Admission requirements - MSc Bioinformatics

Interested in the master's programme Bioinformatics? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

This page specifically describes the previous knowledge and skills required for admission to the Bioinformatics programme. For the additional general admission requirements of Wageningen University & Research, application deadlines and the application procedure, visit How to apply for a master's programme?

Admission requirements

Required knowledge and skills

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the master's programme Bioinformatics are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the programme nominally in two years. Besides a pre-education in bioinformatics, this is possible with a solid knowledge and skills in either life sciences on molecular and cellular level, or in computer science. In both cases, the candidate needs a solid basis in mathematics and statistics.

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Animal Sciences, Biotechnology, Molecular Life Sciences, Plant Sciences, a Dutch BSc in Biology (with CROHO 56860 or 59325), or equivalent.

The norm for this equivalence is

An assessment of the student’s expertise in one or more of the following topics:

  • Bioinformatics
  • Computer sciences
  • Programming skills
  • Life sciences (with at least biochemistry and molecular biology)
  • Biology (cell biology, microbiology, genetics)
  • Chemistry (biochemistry)

And both the following topics:

  • Mathematics (algebra)
  • Statistics (normal and binomial distribution)

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application.

Method of assessment whether this norm is met

  • Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;
  • Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master

Compensation of knowledge gaps

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

  • a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;
  • a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us through the contact button above to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Find out more about enrolment and fees of a pre-master's programme.

Additional context for admission

Admissible study programmes

Graduates from study programmes that may meet the knowledge requirements for Bioinformatics next to those similarly named as the ones above are for example: Bioinformatics (including University of Applied Sciences (NL: hbo)), Computer Science, Statistics, Life Science and Technology, HLO (NL: hbo Biochemistry and microbiology), Microbiology, and Molecular Biology and Genetics.