BSc Bioinformatics is an undergraduate course of 3-year which is divided into six semesters (2 semesters per year).
BSc Bioinformatics is a bachelor’s course which specializes in the science of collecting and analysing complex biological data such as genetic codes. It is a field in which their interface between biology, computing, and statistics is used in organism biology, molecular biology and biomedicine.
The eligibility criteria for this course require 10+2, with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from any recognized board of education.
Check the list of top BSc Colleges in India
BSc Bioinformatics admission is based on merit in most of the institutes and a few institutes also conduct their own entrance examinations. These entrance exams are followed by rounds of Personal Interview.
The course fee in India ranges from INR 50K – 5 Lakhs per annum. However, the exact amount depends on the respective college chosen.
The graduates can get various BSc Bioinformatics jobs like Application Support Specialist, Bio-Analyst, Bioinformatics Programmer & Analyst, Bioinformatics Trainer, Clinical Pharmacologist, Computational Chemist, etc.
They get employed in diagnostic centres, government and private hospitals, hospital industry, pharmaceutical industry, Pharmacogenomics, research agencies & institutions, universities and colleges and in many other areas.
The starting salary of these graduates will vary from one candidate to another as it depends on the skill, knowledge, the thesis proposed and the experience one has gained while getting graduated in the course. The average salary the companies offer to the BSc Bioinformatics graduates are INR 2-25 Lakhs per annum.
Much advanced studies options are available for the graduates to select from, advance Diploma in bioinformatics, advance post graduate diploma in bioinformatics, advanced bioinformatics (ABI), Certificate course in bio Perl programming, certificate course in bioinformatics, MS Bioinformatics, MSc Bioinformatics, Post Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics, etc. are some of them.
Check: Top MSc Colleges in India
BSc Bioinformatics Course Highlights
Here are some of the most popular highlights of the BSc Bioinformatics degree program that have been tabulated below:
Course | B.Sc. (Bioinformatics) |
Full form | Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics |
Level | Graduation |
Duration | 3 years |
Eligibility | 10+2, with Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
Admission Process | Merit based or entrance exam followed by an interview |
Average tuition fee | INR 5K to 5 Lakhs |
Job Positions | Application Support Specialist, Bio-Analyst, Bioinformatics Programmer & Analyst, Bioinformatics Trainer, Clinical Pharmacologist, Computational Chemist, etc |
Average salary | INR 2 Lakhs to 25 Lakhs |
What BSc Bioinformatics is all about?
It is very important for the students to completely know about the program which one wants to pursue. One must be very clear about the expectations which one tends to keep from the course.
So, to ease the process, BSc Bioinformatics course detail is mentioned below.
- The BSc Bioinformatics programme will give students a thorough understanding of bioinformatics and will provide them with a comprehensive introduction to genetics, cell biology, applied mathematics, biostatistics and key aspects of computer science.
- It will equip you with the knowledge and skills to tackle real-world life science problems from an informatics and computational perspective.
- In this course, Bioinformatics combines computer science with molecular biology to gain fundamental insights into life processes.
- As the key to extracting biologically meaningful information, B.Sc. in Bioinformatics course is essential for an in-depth understanding of human diseases as well as for the identification of new molecular targets and therapeutic molecules for drug discovery.
- Bioinformatics is an academic investigation of the amalgamation of natural chemistry and sub-atomic science alongside data innovation and it explores life sciences, particularly biomedicine, by the use of computational science.
Why Study BSc Bioinformatics?
Knowing the benefits offered by the course can help in clearing out all the doubts of the students regarding the course they want to pursue. Some of the benefits and perks of pursuing BSc Bioinformatics degree program has been mentioned below:
- Today’s job industry is full of vacancies for people with skills in bioinformatics.
- The major pharmaceutical, biotech and software companies are seeking to hire professionals with experience in the bioinformatics field where they will be working with huge amounts of biological and health care information.
- Bioinformatics is one of the rare fields that give opportunities to students from both the technical and life sciences field.
- BSc Bioinformatics degree makes one capable of carrying out numerous significant research and activities such as designing drugs, comparing genetic data among different and same species, characterisation of proteins, etc.
- This course is very beneficial to get employed in the application areas of Bioinformatics, one can try for careers in IT as well as in the area of life sciences and to pursue higher education courses related to the subject.
What is the BSc Bioinformatics Admission Process?
BSc Bioinformatics admissions in India are mainly conducted through top entrance exams like GATE, JEST, BINC, etc. Some colleges and universities also consider the score of state level exams and private exams conducted by the universities and few institutions also grant direct admissions to the students on the basis of their score in 10+2.
Following are some of the vital steps related to the admission of the course:
- The candidate can search the details on the course and its admission procedure in the official website of the University/institution (that offers the course).
- The application form can be collected from the office of the institution or from the official web portal.
- A specific amount of fee must be paid in order to collect the application.
- Once the application is filled up completely the candidate can send the same to the destination address.
- They must attach other relevant documents as mentioned in the notification along with the application.
- The students must carry their original documents(as required by respective institutions) at the time of admission some of which are as follows:
- Higher Secondary Certificate and Mark sheet.
- +2 Certificate and Mark sheet.
- Migration Certificate
- Income tax of Parent/Guardian for women candidates.
- Recent passport size colour photographs duly attested by a Gazetted Officer (3 copies).
- Caste/Tribe certificate (for SC/ST candidate)/Physically Handicapped certificate.
