Intended Level of Study
5 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The bioinformatics program at the University of Montpellier is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021. With a multidisciplinary faculty and a strong network of companies and laboratories that regularly host its interns, the program offers students with bachelor’s degrees in computer science, mathematics, biology, or bioinformatics the opportunity to acquire master’s-level knowledge in bioinformatics.
The Benefits of the Training Program
The program is supported by research teams in computer science and biology (LIRMM, ISEM, IRMB, IGH, etc.), which fosters collaboration between researchers and students.
Every year since 2013, the program has organized the Montpellier Omics Days (https://www.montpellier-omics-days.fr/), a scientific event focused on the “omics” disciplines (genomics, transcriptomics, etc.) that brings together about 100 people through lectures and workshops.
The BioInformatics Learning Lab (BILL), an educational innovation lab, is working to sustain innovative teaching practices that bring together students from various programs.
Finally, the program has a student association and a very active alumni network.
Objectives
The scientific objective of the program is to train multidisciplinary scientists with in-depth expertise in:
- Analysis of biological data (statistics, algorithmic processing, data mining), whether at the level of sequences, -omics data, molecular structures, expression data, etc.
- Design of methods, tools, databases, and information systems for processing this type of data,
- Program in various computing environments appropriate for the biological context
, including needs analysis, solution design, and adaptation to specific constraints, - Disseminate and present the results of the analyses.
Expertise and Skills
Graduates thus acquire a true dual set of skills and expertise specific to bioinformatics, as well as theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of biology and computer science.
Organization
Open on an alternating basis
Contract Type | Apprenticeship Contract |
|---|
A schedule of training periods and on-the-job training has been established for both years.
Internships, supervised projects
Internship | Required |
|---|---|
Duration of the internship | 5 |
Internship Abroad | Possible |
Duration of the internship abroad | 5 |
The program includes several internships and projects: a 2-month internship at the end of the first year of the master’s program and another 5-month internship at the end of the second year, as well as two supervised projects at the beginning of each academic year.
Program
Select a program
Bioinformatics
The Master’s program in Bioinformatics currently consists of a single track bearing the same name. It allows students from various bachelor’s degree programs to acquire skills that complement their undergraduate education during the first semester of the M1 year through course units (UE) tailored to their academic backgrounds. Then, starting in the second semester of the M1, students receive training in bioinformatics through core coursework. Two groupsof electivecourses in the second and third semesters allow students to tailor their program toward a computer science or biology/health focus.
For more information, return to the section containing general information or scroll down to the section on the two-year M1 and M2 programs.
Admission
Admission Requirements
Hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, biology, or bioinformatics, or an equivalent degree. The master’s degree may also be earned through continuing education or an apprenticeship program.
Registration Procedures
Applications can be submitted through the following platforms:
French and European students:
- For the M1 program, follow the “My Master’s” procedure on the website: https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For the M2 program, students must submit their application through the e-candidat portal: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature
International students from outside the EU: Follow the “Études en France” procedure:https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Target Audience
Students with bachelor's degrees in computer science, mathematics, biology, or bioinformatics.
Capacity
30 students per year
And then
Continuing Education
Students who have earned a master's degree in Bioinformatics may continue their studies toward a Ph.D.
Employment Placement
Students will be able to pursue careers as engineers or researchers in both the public and private sectors. In the private sector, they can work on R&D teams, whether at large corporations or innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Alternatively, they can hold management positions and, eventually, become project managers at digital services companies (ESNs) involved in the development of specialized software tools. In the public sector, graduates will be qualified to work as hospital engineers or bioinformatics engineers, bridging the gap between computer science and the life sciences.Graduates of the Master’s in Bioinformatics program may also pursue a Ph.D. to pursue careers as researchers, faculty members, or research engineers in bioinformatics.