If you enrolled before the 2025/2026 academic year, consult the list of Programmes and Regulations available on your School website.
The information provided about the programme refers to the academic year 2025/26 and may be subject to change in the academic year 2026/27.
MSc programme in cooperation with Università degli Studi di Milano.
The lessons will be held at Università degli Studi di Milano and at the Leonardo campus of Politecnico di Milano.
Eligibility
Admission is open to students with a Bachelor Degree in either biomolecular sciences OR computer science/mathematics, with a basic knowledge in either genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry, OR computer/information science and mathematics (programming, data bases, statistics).
Mission and goals
The joint Master Degree in “Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics” (BCG) of Politecnico di Milano and Università degli Studi di Milano aims to give its graduates an adequate knowledge on the molecular basis of biological systems; the structure and function of biological molecules and how they participate in cellular processes; the technologies and platforms for the analysis of genomes; the tools for bioinformatics and genomic analysis; and the statistical and computational methodologies for the analysis of biomolecular data.
Therefore, the BCG degree includes activities providing in depth knowledge on:
- the organization of information in the genome and the molecular and cellular processes at the basis of gene expression and its regulation
- the experimental methods used for studying genes and their function in different model species, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic
- the technologies employed in modern genomic research
- methods and protocols of bioinformatic analysis in functional genomics studies
- algorithmic, mathematical and statistical approaches underlying bioinformatic and genomic analysis tools
- data base technologies for the storage and organization of the data
- modelling and analysis techniques employed in systems biology for the study of interactions in complex biological systems.
Subjects
Università degli Studi di Milano will offer the courses focused on biological topics, while Politecnico di Milano will offer the computational ones.
1ST YEAR
1st semester
- Mandatory courses: Organic Chemistry; Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Elective courses: Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology; Biochemistry; Programming and Data Bases; Statistics
2nd semester
- Mandatory courses: Genomics and Transcriptomics; Scientific Programming; Machine Learning; Biostatistics
2ND YEAR
1st semester
- Mandatory courses: Advanced Genomics and Epigenomics; Structural Chemistry; Systems Biology and Network Analysis
- Elective courses: Interdisciplinary project; Genomic Big Data Management and Computing
Career opportunities
The BCG Master degree aims to train “data scientists”, highly skilled professionals able to merge in depth knowledge on the molecular foundations of life sciences with up-to-date knowledge of the current techniques and technologies for bioinformatic and genomic analysis. Particular emphasis will be put on the quantitative and computational aspects of the latter ones, which will be focused on the analysis, modelling, and comprehension of biological systems. The ultimate goal is to train in a multi-disciplinary context professionals ready to cope with the challenges deriving from modern biomolecular sciences in the post-genomic era, and able to conjugate and integrate knowledge on biology, genetics, computer science, information engineering, and statistics in different fields of basic or applied research.
Graduates in BCG will thus be able to:
- take part in the design and execution of large scale genomic analyses
- identify and extract the biological meaning from the results obtained
- design tools and protocols for the bioinformatic analysis of different types of experimental data autonomously
- play a pivotal role in research groups focused on basic or applied genomic research
- coordinate and supervise research projects and groups focused on bioinformatics and genomics
Info
To be admitted to the BCG Master's Degree Program, students must meet one of the following two requirements.
- Requirement 1 (Biology area): Bachelor's degree in class L-2, L-13, L-26, or L-29 and at least 30 credits (ECTS) in Biology (SSD BIOS-*), and at least 18 credits (ECTS) in Genetics (BIOS-14/A), Molecular Biology (BIOS-08/A), and Biochemistry (BIOS-07/A).
- Requirement 2 (STEM/Computer Science area): Bachelor's degree in class L-8, L-30, L-31, L-35 or L-41 and at least 30 CFU in Computer Science, Information Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics and/or Statistics (SSD INFO-01/A, IINF-05/A, IBIO-01/A, from MATH-01 to MATH-06, STAT-01/A), with at least 6 CFU in Mathematics (from MATH-01 to MATH-06) and a minimum of 12 CFU overall in Computer Science, Information Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and/or Statistics.
The same criteria as those for Italian qualifications apply to candidates with foreign qualifications. The Teaching Board will consider foreign qualifications suitable if the subjects and the number of credits earned for each can be clearly identified (1 CFU = 1 ECTS – European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). If this is not possible, the Teaching Board will examine the documentation certifying the candidates' educational background in detail to assess whether their preparation meets the requirements.
The Master's Degree Program in Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics (BCG) aims to train professionals with a solid foundation in the molecular basis of biological systems and the structure and function of biological molecules in cellular processes. The educational objective includes the acquisition of in-depth skills in: 1) Genomics: Organization of information in the genome, molecular and cellular processes underlying gene expression and its regulation, experimental methods for studying genes in model organisms (prokaryotes and eukaryotes), and advanced genomics technologies. 2) Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics analysis tools and protocols for functional genomics studies, and underlying algorithmic, mathematical, and statistical approaches. 3) Data Management: Database technologies for storing and organizing biomolecular data. 4) Systems Biology: Modeling and analysis techniques for studying interactions in complex biological systems. A key element of the program is the internship, which students must complete at research laboratories at the Politecnico di Milano, the University of Milan, or other research institutes, both in Italy and abroad.
The Master's Degree Program in Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics (BCG) aims to train professionals with advanced training, capable of combining a solid understanding of the molecular foundations of life sciences with the cutting-edge use of techniques and technologies for bioinformatics and genomic analysis. The program places particular emphasis on quantitative and computational aspects, focusing on the analysis, modeling, and understanding of biological systems. The primary objective is to train highly multidisciplinary professionals, ready to address the challenges of the post-genomic era in the field of biomolecular sciences. BCG graduates will acquire the ability to combine and integrate fundamental skills in Biology, Genetics, Computer Science, Information Engineering, and Statistics, applicable to basic, applied, and industrial research settings. The program therefore trains professionals in the biological, biotechnological, and computational fields with the following professional skills: 1) contribute to the design and execution of large-scale genomic analyses; 2) identify and interpret the biological significance of the obtained results. 3) independently develop tools and protocols for the computational bioinformatics analysis of various types of experimental data; 4) assume a key role within research and industrial groups dedicated to basic and applied genomics; 5) coordinate and supervise research and industrial projects and groups in bioinformatics and genomics. BCG graduates are also well-positioned to continue their scientific education with PhD or Master's programs. BCG graduates are eligible to sit the state exam for registration in the Register of Biologists.
- BCG Master's Degree admission tutors: Prof. Marco Masseroli marco.masseroli@polimi.it, Prof. Giulio Pavesi giulio.pavesi@unimi.it.
- Student Desks: via Celoria, 18 - 20133 Milan www.unimi.it/en/node/359 +390250325032 https://www.unimi.it/en/node/360.
- Academic Services: Office via Celoria, 26 - 20133 Milan - ground floor, C Building