Online Master's Degree in Bioinformatics

Earn a Graduate Degree that Makes an Impact

100% Online

15 Months – 2.5 Years

30 Credit Hours

$1,220 per Credit Hour

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Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition and more.

Gain the Skills to Advance in your Bioinformatics Career

Brandeis University’s online master’s degree in bioinformatics prepares you for an impactful career in the life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and biomedical research. Blending programming skills with real-world knowledge from expert faculty, our rigorous online program prepares you to decipher biological data to draw conclusions that make a difference. Choose our fast-track option to earn your degree in 15 months—no programming experience is required.

Program Details

No GRE/GMAT required
Fast-track option available
Small class sizes
Courses taught by practicing professionals at the top of their field
No programming experience required

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“When I was searching for a bioinformatics program, Brandeis immediately caught my attention. The curriculum not only offered courses that were relevant to my current occupation, but also a range of other bioinformatics applications that piqued my interest. The program’s online learning format allows me to complete the degree at my own pace. This makes it an ideal fit for a full-time working professional like me.”

– Nyjil Hayward, 2024
Bioinformatics

Curriculum
Admissions Requirements
Tuition & Aid

Become a Bioinformatics Leader through Focused Curriculum

10 Courses

30 Total Credits

Learn from expert faculty who hold weekly office hours to build relationships and ensure understanding. Our courses cover programming skills alongside life science topics, allowing our graduates to stand out in the field of bioinformatics.

Course Highlights

Biomedical Statistics
Molecular Biology, Genetics and Disease
Bioinformatics Scripting and Databases with Python

Curriculum Details

Start Your Journey to a Bioinformatics Master’s Degree

Application Deadline 12/18/2023

Start Date 01/10/2024

Start your application process with the support of the Brandeis team. During the application process, your enrollment counselor will answer questions, help you meet application deadlines and connect you with faculty in our master’s in bioinformatics program.

Online Application Form	Apply Now.
Official Transcripts	Send official transcript(s) from every college or university attended.
Prerequisite Degree	You must have a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or equivalent.
Prerequisite Courses	Those applying to the online bioinformatics program should have completed undergraduate-level coursework in: Molecular Biology or Biochemistry. Statistics, Probability or Biostatistics.
Additional Requirements	Include an updated resume that outlines your current and recent work history. A statement of goals: Contain at least 500 words, address why you are pursuing a graduate degree and describe how the program outcomes will help you achieve your professional and personal goals. One letter of recommendation from a current or former supervisor, manager or employer who can assess your workplace performance: Add their information to the online application and they’ll receive a link to upload the letter. You can submit multiple recommendation letters.

International Students

International students must satisfy additional admissions requirements to be admitted to our MS in Bioinformatics.

English Proficiency Score	Internet-based TOEFL: 100 IELTS: 7 You are exempt from this if you meet one of the following conditions: Will complete, or have already completed, at least three full-time academic years of a bachelor’s degree program (ESL and online coursework not included) in a designated country. Have completed at least one full-time academic year of graduate study (online coursework not included) at the time the application is submitted in a designated country. Have worked full-time for at least three consecutive years, within the past four years, in a designated country. Have earned a bachelor’s degree from the American University of Beirut, the American University in Cairo, the American University of Paris, the American University of Puerto Rico, the American University of Rome or the American University of Sharjah.
Course Evaluation	If you earned your degree outside the United States, you must submit your records (official transcripts/mark sheets) for a course-by-course evaluation by either Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) of Madison, Wisconsin, or World Education Services (WES) of New York, New York. Applicants are responsible for the evaluation fee.

English Proficiency Score

Internet-based TOEFL: 100
IELTS: 7

You are exempt from this if you meet one of the following conditions:

Will complete, or have already completed, at least three full-time academic years of a bachelor’s degree program (ESL and online coursework not included) in a designated country.
Have completed at least one full-time academic year of graduate study (online coursework not included) at the time the application is submitted in a designated country.
Have worked full-time for at least three consecutive years, within the past four years, in a designated country.
Have earned a bachelor’s degree from the American University of Beirut, the American University in Cairo, the American University of Paris, the American University of Puerto Rico, the American University of Rome or the American University of Sharjah.

