Bioinformatics Saarland University

A key feature of the MSc programme in Bioinformatics at Saarland University is its aim to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration by incorporating topics and ideas from contemporary research and by maintaining direct ties to laboratory research conducted at the university and in industry. Students of the programme address such wide-ranging topics as genetics, drug research, virology, biotechnology, and bioreaction engineering. In the informatics part of the programme, students cover areas such as data structures and algorithms, machine learning, computer graphics, database systems, artificial intelligence, and software engineering. In addition, students acquire knowledge in other fields such as project management and patent law.

Graduates from this Master's programme have a wide range of career opportunities at the interface between informatics and biology. Typical positions include research and development roles in industry, in pharmaceutical companies, in the biotechnology sector, or in publicly funded research organisations.

The four-semester Master's degree programme in Bioinformatics at Saarland University is a research-driven programme that builds on the foundations established in the BSc programme. To complete the MSc programme, students must accumulate a total of 120 credits (CP). The programme comprises teaching and instruction modules in the following categories (minimum number of credits required per category):

• Lecture courses covering core areas of informatics (18 CP)
• Advanced lectures in the biosciences (12 CP)
• Advanced lectures in bioinformatics (19 CP)
• World-of-work and career skills
• Practical courses in bioinformatics (8 CP)
• Advanced practical training in the biosciences 
• Seminar (7 CP)
• Master's degree seminar (3 CP) and Master’s degree practical courses (9 CP) 

Students therefore acquire 76 CP from these mandatory courses, which must have been acquired entirely through graded coursework or examinations. In the elective part of the programme, a total of 14 credits can be acquired by completing taught courses in the relevant module categories or by tutoring and supervising students in problem-solving classes (4 CP per course). Students receive 30 CP upon completion of their Master's theses.

The modules of the MSc programme are taught in English. Students who successfully complete the programme will be awarded a Master of Science (MSc) degree and will be entitled to apply to undertake doctoral research at the Faculties of Natural Science and Technology.

Applicants who require a student visa to pursue their studies in Germany are strongly encouraged to submit their application by 15 November for admission to the winter semester of the following calendar year, and by 15 May for the summer semester of the following calendar year (e.g. by 15 November 2026 for entry in winter semester 2027/2028).

Students seeking admission to the MSc programme must have a Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics or a comparable degree and must demonstrate their academic aptitude and suitability for this programme.

The criteria to demonstrate the academic aptitude and suitability for this programme are:

1. proof of English language skills at an advanced level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (C1 level), and proof of competences in the following areas:
2. basic knowledge of mathematics  (18 CP)
3. basic knowledge of computer science (18 CP)
4. basic knowledge of bioinformatics (sequence analysis, protein structure) (18 CP)
5. basic knowledge in areas of the life sciences (chemistry, molecular biology, genetics) (10 CP)
6. a letter of justification for the choice of degree programme of no more than 1000 words, in which the applicants explain the skills, competences and interests that make them particularly suitable for the desired degree programme, also including their personal background

Currently 412.30 EUR per semester (https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/study/organisation/fees/semester-fee.html)

The Welcome Center at Saarland University provides information on working and living in Saarbrücken. For more information, please visit their website: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/living-working.html.

Cost of living: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/preparing/financing/cost-of-living.html

Students may be able to work at the department doing laboratory work or supervising BSc/MSc students during lab courses or seminars.

UdS International scholarship programme

Sorgenfrei Campus scholarship

https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/institution/career-center.html

https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/accommodation.html