Bioinformatics and Systems Biology: Bioinformatics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Discover which biomolecules make the difference between health and disease

Are you interested in unravelling this by using machine learning, sequence analysis, computational models and/or systematic experiments? Then the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Master at VU Amsterdam is the programme for you.

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Bioinformatics and Systems Biology: Bioinformatics

Understand life and health at a molecular level

Bioinformatics and Systems Biology is a joint degree programme from VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Courses are taught at both universities. VU and UvA jointly issue a degree to graduates. As a Bioinformatics and Systems Biology student in Amsterdam, you benefit from the expertise, networks and research projects at both universities and affiliated research institutes.

The programme guarantees that, upon successful completion of the study, you can communicate effectively with your colleagues, irrespective of your focus on experimental or computational disciplines. You will get a basic introduction to molecular cell biology, biomathematics, biostatistics and programming.

During the MSc programme, you can choose between two specialisations, Bioinformatics or Systems Biology, or choose both.

Bioinformatics deals with large-scale data analysis, like DNA-sequencing experiments. Programming, algorithms and machine learning are important elements. Bioinformatics is extensively used within the field of biomedicine, but also in many other areas of molecular biology. 

Systems Biology encompasses modelling large biological networks, in combination with experiments to probe the system. Mathematical modelling, structured large-scale experiments and statistical analysis are important elements in the specialisation. Systems Biology is extensively used in bioengineering and biomedicine.

Excellent international reputation

The programme has an excellent international reputation. Research groups with extensive experience in a broad range of experimental and theoretical research lead the programme.

Integrated programme

The programme truly integrates a Bioinformatics and Systems Biology perspective. Your compulsory courses will tackle research problems within both fields. You may opt to take elective courses with an in-depth focus on a single discipline, such as molecular biology or machine learning.

You will study current issues, challenges and opportunities in both topics.  There are ample opportunities for interesting and challenging internships, in hospitals (such as in oncology and clinical genetics), at biotech companies, at seed breeding companies, in the pharmaceutical industry, in data science and, of course, at bioinformatics and systems biology groups at universities.

Supervision 

You will be assigned a mentor who will support you during the entire programme. Moreover, one of the staff members will supervise your practical coursework and internships.

Summary

In the Bioinformatics specialisation track, you will follow three additional profile courses in which you will learn how to write algorithms that can align sequences, design complex bioinformatics workflows to process molecular profiling data, predict how protein folds given only their sequence, simulate protein molecules, and apply machine learning effectively on large-scale molecular profiling datasets in biomedicine.

These profile courses are compulsory for the Bioinformatics specialisation:

• Algorithms in Sequence Analysis
• Structural Bioinformatics
• Bioinformatics for Translational 

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Bioinformatics and Systems Biology: Bioinformatics

Skilled in scientific research

If you successfully complete the programme, you will be in high demand. It is likely you’ll already find a job before you graduate. And in that job, you will extensively use the skills you acquired during the MSc programme.

Choose to work in the field of bioinformatics and systems biology like 60% of our graduates do. Or,  find a suitable job in closely related areas, such as biotechnology, data science, healthcare or finance. 

• More than half of our students (60%) continue in scientific research as a Ph.D. student. Thanks to technological advances, such as next-generation sequencing and the development of personalised medicine, your career prospects will only improve as you develop.

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Bioinformatics and Systems Biology: Bioinformatics

I have an international degree

For admission to the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Master’s programme it is required to hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university, with at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. The programme is aimed at science bachelor graduates (chemistry, biology, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, physics or similar) with a strong interest in biological research topics and computational (quantitative) methods. The master requires proficiency in three key subjects: Mathematics, Programming, and (Molecular) Biology. If you have had prior training in all three key subjects you are directly admissible, if in two of the three key subjects, your GPA should be at least 6.5 on the Dutch 10 point scale (the VU international office will translate your grades to this scale); if only in one key subject, your GPA needs to be at least 7.0. In all other cases, you will be directed to our pre-master programme, which depending on your prior training and background, consists of a selection of the courses that are listed below.

For your admission you are requested to provide:

• Your Curriculum Vitae
• A motivation letter of at most one A4. This letter should contain one paragraph on why you would like to enrol into this programme. Most importantly, for each of the three key subjects Mathematics, Programming and Molecular Biology state your proficiency and what you worked on during the MSc. Please clearly indicate which courses, programs or other activities prove sufficient training and background in these subjects.
• An official transcript of your academic grades, including your GPA.
• Proof of English proficiency (can also be provided after conditional admission).
• Thesis (or alternative piece of academic writing)
• A description of the relevant courses followed and literature used during your previous higher education

Minor knowledge gaps in either biology, programming or mathematics will be cared for as an integral part of the master curriculum during the first two compulsory courses (“Fundamentals of Bioinformatics” and “Introduction to Systems Biology”). However, it is strongly advised to select introductory courses during your (current) Bachelor for an optimal transition to the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Master programme. Depending on your background, take one or several of:

• Introductory course programming (preferably in Python)
• Introductory course calculus (and optionally linear algebra; most important are differential equations and matrices)
• Molecular cell biology, e.g. a book like 'Essential Cell Biology' (Alberts)
• Introductory course Bioinformatics, like Principles of Bioinformatics
• Introductory course Systems Biology, like Principles of Systems Biology

General English language proficiency requirements

VU Amsterdam requires all applicants to take an English test. You can, however, begin your application without having the test results. Exceptions are made for students who have completed their education in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia.The minimum English language proficiency requirements for admission to this Master's programme are:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall
• TOEFL Internet-based test: 92 overall
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C

I have a Dutch university level (WO) bachelor’s degree (VU bachelor's degree, VU premaster or bachelor's degree at another university)

For admission to the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Master’s programme it is required to hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university, with at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. The programme is aimed at science bachelor graduates (chemistry, biology, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, physics comparable with a strong interest in biological research topics and computational (quantitative) methods. The master requires proficiency in three key subjects: Mathematics, Programming, and (Molecular) Biology. If you have received training in  all three key subjects you are directly admissible.  If you have had training in two of the three key subjects, your GPA should be at least 6.5; if you only received training in one of the three key subjects, your GPA needs to be at least 7.0.

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Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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