M.Sc Bioinformatics: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Kripal Thapa

M.Sc Bioinformatics or Master of Science in Bioinformatics is a two year postgraduate degree course in science stream which deals with management of data in modern biology and medicine. M.Sc Bioinformatics degree holders can be hired by recruiters to specific job roles such as Database Programmer, Computational Biologist, Lecturer, Network Administrator, Research Scientist, Bioinformatics Software Developer, etc.

M.Sc Bioinformatics Course Details

Degree	Masters
Full Form	Master of Science in Bioinformatics
Duration	2 Years
Age	No specific age limit
Subjects Required	Subjects corresponding to the post-graduation.
Minimum Percentage	50%
Average Fees	₹30K - 1 LPA
Similar Options of Study	M.Sc (Biotechnology), M.Sc (Microbiology), M.Sc (Biochemistry) etc.
Average Salary	INR 5.15 LPA [Source: PayScale]
Employment Roles	Server System Administrator, Software Business Analyst, Quality Assurance Manager, Technical Sales Support Specialist, Operations Project Manager, Software Team Leader
Top Recruiters	Capgemini, Wipro Technologies Ltd, Persistent Systems, General Electric Co, Biocon, Genpact, Cisco Systems Inc, Intel Corporation etc

About M.Sc Bioinformatics

Students used to wonder about the M.Sc Bioinformatics course as it is not a trending course in India. The course falls under the umbrella of M.Sc. M.Sc in Bioinformatics is a 2-year postgraduate degree course in science stream which deals with the management of data in modern biology and medicine. According to Wikipedia, "Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops strategies and software tools for understanding biological data, especially when the data sets are large and complex.”

Table of Contents

M.Sc Bioinformatics Eligibility Criteria
M.Sc Bioinformatics Admission Process
Popular Sc Bioinformatics Entrance Exams
Top M.Sc Bioinformatics Colleges
Fees Structure for M.Sc Bioinformatics
Syllabus and Subjects for M.Sc Bioinformatics
Why Choose M.Sc Bioinformatics?
Preparation Tips for M.Sc Bioinformatics
Scope of Higher Education after M.Sc Bioinformatics
M.Sc Bioinformatics Salary
Career Options After M.Sc Bioinformatics
Skills to Excel

Eligibility Criteria for M.Sc Bioinformatics

M.Sc Bioinformatics admission is offered to only those students who meet the eligibility requirements. The eligibility for the M.Sc Bioinformatics course in India includes students who must have pursued a bachelor’s degree in science stream with a minimum mark of 50% in the examination from a recognized college. There is no specific age limit for Bioinformatics M.Sc. Students must have to clear the entrance exam for the M.Sc Bioinformatics course conducted by colleges for admission.

How To Get Admission in M.Sc Bioinformatics?

For pursuing M.Sc Bioinformatics, students must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria. Applications for admissions are available from the university website or by directly visiting the college's admissions office. Students must have to clear entrance exams taken by colleges and universities to meet M.Sc in Bioinformatics eligibility. Some of the colleges and universities conduct interviews after the entrance exam for final selection.

How to Apply?

M.Sc Bioinformatics course details for admissions can be found on the college's official websites in which the students want to apply. The registration procedure can be carried out through online and offline methods. The submission of the application fees can be done via online payment or through cheques/demand drafts from the bank.

Selection Process

Admission is strictly offered to only those scholars who clear the minimum cut-off of the respective college and fulfill the eligibility criteria. Some colleges conduct their own entrance exams for admission. The students will receive their results via email or can visit the college’s official website where the results are published.

Popular Entrance Exams for M.Sc Bioinformatics

Candidates are admitted for respective courses primarily based on their scores in the entrance exams. Some of the known entrance exams are:

Allahabad University M.Sc Bioinformatics entrance exam.
Banaras Hindu University M.Sc Bioinformatics entrance exam.
Amrita M.Sc Bioinformatics entrance exam.
Bharati Vidyapeeth University M.Sc Bioinformatics entrance exam.
Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, University of Pune Entrance Exam.
Indian Institute of Information Technology All India Entrance Exam.

A Quick Glance at the M.Sc Bioinformatics Entrance Exams

To get into M.Sc Bioinformatics best colleges in India, a candidate should clear the test. One must learn time management skills to complete the exam on time and complete each section on time. Listed below is the general pattern for the entrance exams:

The exam patterns consist of sections like verbal, general awareness, mathematics, and reasoning.
The exam will be offline or online.
The time duration of the entrance tests is usually 120 to 180 minutes.

Top 10 M.Sc Bioinformatics Colleges in India

Best colleges M.Sc Bioinformatics in India are located all across the country in different regions. Students can opt for the best M.Sc Bioinformatics colleges in India depending upon their ranking. Some of the top M.Sc Bioinformatics colleges in India are listed below:

M.Sc Bioinformatics Colleges
Sl. No.	Name of the Institute
1	Stella Maris College
2	Goswami Ganesh Dutt Sanatan Dharma College, Chandigarh
3	DAV College
4	Manipal Academy of Higher Education
5	Nirmala College for Women
6	Sri Krishna Arts and Science College
7	Amity University, Noida
8	Jaipur National University
9	Hindustan College of Arts and Science
10	JSS Academy of Higher Education

Fee Structure for M.Sc Bioinformatics

M.Sc Bioinformatics fees structure varies for various colleges in India. The course fees range between INR 3,000 - 1.4 LPA. The course fees may vary based on the college ranking, location, infrastructure, faculties, and facilities available.

