Overview
The M.S. in Bioinformatics program prepares students to lead at the intersection of biological sciences, data engineering, and machine learning. As a student, you will learn to process and analyze complex genomic data, develop computational models, and build algorithms to address critical challenges in human health, disease research, and biotechnology.
To be considered for admission into the M.S. in Bioinformatics program, students must have a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Recommended backgrounds include:
- Biology, Chemistry, or a related life science field
- Computer Science or a related quantitative/engineering field
- Note: Applicants without a formal background in both areas can build foundational proficiency through the non-credit NYU Tandon Bridge certificate program before applying.
- Online application
- $90 application fee
- Official transcripts and proof of degree from all post-secondary institutions
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letters of Recommendation (optional)
- English Language Proficiency Testing (where applicable)
Find out more about Admission Requirements.
Tuition varies based on your program, term admitted and credit hours.
We are committed to keeping graduate studies affordable for all of our students. You’ll have access to on-campus employment programs that include teaching and research assistantships, as well as financial aid, scholarships, grants, and loans.
Explore our Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships page to learn more about these opportunities.
For questions about the application process, application status or to talk to an admissions counselor:
Office of Graduate Enrollment and Admissions
NYU Tandon School of Engineering
458 Pike Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA
engineering.gradinfo@nyu.edu
646-997-3182
At a Glance
15%
Bioinformatics Projected Job Growth
(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Top 10
Online Engineering School
(U.S. News & World Report)
2
Academic Tracks:
Laboratory Science and Translational Science
Market Outlook
NYC Advantage
NYU Tandon's location in the heart of New York City positions the M.S. in Bioinformatics program at the epicenter of one of the world's most rapidly growing biotech and healthcare hubs. While online students complete coursework remotely, studying at a New York City-based institution connects them directly to a vibrant ecosystem of global pharmaceutical giants, premier medical research centers, and cutting-edge biotech startups. Online learners benefit from curriculum aligned with local industry innovation, virtual networking events with NYC industry leaders, and a globally recognized degree that carries prestige across biotech, life sciences, and technology sectors nationwide.
Curriculum
In NYU Tandon’s Bioinformatics Master of Science program, students will build strong skills in molecular biology and big data analysis. Develop solutions to critical challenges throughout medicine and the life sciences by learning to utilize genomic information and next generation sequence analysis tools.
| Requirement Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| 6 Core Courses | 18 |
| Capstone Course | 3 |
| 3 Elective Courses | 9 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
At NYU Tandon experiential learning opportunities provide students the chance to engage in practical, hands-on learning to refine technical and leadership skills. The Bioinformatics Master's program allows for students to complete various opportunities for credit counting towards degree requirements. In adherence with NYU Tandon Graduate Academic policies, students may not complete more than a combined total of 9 credits of project, guided studies, readings, or thesis toward fulfillment of the master's degree requirements.
Each student is required to complete one of the following tracks:
Laboratory Science Track
- BI-GY 7543 Proteomics for Bioinformatics
Translational Science Track
- BI-GY 7693 Population Genetics and Evolutionary Biology for Bioinformatics
- BI-GY 7733 Translational Genomics and Computational Biology
Capstone Project
At least three credits of Capstone course (BI- GY 810X BIOINFORMATICS CAPSTONE) are required to fulfill the M.S. Bioinformatics requirement for graduation. This is a variable credit course from three to nine credits, meaning you can take it for three credits, or if you have six credits remaining you can take it for six.
Industry internships can count as capstone credits, but the student has to register for capstone BI-810X. If it meets the programs capstone criteria, significant programming component(Python, R, and/Shell scripting). The agreement is formalized between us and the manager/PI. We avoid all agreements that deal with proprietary data.
Students must find the internships themselves (although we will help).
Projects often deal with NGS analysis. Basically, the student demonstrates their skills in a live environment. The Jupyter notebook is used throughout the course for analysis and is submitted as progress updates in Brightspace. This along with guidelines regarding deliverables are strictly enforced.
Most of our relationships are with academic labs. We don't get involved in legal issues concerning IP.
Completion of:
- Problem Solving
- NGS
- Applied biostatistics
There are several labs with multiple projects that we work with. We can place students in any of them.
Meet our Faculty, Students and Alumni
Student Projects
Experiential Learning Center
Tandon Career Hub
NYU Tandon Bridge Program
Biomedical Engineering, M.S.
Biotechnology, M.S.
To earn a Master of Science in Bioinformatics, students must complete 30 credits to qualify for graduation (which is split into three sections).
The department offers the Bioinformatics, M.S. program in an accessible online format, allowing working professionals to balance advanced education with personal and professional commitments.
The program can be completed either full-time or part-time. Most students take six credits per semester and complete their degree in just over 2 years. You also have the option to take courses in the summer, although course availability is limited. As stipulated in the university catalog, master's students have five years to complete their degree requirements.
To be considered a full-time student, you must take 9 credits (3 courses) or more per semester. Part-time students are permitted to take 3-6 credits (1-2 courses) per semester.
Spring Semester
- November 1: General consideration
Fall Semester
- December 1: Priority consideration
- February 15: General consideration
For all of our master's programs, applicants need to have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A background in biology, chemistry, a related science, or computer science is recommended. While some applicants do bring expertise in both areas, it is not a requirement for admission. Additionally, you will need to submit:
-
An Online application
- $90 application fee
- Official transcripts and proof of degree from all post-secondary institutions
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letters of Recommendation (optional)
- English Language Proficiency Testing (where applicable)
Please note: the GRE test is not required for admission. If other aspects of your application are not as competitive, submitting competitive GRE scores may bolster your application.
Yes. Online graduate students are encouraged to engage in practical research and can complete up to 9 credits of experiential learning, capstone projects, or guided studies. Students work with faculty and partner academic labs — utilizing tools like Jupyter Notebooks and cloud computing platforms — to conduct live next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis and data modeling.
No. Since the master's program is fully online, NYU cannot provide visa support for a student visa. If you require a student visa, please consider applying for one of our on-campus programs. For any questions regarding our on campus programs, you can contact the Graduate Admissions Office at engineering.gradinfo@nyu.edu or 646-997-3182. For any questions regarding student visas, consult with the Office of Global Services for personalized immigration guidance.
To calculate the program cost, use the NYU tuition calculator. Please note that this program is 30 credits and each course is usually 3 credits.
Yes, there are various options for financial assistance.
Industry Partners:
A 20% scholarship is available to our industry partners. Not sure you qualify? You can reach out to tandon.partners@nyu.edu.
Alumni Scholarship:
Our NYU alumni qualify for a 20% scholarship to our online graduate programs.
Please note that Industry Partners and Alumni scholarships cannot be combined.
Veteran’s Benefits:
For questions on what veteran benefits NYU accepts along with instructions on how to use your VA benefits, you can visit our For Veterans page.