Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics

The Bioinformatics programme at HKUMed nurtures the next generation of global leaders in the fields of biomedical data science and digital healthcare technology. Students are well-equipped to excel in diverse career paths within the healthcare, public health services and research profession and beyond, or pursue innovative entrepreneurship.

As a cutting-edge discipline, data science is now central to modern biomedical research and healthcare innovation. Our BSc(Bioinformatics) programme provides related essential training for future leaders in this wide-ranging field, particularly the high-impact biomedical big data applications, inclusive of genomics, precision medicine, single-cell analysis, multi-omic systems biology, digital health technology, mobile health, artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of medical imaging data, electronic health record analysis, and global health and epidemiology. 

“Genome sequencing data not only allows us to identify targeted therapies for cancer patients, but also provides clues for the origin of their tumour.”

Dr. Jason W.H. Wong

Associate Professor and BSc(Bioinformatics) Programme Co-Director

 The design of our BSc(Bioinformatics) curriculum is tailored to match a wide spectrum of personal interests with diverse career aspirations of being modern bioinformatics practitioners. The scope of their roles ranges from being biomedical researchers skilled at performing analysis with bioinformatics tools (bioinformatics users), to computational biologists capable of performing large-scale data analyses to solve biological questions (bioinformatics scientists), to software developers proficient inbuilding innovative computational or statistical tools for biomedical applications (bioinformatics engineers). 

This programme is designed with a four-year curriculum covering a series of anchoring courses at different year levels, which enable the vertical and horizontal integration of various level courses from diverse disciplines, especially on essential statistical data analysis skills, key algorithms for biomedical informatics and fundamental concepts in modern genomic and health technology across. With great flexibility, the curriculum also allows students to take a multitude of disciplinary elective courses in biomedical sciences, statistics, computer science and biomedical engineering. 

“Bioinformatics skills are critical to develop innovative digital technology for a healthier future.”

Dr Joshua W.K. Ho
Associate Professor and BSc(Bioinformatics) Programme Co-Director

Over the four-year curriculum, students are required to complete courses worth 240 credits comprising 96 credits from major courses, 36 credits from Common Core courses, and 18 credits from Language Enhancement courses, plus the remaining 90 credits from minors and electives. 

Core Courses for Bioinformatics Major

The core courses feature four categories: anchoring, foundation, project and disciplinary elective courses. 

Anchoring Courses

Three anchoring courses are the centre-piece of the four-year programme. These courses adopt a case-based problem-solving approach to support interdisciplinary integration of subject-specific content at each year level (horizontal integration), while providing a consistent backbone for the curriculum across different year levels (vertical integration). Here are the compulsory anchoring courses: 

• Introduction to Biomedical Data Science 
• Artificial Intelligence in Medicine 
• Big Data in Biomedical Informatics 

Foundation Courses

Most of these courses to be taken in Years 1 and 2 of the programme focus on concepts and practical skills in basic bioinformatics topics, such as biochemistry, mathematics, statistics and computer programming. The completion of the following foundation courses is necessary: 

• Perspectives in Biochemistry 
• Computer Programming 
• University Mathematics II 
• Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra 
• Probability and Statistics I 
• Probability and Statistics II 

Project: Capstone Experience

Each student is required to carry out an in-depth year-long research project in a specialised field of bioinformatics under the guidance of a supervisor who will provide a continuous performance assessment. 

Disciplinary ‘Data Science Laboratory’ Courses 

Taking an experiential learning approach, two innovative ‘Data Science Laboratory’ courses are offered to allow students to acquire hands-on computer programming and data analysis skills, apart from reinforcing the underlying principles of mathematical, statistical and algorithmic concepts through tailored dry-lab practical classes in genomics and digital health. 

Students are required to complete either one of the following courses or both: 

• Genome Sequencing and Analysis 
• Digital Health 

Disciplinary Elective Courses

A wide range of specialised courses in bioinformatics, biomedical sciences, statistics and computer science can be selected to fulfil the disciplinary elective requirements. Students are required to take three to four courses from a choice of over 20 courses. Some examples of bioinformatics courses include: 

• Structural Bioinformatics 
• Biomedical Software Systems 
• Global Health Informatics 
• Biomedical Image Informatics 

Minor Options & Electives Courses
Students can plan their optional and elective studies with the remaining 90 credits in various manners. They may opt to take a minor and/or electives offered within the BSc(Bioinformatics) curriculum or offered in other curricula. The minor options offered in the BSc(Bioinformatics) curriculum include: 

Minor in Digital Health

Example courses:

• Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
• Digital Health
• Biomedical Signals Processing and Modelling in Biomedical Applications

Minor in Biomedical Data Science

Example courses:

• Sequence Bioinformatics
• Global Health Informatics
• Statistical Machine Learning

Read the Prospectus