M.Sc Bioinformatics Course Fees
Sl. No.	Name of the Institute	Average Annual Fees
1	Stella Maris College, Chennai	INR 15,000 PA
2	Goswami Ganesh Dutt Sanatan Dharma College, Chandigarh	INR 7,833 PA
3	DAV College, Chandigarh	INR 58,880 PA
4	Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal	INR 1.35 LPA
5	Nirmala College for Women, Coimbatore	INR 2,855 PA

Syllabus and Subjects for M.Sc Bioinformatics

M.Sc Bioinformatics duration is of two years which has been divided into four semesters. Each year includes 2 semesters. The program syllabus is designed in such a way that it provides hands-on expertise in the essential multi-disciplinary fields of DNA sequencing, comparative genomics, genome annotation, analysis of mutations in cancer, analysis of the cellular organization, etc.

Some of the few core subjects are:

Fundamentals of Bioinformatics
Biochemistry, Cell Biology, and Molecular Genetics
Genomics & Proteomics
Microbiology and Biotechnology
Structural Bioinformatics

Read More About M.Sc Bioinformatics Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose M.Sc Bioinformatics?

Students often wonder about M.Sc Bioinformatics details before choosing the course. Before deciding on a career, students come across queries like, "What is M.Sc Bioinformatics?" and "Why choose M.Sc Bioinformatics?”. To clearly understand answers to these questions, we have framed the following three pointers:

What is M.Sc Bioinformatics All About?

Master of Science in bioinformatics is a 2-year postgraduate degree course in science stream which deals with the management of data in modern biology and medicine. Bioinformatics is a field at the interface between biology, computing, and statistics and is used in organismal biology, molecular biology, and biomedicine. It provides hands-on expertise in the essential multi-disciplinary fields of DNA sequencing, comparative genomics, genome annotation, analysis of mutations in cancer, analysis of the cellular organization, etc.

What Does a M.Sc Bioinformatics Graduate Do?

Bioinformatics is for the management of information in modern biology and medicine. M.Sc Bioinformatics degree holders can be hired by recruiters to specific job roles such as Database Programmer, Computational Biologist, Lecturer, Network Administrator, Research Scientist, Bioinformatics Software Developer, etc.

Bioinformatics Software Developer: The role of a bioinformatics software developer is to facilitate the process of making machines and new treatment strategies for a variety of illnesses. It is done by creating computer software that analyses huge amounts of data on genetics research.

Reasons Why M.Sc Bioinformatics Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?

There are many motives for pursuing M.Sc in Bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is for the management of information in modern biology and medicine. It introduces new and current strategies used to interpret the big amount of data by genome sequencing, thus increasing the job vacancies for people with skills in bioinformatics.

Career Scope and Options: Major pharmaceutical, biotech, and software companies are looking to hire professionals with skills and experience in bioinformatics where they are working with huge amounts of biological and health care information.

Read More About M.Sc Bioinformatics Jobs

Preparation Tips for M.Sc Bioinformatics

Having an M.Sc Bioinformatics postgraduate degree opens new doors of thriving career opportunities. Some of the essential preparation tips for a candidate who wants to pursue M.Sc Bioinformatics are:

Get to Know the Syllabus: The syllabus of the course is something that a student should know, this helps the student to know how to perform at the time of the examination.

Practice Regularly: Practice regularly so that it becomes easy for practical examinations.

Make a Plan: Make a course plan that helps to plan accordingly to study and work which helps them to keep both balanced.

Practice Makes Perfect: Go through all the subjects and the modules that are taught in the duration of the course.

Scope For Higher Education

Students have a lot of scope after M.Sc Bioinformatics, might be higher studies or in career prospects. Many go for higher studies to have an in-depth understanding of the subjects or want to do research in a particular topic related to M.Sc Bioinformatics. Also, gaining more education can help the students to make a career in teaching if they are interested. Listed below are some of the popular higher education options available for students:

M.Phil
PhD in Bioinformatics
UGC NET/SET for junior research fellowship/lecturer ship

Salary of a M.Sc Bioinformatics Graduate

The average income for an M.Sc bioinformatics degree holder is around INR 3 - 10 LPA [Source: PayScale]. It depends on theoretical knowledge, practical knowledge, and experience of internship. Also, it depends on the size and geographical area of the organization/company.

Read More About M.Sc Bioinformatics Salary

Career Options After M.Sc Bioinformatics

Major pharmaceutical, biotech, and software companies are looking to hire professionals with skills and experience in bioinformatics where they are working with huge amounts of biological and health care information. Some other job roles are:

Bioinformatics Analyst
Bioinformatics Trainer
Bioinformatics 'C' Programmer
Bio-statistician
Assistant Professor
Junior Research Fellow
Research Associate

Skills That Make You The Best M.Sc Bioinformatics Graduate

Bioinformatics is for the management of information in modern biology and medicine. It introduces new and current strategies used to interpret the big amount of data by genome sequencing. It is very interesting and demanding nowadays. For such research work requires certain skills like: