Master’s degree project in bioinformatics

The course is a degree project in bioinformatics at advanced level. The course consists of a degree project comprising 30 credits. The course is part of the master programme in bioinformatics.

Admission to the course requires approved basic courses in a relevant subject area (e.g. molecular biology, biology, chemistry, medicine, biotechnology, mathematics, computer science), comprising 120 credits. English proficiency is required to the level of English 6/English Course B from Swedish Upper Secondary School, or be certified by an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL or IELTS or equivalent. In addition, approved advanced course of at least 30 credits in bioinformatics.

The course consists of an individual project supervised by researchers who conduct research or development work of a bioinformatics nature. Under supervision, the student must carry out independent work with a focus on bioinformatics or related fields (e.g. genomics, systems biology) comprising 30 higher education credits (hp). The work must contain a clear bioinformatics component, but may also include experimental work or field studies. The project work can be done in one or more areas, such as biology, environmental science, molecular biology, biotechnology, medicine, mathematics, statistics, chemistry or computer science, and can be fully or partially located at another Swedish or foreign university, industry or authority. It is the student's responsibility to apply for a project themselves.

The work must be presented both orally and in writing. Within the course, the student may apply his or her bioinformatics knowledge and skills to research and development-related problems. The student is expected to participate in seminars and group meetings.

In order to be registered for the course, the project must be approved by the examiner.

The course is intended to prepare the student for professional or postgraduate study in the field of bioinformatics. After completing the degree course, the student is expected to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Have in-depth knowledge of relevant bioinformatics methodology.
• Have in-depth knowledge of relevant bioinformatics theory.
• Have in-depth knowledge in a relevant bioinformatics application field, such as biology, molecular biology, medicine, biotechnology, computer science or mathematics.

Competence and skills

• Demonstrate the ability to independently plan and carry out theoretical and (if the project includes this) experimental studies.

• Demonstrate the ability to analyze, evaluate and critically discuss achieved results.

• Demonstrate the ability to complete the task within a given time frame.

• Demonstrate such skills, e.g. in writing scientific text/report and orally presenting research results, that are required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other qualified activities.
  Judgement and approach

• Demonstrate the ability to search, evaluate and critically interpret information relevant to the work.

• To be prepared for continued postgraduate education or professional activity in bioinformatics.

The course consists of independent experimental or theoretical work. The work must result in a scientific report in English. The work must also be presented orally in a seminar at the end of the course.

The course is considered completed when the student has presented his/her research work in writing and orally and has demonstrated knowledge and skills to an extent that an examiner, after consultation with the supervisor, deems as acceptable.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises, Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.