Master in Life Science Informatics
University of Helsinki
Key Information
Campus location
Helsinki, Finland
Languages
English, Finnish, Swedish
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 18,000 / per year *
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* for non-EU/EEA countries
Introduction
How will Mathematics and Informatics help you understand Nature?
The multidisciplinary Master’s Programme in Life Science Informatics (LSI) provides the tools to gain knowledge from models and data. It integrates research excellence across the Faculties of Science, of Medicine and of Bio- and Environmental Sciences with the Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences (HiLIFE), thus providing cutting-edge education from experts in the life sciences, medicine, mathematics, statistics, and informatics. This combination offers attractive and versatile study opportunities, where you can tailor your studies according to your personal interest and career plans.
The programme has four study tracks to specialise in: Biomathematics, Biostatistics, Ecological Informatics or Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine. While gaining deep knowledge in your specialisation, you will also get a broad overview of several fields to support your future career.
Studying
The Master's Programme in Life Science Informatics (LSI) is designed for students with background in mathematics, computer science and statistics as well as for students of the life sciences with sufficient background in these fields. The minimum requirements are 25 credits in one and 15 credits in another of the three fields mathematics, computer science and statistics.
Students and student life
Student life and especially the student organisation culture is exceptionally rich and diverse in Finland. Also at the University of Helsinki, the student community is very active. More than 250 student organisations operate within the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY), ranging from faculty and subject organisations to political and societal organisations, and from choirs and orchestras to sports and game clubs. Their activities include anniversary celebrations, academic dinner parties, cultural events, get-togethers and excursions.
As a student and member of the Student Union (HYY), you are entitled to many benefits and services. For example, affordable student housing, basic healthcare services, sports facilities and student-priced meals. You also get numerous discounts, for example on public transport fees across the country.
Admissions
Curriculum
The Master's degree comprises 120 credits and it is possible to complete the programme in two years. The degree includes min 85 credits of advanced studies in life science informatics and can include up to 35 credits from other studies.
1. At least 85 cr of advanced studies, including:
- introductory core courses, min 15 cr
- study track-specific courses, min 35 cr, which include
- min 15 cr from a list of courses specified by the student's own study track
- other advanced courses from the student's study track, from other study tracks or from other programmes as approved by the student's personal academic mentor
- Master’s thesis, 30 cr
- Master's seminar, 5 cr
2. Other studies 0-35 cr, which may be
- a study module of a minor subject
- A study module is an approved package of courses. A student of LSI may, for example, wish to take a study module of computer science or mathematics. These modules are provided by the corresponding Master's programmes.
- courses chosen freely from other Master's programmes
- courses from other disciplines (these may be BSc level courses)
- a study module of exchange studies
- Students can include 15-30 cr of studies completed at an exchange destination of the University of Helsinki in their degree as an optional study module.
- language courses
- work experience
- a course organised by the Faculty of Science on sustainability
- BSc level courses of mathematics, statistics and computer science can be approved if necessary (this depends on the content of the BSc degree of the student)
The courses of the Master’s Programme in Life Science Informatics include lectures, exercise classes, and the study of the literature. Most courses award credits based on exams or project assignments. Some courses are completed by independent study and literature-based exams.
The courses are organised into four study tracks: Biomathematics, Biostatistics, Ecological Informatics, and Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine. All study tracks are taught by internationally highly recognised research groups and give a strong basis for pursuing a PhD:
Biomathematics
This study track focuses on mathematical modelling with an emphasis on ecology. The introductory courses on mathematical biology and on mathematical modelling are of wide relevance as models are at the heart of theory and also of modern Bayesian statistics. Further courses include the mathematics of infectious diseases, spatial ecology, stochastic population models, game theory, and adaptive dynamics; these assume a background in mathematics and are offered also through the Master's Programme in Mathematics and Statistics. The courses are given only every other year but in a reliable cycle so that every student can take any course in the 2-year span of Master studies. Taken together, this study track offers exceptionally deep knowledge in mathematical ecology with transferable skills in modelling.
Biostatistics
This study track studies how to make principled statistical inferences in real-life situations. The breadth of biostatistics is demonstrated by the introductory course 'Topics in biostatistics'. Specialised courses include statistical epidemiology, population genetics, genome-wide association studies and design of experiments. The applied courses are complemented with advanced courses in mathematics and statistics, such as computational statistics, high-dimensional statistics and event-history analysis. The courses in the biostatistics track turn you into an expert in data analysis using software for statistical computing, which is a highly regarded skill across quantitative fields.
Ecological Informatics
In this study track, you specialise in mathematical, statistical and machine learning methods in ecology. In a nutshell, ecology studies the distribution and abundance of species and their interactions with other species and the environment. As a scientific field, it has a key role in our ability to respond to the challenges posed by global change. In turn, mathematical and statistical modelling as well as machine learning are essential for analyzing large ecological data sets. In the ecological informatics study track, you will be trained in the latest methods and techniques of analysis in the field. In addition to courses provided by the Master's Programme in Life Science Informatics, your methodological skills will be strengthened by courses from the Master's Programme in Mathematics and Statistics and your ecological understanding will be strengthened by courses from the Master's Programme in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine
This study track combines expertise from all three Faculties involved in the Master's Programme, the Faculties of Science, of Medicine and of Biological and Environmental Sciences. After introductory courses on bioinformatics and systems biology, we offer courses on genome analysis, machine learning, clinical data mining, and systems medicine. For example, we offer biology-tailored algorithm and machine learning studies for analysing molecular biology data as well as computational approaches that allow the interpretation of high-throughput biomedical data obtained from patients. Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine prepare you for a post as a bioinformatics expert in a biology or biomedical research lab, working with processing, analysing and interpreting big molecular or clinical data.
Master's thesis
The programme includes a mandatory Master´s thesis, a scientific research project. The project can be theoretical or practical in nature, including biological or medical data-analysis from an ongoing research project. The resulting thesis is a written work that demonstrates your ability for scientific reasoning and your familiarity with the relevant scientific literature.
You will be appointed a supervisor who will hold regular meetings with you to ensure that your thesis work is proceeding smoothly and on schedule. The thesis is worth 30 credits (ECTS), corresponding to full-time studies during one semester. Although the thesis is an independent work, it is often done as part of a research group.
Gallery
Program Outcome
Why Life Sience Informatics?
As a graduate of the Life Science Informatics programme you will:
- Have first-class knowledge and capabilities for a career in life science research and in expert duties in the public and private sectors
- Competence to work as a member of a group of experts
- Have an understanding of the regulatory and ethical aspects of scientific research
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills for employment in an international and interdisciplinary professional setting
- Understand the general principles of mathematical modelling, computational, probabilistic and statistical analysis of biological data, and be an expert in one specific specialisation area of the LSI programme
- Understand the logical reasoning behind experimental sciences and be able to critically assess research-based information
- Have mastered scientific research, making systematic use of investigation or experimentation to discover new knowledge
- Have the ability to report results in a clear and understandable manner for different target groups
- Have good opportunities to continue your studies for a doctoral degree
Scholarships and Funding
Our scholarship program is for students who are applying to the University of Helsinki. These scholarships are intended for excellent students from outside the EU/EEA, who wish to complete a Master's program at the University of Helsinki. Grants can be applied while applying to the University of Helsinki’s Master’s programs.
Career Opportunities
After completing the Master Programme in Life Science Informatics (LSI), you have excellent opportunities to apply and perform postgraduate studies either at the University of Helsinki, at other universities in Finland, or abroad. As a graduate, you can also find employment, for example, in health sector enterprises, such as bioindustry.