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Curriculum

The design of this BSc(Bioinformatics) curriculum recognises the broad spectrum of personal interests and diversity in career aspirations of a modern bioinformatics practitioner, ranging from biomedical researchers who are skilled at performing analysis with bioinformatics tools to computational biologists who can perform large-scale data analyses to solve biomedical questions, to software developers who build innovative new computational or statistical tools for healthcare applications.

 

Students are required to complete 240 credits of courses:

  • Major courses (Bioinformatics): 96 credits

  • Common Core courses: 36 credits

  • Language Enhancement courses: 18 credits

  • Minor and/or electives: 90 credits

Course Code

Course Name

Suggested Year

Credits

BIOF1001

Introduction to Biomedical Data Science

1

6

BIOF2001

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

2 or 3

6

BIOF3001

Big Data Biomedical Informatics

3 or 4

6

Foundation Courses (36 credits)
These courses, mainly to be taken in years 1 and 2 of the programme, focus on concepts and practical skills in fundamental topics in bioinformatics, such as biochemistry, mathematics, statistics and computer programming.

Course Code

Course Name

Suggested Year

Credits

BIOC1600

Perspectives in Biochemistry

1

6

COMP1117

Computer Programming

1

6

MATH1013

University Mathematics II

1

6

MATH2014

Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra

2

6

STAT2601

Probability and Statistics I

2

6

STAT2602

Probability and Statistics II

2

6

Project: Capstone Experience (12 credits)
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 continuously assess the student’s performance.

Course Code

Course Name

Year

Credits

BIOF4001

Final Year Project

4

12

Key Features

Anchoring Courses (18 credits)
These courses adopt a case-based problem-solving approach to support interdisciplinary integration of subject-specific content each year (horizontal integration) and provide a consistent backbone for the curriculum across different years (vertical integration).

Course Code

Course Name

Suggested Year

Credits

BIOF3002

Genome Sequencing and Analysis

3 or 4

6

BIOF3003

Digital Health

3 or 4

6

Disciplinary Elective Courses (18 or 24 credits)

Students can choose a wide range of specialised courses in bioinformatics, biomedical sciences, statistics and computer science. Students are required to take 3 to 4 courses from over 20 courses.

Course Code

Course Name

Suggested Year

Credits

BBMS2003

Human Genetics

2

6

BBMS2007

Essential Molecular Biology

2

6

BIOC2600

Basic Biochemistry

2

6

COMP2113

Programming Technologies

2

6

COMP2119

Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms

2

6

BBMS3008

Essential Proteomics

3 or 4

6

BBMS3009

Genome Science

3 or 4

6

BBMS4004

Public Health Genetics

3 or 4

6

BIOC3605

Sequence Bioinformatics

3 or 4

6

BIOF3004

Bioinformatics Internship

3 or 4

6

Minors

Students can plan their academic pursuits with the remaining 90 credits in various manners. They can take a minor and/or electives offered within the BSc(Bioinformatics) curriculum or in other curricula. The minor options offered in the BSc(Bioinformatics) curriculum include:

Minor in Digital Health

Example courses:

  • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (BIOF2001)

  • Digital Health (BIOF3003)

  • Biomedical Signals Processing and Modelling in Biomedical Applications (BMED4504)

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Minor in Biomedical Data Science​

Example courses:

  • Sequence Bioinformatics (BIOC3605)

  • Global Health Informatics (BIOF4002)

  • Statistical Machine Learning (STAT3612)

Data Science Laboratory Courses (6 or 12 credits)
By embracing an experiential learning approach, we offer two innovative "Data Science Laboratory" courses for students to acquire hands-on computer programming and data analysis skills and reinforce 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 one or both of the following courses:

Articulation Programme

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at The University of Hong Kong*

Year 3 students will begin the second semester of the first-year MBBS curriculum at HKU. Afterwards, they will resume their 4th year of BSc(Bioinformatics) study. Once they complete the Bioinformatics curriculum and meet the admission criteria for the MBBS curriculum, they will be directly admitted to Year 2 of the MBBS curriculum. Additionally, they will be exempted from the Year 3 enrichment year requirement. By completing the program, students can earn a BSc(Bioinformatics) and MBBS degree from HKU within eight years.

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* Subject to approval.

Intercalated Programme

Master of Public Health (MPH) at The University of Hong Kong*

The MPH programme provides comprehensive training on various current healthcare topics. Upon completing the undergraduate programme, students will be awarded an intercalated Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. Year 3 students who wish to apply for the MPH Intercalated Programme should aim for a year GPA of 3.4 or higher to be considered for admission. The online application process begins annually in early December.

​

During the 1-year full-time programme, students will select one of the concentrations offered by the Master of Public Health. The available concentrations are:

  • Public Health Practice (PHP)

  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EB)

  • Control of Infectious Diseases (CID)

  • Health Economics, Policy and Management (HEPM)

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* Subject to approval.

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