra Pizurica
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Antoon Bronselaer
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Antoon Bronselaer
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guy De Tré
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Bruno Volckaert
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bart Coppens
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Pieter Colpaert
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Jefrey Lijffijt
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Pieter Simoens
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Bruno Volckaert
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Tony Belpaeme
|
3
|
|
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Moritz Nowack
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Kathleen Marchal
|
3
|
|
Subscribe to 12 credit units from
no less than 1 and no more than 3 modules from the following list.
Subject to approval by the faculty.
Subscribe to no more than 9 credit units from the following list.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
|
6
|
|
|
UKV
|
|
sem 1
sem 2
|
en
en
|
Geert Jacobs
|
3
|
|
Subscribe to no more than 12 credit units from the courses of Ghent University including the Ghent University elective course list. Subject to approval by the curriculum committee.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Lieven Clement
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Kathleen Marchal
|
3
|
|
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Joni Dambre
|
6
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
Ljubomir Jovanov
|
6
|
|
Subscribe to 12 credit units from the following list.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Lieven Eeckhout
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Heidi Steendam
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Eric Laermans
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Patrick Segers
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
An Hendrix
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Hiep Luong
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Koen De Turck
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Dieter De Witte
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Seppe vanden Broucke
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Thomas Demeester
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Aleksandra Pizurica
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Antoon Bronselaer
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Antoon Bronselaer
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guy De Tré
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Bruno Volckaert
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bart Coppens
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Pieter Colpaert
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Jefrey Lijffijt
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Pieter Simoens
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Bruno Volckaert
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Tony Belpaeme
|
3
|
|
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2
|
year
|
en
|
|
30
|
|
Subscribe to 12 credit units from
no less than 1 and no more than 3 modules from the following list.
Subject to approval by the faculty.
Subscribe to no more than 9 credit units from the following list.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
|
6
|
|
|
UKV
|
|
sem 1
sem 2
|
en
en
|
Geert Jacobs
|
3
|
|
Subscribe to no more than 12 credit units from the courses of Ghent University including the Ghent University elective course list. Subject to approval by the curriculum committee.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Lieven Clement
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Tim De Meyer
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Klaas Vandepoele
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Kathleen Marchal
|
3
|
|
|
|
1
|
year
|
en
|
Tim De Meyer
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Kathleen Marchal
|
3
|
|
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Jan Fostier
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Jan Fostier
|
6
|
|
|
|
2
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Joni Dambre
|
6
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
Ljubomir Jovanov
|
6
|
|
Subscribe to 12 credit units from the following list.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Lieven Eeckhout
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Heidi Steendam
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Eric Laermans
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Patrick Segers
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
An Hendrix
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Hiep Luong
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Koen De Turck
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Dieter De Witte
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Seppe vanden Broucke
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Thomas Demeester
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Aleksandra Pizurica
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Antoon Bronselaer
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Antoon Bronselaer
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guy De Tré
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Bruno Volckaert
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bart Coppens
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Pieter Colpaert
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Jefrey Lijffijt
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Pieter Simoens
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Bruno Volckaert
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Tony Belpaeme
|
3
|
|
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1
|
sem 1
|
en
|
Moritz Nowack
|
6
|
|
|
|
1
|
sem 2
|
en
|
Kathleen Marchal
|
3
|
|
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2
|
year
|
en
|
|
30
|
|
Subscribe to 12 credit units from
no less than 1 and no more than 3 modules from the following list.
Subject to approval by the faculty.
Subscribe to no more than 9 credit units from the following list.
| Course | Ref | MT1 | Semester | Language | Instructor | Crdt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
sem 1
|
en
|
|
6
|
|
|
UKV
|
|
sem 1
sem 2
|
en
en
|
Geert Jacobs
|
3
|
|
Subscribe to no more than 12 credit units from the courses of Ghent University including the Ghent University elective course list. Subject to approval by the curriculum committee.
Competence field 1: Competence in one or more scientific disciplines
- Having advanced knowledge of mathematics, informatics, machine learning and statistical techniques and their application within bioinformatics and systems biology.
- Having knowledge of experimental techniques for the generation of 'omics’ data.
- Understanding the specificities of ‘ bioinformatics’ and ‘systems biology’ in relation to its composing subdomains i.e. having insights in the interdisciplinary character of the research domain.
- Application of basic statistical, computer science and other data analysis techniques to solve well-delineated problems (skill).
- Having an overview of the most important methods in computational biology.
- Having insight in the way bioinformatics evolves (fastly evolving domain).
- Knowledge of software-engineering techniques and advanced programming skills.
- Advanced knowledge of data structures and algorithms for the application of well delineated problems.
- Broad knowledge of the bioinformatics application domain.
- Broad knowledge of the genetics and molecular biology.
- Implement previously described models and methods to solve a bioinformatics problem.
- Design novel analysis tools and methods to solve a new bioinformatics problem.
- Design the proper simulation studies to evaluate state-of-the-art methods.
- Recognize a biological problem and determine the proper method to solve it with a bioinformatics approach.
- Interpret the results of a model or simulation from a computational or biological point of view.
- Define a complex systems biology problem and subdivide this in subproblems.
- Choosing the most appropriate principles to solve each of the subproblems, if needed in collaboration with experts in each of the subdomains (informatics, statistics).
- Make a well-educated choice between the theoretical ly most elegant and most prag matic method s and estimate the effects of appr oximations on the final results.
- Showing an active attitude towards life- long learning.
- Communicate in English in the own domain.
- Work in a project driven way: formulating goals and focused reporting , taking into account the end goals, the development trajectory and the background of the vocational field (bioinformaticians, biologists, clinicians, statisticians, computer scientists).
- Function as a member of a team in a multidisciplinary environment and as starting manager.
- Oral, written and graphical reporting on a scientific topic and placing it in a broader framework.
- Having an insight in the ethical questions raised by the fastly evolving domain of bioinformatics and systems biology ( persona lized medicine, successful aging , sustainable agriculture, synthetic biology , … ).
- Being aware of the social and bioethical discussions that relate to the data and the analysis results.
- Taking into account the running ethical norms in scientific research (e.g. dealing with patient data).
- Gaining insight into the complexity of the problem with quantitative methods.
- Formalize a biological problem taking into account the properties of the data and the assumptions of the method.
- Extract useful infor mation from abun dant, incomplete and contradictory data.
- Test the results of complex calculations and approximations.
- Have attention for running times, performance, memory requirements and user-friendliness of the algorithms and bioinformatics tools.
- Have attention for aspects such as reliability and confidence during storage and transmissions of big data.
- Having an insight in the understanding and role of entrepreneurship.
- Show attitude of perseverance, innovation and added value creation.
- Plan and execute in an independent and results-driven way an engineering project at the level of a beginning professional.