Course Evaluation

If you earned your degree outside the United States, you must submit your records (official transcripts/mark sheets) for a course-by-course evaluation by either Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) of Madison, Wisconsin, or World Education Services (WES) of New York, New York. Applicants are responsible for the evaluation fee.

Apply today to ensure you meet our key admission dates. Start your online application. If you have any questions, reach out to our admissions team at 781-352-4318.

Admissions Details

Finance Your Brandeis Experience

Calculate your cost for attending Brandeis Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.

Tuition Calculator

College is a huge investment. We are committed to providing accelerated higher educational experiences that offer a return on your investment. We guide each student through the financial aid process and offer tuition discounts and convenient payment plans for eligible students.

Cost per Credit Hour	$1,220
Total Credit Hours	30
Total Estimated Cost	$36,600
Additional Fees	$500 enrollment deposit (paid when offer is accepted and goes toward cost of course)
Other Costs to Budget For	The estimated tuition cost does not include factors like textbooks and supplies.

Military Students

Brandeis welcomes active military, veterans and their spouses. We are a proud Yellow Ribbon School. Our military students and their families receive a 15% tuition discount. Speak with your enrollment counselor for more information.

Financial Aid Opportunities

With the help of our team, you’ll learn about financial aid eligibility so that you can make sound financial decisions while achieving your career goals. Your financial aid options may include federal loans provided through the FAFSA.

Tuition Details

Student in the lab for her online Master's in Bioinformatics program

Pursue In-Demand Bioinformatics Careers

Advance in a field that has a significant impact on society. The importance of roles in bioinformatics was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when vaccine development and medical insights became vital in our everyday lives. The skills you earn in our master’s program will prepare you to make a difference in an impactful field. Our graduates work for companies such as Pfizer, Moderna, Merck and AstraZeneca.

Top Jobs for Bioinformatics Graduates

Director of Bioinformatics $156,133 per year¹

Biochemist $102,270 per year²

Program Outcome

Our in-depth program ensures that you feel confident presenting concepts to multidisciplinary teams and graduate prepared to make a real difference through biological data and leadership. The blend of technical and real-world knowledge shared in the program leads to a well-rounded understanding of bioinformatics.

What You’ll Learn

Process, clean, store, analyze and model large volumes of biological data from multiple sources.
Independently and collaboratively provide insights into complex biological systems through data synthesis, experimental design and application of a range of computational biology approaches.
Effectively communicate and present bioinformatics concepts to multidisciplinary project teams.

Meet the Experienced Bioinformatics Faculty

The MS in Bioinformatics course content is shaped by leaders in the field. Our curriculum is taught by faculty who are active professionals in bioinformatics. Instructors bring real-world experiences to their classrooms and customize courses for online delivery. To learn more about the master’s in bioinformatics faculty, visit our faculty page.

Alan Cheng

Faculty Spotlight

Alan Cheng, PhD, Program Chair of Bioinformatics

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Alan Cheng, PhD, is a senior director of chemistry, modeling, and informatics at Merck Research Labs in South San Francisco, California, where he works on the discovery of new medicines for cardiac-metabolic diseases and oncology. His research interests include computer-aided drug design and biological sequence-structure relationships. He received a PhD from the University of California, San Francisco, and undergraduate degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.

Bold Leaders in Online Learning

Brandeis University has online education down to a science with decades of experience. Our faculty members, who are trained to teach online, create and refresh courses infused with best practices to optimize your learning experience. The platform is virtual, but the connections are real.

Discover Brandeis Online

Sources

Salary.com, Directors of Bioinformatics, on the internet at https://www.salary.com/ (visited June 30, 2023).
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Biochemists and Biophysicists, on the internet at https://www.bls.gov/ (visited May 18, 2023).