Overview

This high-level training in Bioinformatics research at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) opens up a wide range of career options for students, as well as academic opportunities. There is currently an ever-growing demand for professionals with this level of training, coming from hospitals and the pharmaceutical, biotech and agro-food industries. 

Companies in these sectors are generally highly active in terms of their RD&I, this being essential if they wish to maintain or improve their competitive position. The explosion in the biological data handled by hospitals and businesses (the big data paradigm) and the need to develop procedures to correctly interpret these data (in the context of an institution's specific objectives) are the main factors behind this growing demand for people highly trained in Bioinformatics.

Study plan

Depending on what studies the doctoral student has already completed, and whether or not they have obtained initiation to research credits in an official postgraduate course, it may be deemed appropriate for them to take bridging courses. These bridging courses are made up of courses already existing in the University's official postgraduate programmes.

In the event a doctoral student is assigned bridging courses as part of their study plan, they shall have to take these courses and pass them during their first academic year.

The programme's duration is a maximum of 3 years full-time or 5 years part-time, from admission of the student onto the programme until submission of their doctoral thesis. This period does not include any maternity or paternity leave or absences due to long-term illness, subject to approval from the Academic Committee.