Eligibility to take master of bioinformatics in Germany

Question

[shinkyle92]

Hi everyone,

I am a fresh graduate who are looking for advice for studying bioinformatics. I would like to if I am eligible to study bioinformatics.

The degree I am holding at the moment are bachelor of biomedical science and master of biotechnology (biomedical science), I had participated a project related to cell biology and cytometry with CSIRO in my research year. So far, I have confident to say that I have well understanding of biological components and wet-lab technique. However, I had found the importance of bioinformatics and I would like to take a master of bioinformatics.

Unfortunately, I did not take any courses of computer science and mathematics while I was doing my university. I only took a statistics course in my undergraduate and a bioinformatics course in my postgraduate. Of course I did learn some bioinformatics knowledge in my undergraduate. A critical point is that I do not know programming but I will learn C & Python myself and it might take me at least a year.

The university only require a prove of English proficiency as all the courses are taught in English. The only things I worry about is my insufficiency of CS knowledge. Am I eligible to study bioinformatics?

Please give me some advice, I cannot imagine if I have to do a undergraduate again.

[WouterDeCoster]

Disclaimer: I haven't studied bioinformatics and haven't studied in Germany. Instead, I studied biochemistry & biotechnology in the land of beer, bad roads and chocolate.

I would expect that the bioinformatics course doesn't expect an extensive training in computer science and that you already have a nice background to start with. Based on your post, I wouldn't say your English is perfect but that's beside the question. (And I wouldn't claim that I'm an English-expert).

You would definitely be helped by studying a programming language and for most purposes, Python is an excellent choice. I see you listed both C and Python but just start with one language. The next language will be easier when you already master one, but don't confuse yourself in the beginning by learning both C and Python.

[VHahaut]

As WouterDeCoster I did not study in Germany but I did a biomedical sciences bachelor/master (also in the land of bad roads, beers and chocolat^^).

I started to do bioinformatics during my Phd without any background in CS. It is not easy to learn from scratch but it is feasible. Don't worry too much about not having a background in programming, a great amount of bioinformaticians started from a biology.

The best way to start is to learn by yourself a programming language. Python is a great choice (or R). Courses are a nice plus so if you like it and are not afraid to learn a brand new subject go for the master.

Answer 1

[LLTommy]

I would highly suggest that you start to get into a programming language on you own, starting now. The reason is simple. Try to find out if programming is for you. I f you like it, if you have a talent for it, if you could imagine to do this on a daily basis. I think, this is the more important question. You say you understand that bioinformatics is important (I agree) but why do YOU want to do it. That is something you have to ask yourself.

The university has to decide if you are eligible to do a certain master program - so you have to ask them not us. If they say you can start it, then you can... However, besides asking them, like I said, try to find out for yourself if you like programming. You don't want to start a Master program just to find out that you hate programming after all.

If you don't want to do a whole undergrad study, I can understand that. But maybe there is way to do some programming courses to help you getting started.

[WouterDeCoster]

I fully agree, and in addition, programming isn't something you learn overnight. It will take quite some time.

Answer 2

[Aerval]

Hey,

Well, I study in Germany but in a program called Molecular Biotechnology with major in Bioinformatics. While I have not studied a real bioinformatics like the program you probably target at FU Berlin, I can tell you that these are quite heavy in Computer Science as I would not be to sure whether one should go right into one of the Master programs (especially if you already have a Master, why not go for another Bachelors). An alternative are programs like mine (though that is quite hard to get into if you are not doing consecutive studies) or the Systems biology major here in Heidelberg. Nevertheless, you would probably eligible without much CS background for any scientific computing Master, its just a question of whether it really makes sense for you if you do not have any programming knowledge yet.