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Online MSc Bioinformatics: career outlook

Discover new insights from data

1st choice for graduate employers (High Fliers 2024)

68th in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine (QS 2024)

By developing your understanding of complex data systems, our online MSc Bioinformatics will help you meet the growing demand for bioinformaticians, in a global market set to rise by 13.7% (compound annual growth rate) between 2021 and 2031.1

Thanks to its multidisciplinary nature, the programme is well-suited for professionals from biological and computer science/mathematics backgrounds, supporting careers in biostatistics, pharmaceutical science and medical data analytics.

Completing the programme successfully is a great stepping stone for further PhD study or research for pharmaceutical companies, governmental institutions, or medical journals and publications.

  • Job Demand: The demand for bioinformatics professionals has surged as more industries incorporate bioinformatics into their operations. According to LinkedIn’s 2022 Jobs on the Rise Report, bioinformatics and data science roles in healthcare and biotechnology are among the fastest-growing job categories.
  • Job Postings: According to job boards and market reports, bioinformatics-related job postings increased by 20-30% year-over-year between 2018 and 2022. This includes roles in software development, data analysis, and clinical bioinformatics, with a particular rise in positions at the intersection of AI and bioinformatics.

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Your careers support

As well as providing access to careers advice and support via the University of Birmingham Careers Network, we also offer contemporary industry insights through access to live data through our partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham and other organisations across the West Midlands too. These unique experiences will not only equip you with the necessary bioinformatics and data science knowledge, but also challenge you to apply your learning to real-world problems, from disease research to drug discovery and personalised medicine.

You’ll gain technical expertise in programming, data analysis, machine learning, and biological modelling, along with the ability to apply these skills whilst you study. With its interdisciplinary nature, this programme offers opportunities for continual learning and adaptation as technology and biological sciences evolve.

University Hospitals Birmingham, which is linked to MSc Bioinformatics, is a major contributor to the 100,000 Genomes Project

Apply your learning in real-time, to real-world settings to become part of the 91% graduates who work across Biotechnology, Information Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Research and Medical Practice

Set yourself apart from your peers and move ahead in an ever-expanding industry

Free access to helpful resources, such as our coding primer and LinkedIn Learning

Enjoy eight-week modules that will grow your programming, communication and modelling skills to exit with a PGCert, PGDip, or full MSc.

Learn from active researchers and leading experts at the forefront of Bioinformatics

Lucrative Bioinformatics career paths

The bioinformatics sector is experiencing rapid growth across various subfields, driven by advancements in genomic technologies, the rise of personalised medicine, and the increasing use of AI and machine learning. Online MSc Bioinformatics graduates are employed across a broad range of industries and roles, with notable representation in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and research. Careers in Bioinformatics include:

Senior Bioinformatician

Responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing complex bioinformatics workflows, as well as leading projects that analyse biological data. Senior bioinformaticians bridge the gap between advanced biological research and computational tools, offering expertise in both biology and data science.

Bioinformatics Lead Scientist

Drive bioinformatics projects within research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, or healthcare organisations. Responsible for the strategic direction of bioinformatics research and ensuring that bioinformatics tools and methodologies are applied effectively to answer complex biological questions.

Additional roles:

  • Director of Bioinformatics
  • Bioinformatics Lead
  • Principal Investigator (PI) in Bioinformatics
  • Chief Data Scientist
  • Senior Bioinformatics Consultant
  • Bioinformatics Architect
  • Senior Data Analyst

Career support

Your relationship with the University of Birmingham will continue long after your graduation. To make the most of your future career prospects, we will help you gain the skills, knowledge and attributes that employers are looking for.

One-to-one support

Access one-to-one careers advice and support via the University of Birmingham Careers Network for up to two years after you graduate.

Online community

Connect with your peers and lecturers and keep our thriving online community alive.

Extensive network

Join an alumni network of over 300,000 students worldwide.

Programme outcomes and skills acquired

  • Explore the ethical implications of research in biology-related fields
  • Develop an understanding of data types used in bioinformatics including clinical health data, genomic data, epigenetic data, and metabolic data
  • Gain an understanding of omics; environmental science and toxicology; computing, algorithmics and programming; and the technologies underlying biology
  • Understand the statistical concepts and advanced machine learning techniques used in bioinformatics
  • Apply statistical and computational techniques underpinning advanced methodologies, and integrate diverse data types
  • Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems
  • Communicate your findings in the most effective way

Skills you’ll gain

  • Programming and software development
  • Data analysis and statistics
  • Machine learning
  • Genomics and molecular biology knowledge
  • Computational biology and modelling
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration and communication
  • Application to real-world challenges

Why study Bioinformatics?

Studying bioinformatics provides a broad skill set that spans multiple disciplines, making it a highly versatile and in-demand field. You’ll gain technical expertise in programming, data analysis, and biological modelling, along with the ability to apply these skills in real-world settings, whether in research, healthcare, or biotechnology. With its interdisciplinary nature, bioinformatics offers opportunities for continual learning and adaptation as technology and biological sciences evolve.

References

  1. Straits Research (2022) Bioinformatics Market Size [online] Available at: <Bioinformatics Market Size to Grow at a CAGR of 13.7% by 2031> [Accessed 24.01.2025].
  2. Glassdoor (2024) Senior Bioinformatician Salaries in United Kingdom [online] Available at: <Salary: Senior Bioinformatician in United Kingdom 2025 | Glassdoor> [Accessed 24.01.2025].
  3. Glassdoor (2024) Bioinformatics Lead Scientist Salaries in United Kingdom [online] Available at: <Salary: Bioinformatics Lead Scientist in United Kingdom 2025 | Glassdoor> [Accessed 24.01.2025].