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Do I Qualify the BSc Bioinformatics Eligibility Criteria?
BSc Bioinformatics eligibility criteria might vary from college to college, but the overall gist is the same. These are the basic requirements for BSc Bioinformatics admission in India.
- Those aspirants who have completed their XII class are eligible to apply for the bachelor degree in Bioinformatics.
- The candidates must be obtained minimum 50% marks at their 10+2.
- The candidate should have passed the 12th class with Science as the main subject.
- The admission to the course is offered on the basis of marks scored in 12th class.
- Certain Universities offer admission on the basis of the certain entrance exam conducted.
- The score is counted as the prime criterion during the admission process.
BSc Agriculture Eligibility | BSc Computer Science Eligibility | BSc Biotechnology Eligibility |
BSc Psychology Eligibility | BSc Microbiology Eligibility | BSc IT Eligibility |
Which are the BSc Bioinformatics Entrance Exams?
A large number of prestigious institutes and medical colleges in and around India conduct BSc Bioinformatics exam to gauge the merit and skill of the candidates before granting admission to the students.
Some of the most prestigious and lucrative entrance exams for the courses in India are:
Name of the Exams | Registration Dates | Exam Dates |
---|---|---|
NPAT | December 01, 2022 – May 21, 2023 | January 04, 2023 – May 31, 2023 |
CUET | April 2023 | May 21 – 31, 2023 |
CUCET | November 28 - May 29, 2023 | November 28 - May 30, 2023 |
SET | December 10 – April 12, 2023 | May 06, 2023 (Test 1) May 14, 2023 (Test 2) |
Read: BSc Entrances
How to Prepare for BSc Bioinformatics Entrance Exams?
Here are a few common preparation tips candidates should follow to clear the entrance exams of BSc Bioinformatics :
- Before starting the preparation students must prepare a smart and operative strategy for the entrance examination and they should prepare the strategy in such a way that it increases their chances of clearing the entrance exam in one attempt with a good score.
- Preparing for the exam without time management is worthless that is why candidates must make a proper timetable which covers all the topics coming in the entrance exam and the time should be managed by the students in such a way that each and every topic of the syllabus can be covered before the exam.
- During the preparation of entrance exam candidates must note down all the important points at one place and the notes made by the candidate must be brief and clear, this will help them to go through all the important points at the time of revision a day before the entrance exam.
- Candidates must attempt various online or offline mock test papers because through this way, candidates will be able to examine their preparation level and make improvement accordingly and also they will be able to make improvement in their speed and accuracy.
- To know the trend of entrance exam, the best way is to solve maximum sample papers or previous year papers and by practicing previous year’s papers the candidates will also get to know the difficulty level of the entrance examination.
How to get Admission in a Good BSc Bioinformatics College?
Admissions in India to top BSc Bioinformatics colleges are a straightforward process. The candidates should keep some important tips in their mind to get admission in the top college of BSc Bioinformatics .
So here are some tips for getting into the college of your choice:
- Maintain a good performance record while doing you 10+2.
- Appear for examinations like GATE, JEST, BINC, etc. and university specific examinations.
- Keep a watch on the previous year cut off marks in the entrance examinations.
- After the completion of your 10+2, dedicate a whole year for the preparation of exams for B.Sc. (Bioinformatics).
- Try to give maximum mock tests, papers available online or in your college library.
- Short list the colleges you would want to take admission into. Keep in mind, not all states have top colleges in B.Sc. (Bioinformatics).Thus, be prepared to relocate.
- Keep in mind your future goal. A B.Sc. (Bioinformatics from different colleges will give varied scope after completion of B.Sc.
- Since you would be spending up to 3 years in B.Sc. (Bioinformatics), keep a watch on side courses that can be done along, to help boost your career options.
Read More: BSc Courses
BSc Bioinformatics Syllabus
The BSc Bioinformatics syllabus is usually maintained in most institutes throughout the nation. While minor variations in some institutes may be observed, the core of the BSc Bioinformatics syllabus is maintained throughout the nation.
SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 |
---|---|
Introduction to Bioinformatics | Biochemistry I |
Computer Fundamentals | Genetics |
Statistical Methods I | Operating System & Programming in C |
Introduction to Databases | Statistical Method II |
Cell Biology | Introduction to Genome Projects |
Biochemistry I | Information Networks |
SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 |
Hindi/Sanskrit (common with B.Sc. General Part II compulsory) | Object-Oriented Programming in C++ |
Object-oriented analysis & design models | Sampling Distribution |
Probability | Molecular Biology |
Techniques in Biochemistry | Immunology |
Nucleotide Metabolism & Bioenergetics | Sequence Comparison |
Working with a single DNA Sequence | Sequence Analysis |
Working with a single protein Sequence | Software Lab II |
SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 |
Building and Interpreting Multiple Sequence Alignment | Database Management Systems |
Editing and publishing Alignments | Programming in JAVA |
Applied Statistics | Phylogenetics |
Sampling Techniques | Structural Analysis: Working with RNA and Protein 3-D Structures |
Recombinant DNA Technology | Clinical Biochemistry |
Plant Biochemistry | Nutritional Biochemistry |
- | Software Lab III |
BSc Bioinformatics Colleges
Tabulated below are the top BSc Bioinformatics colleges in India, along with the admission process, fees and salary packages offered to them.
COLLEGE | ADMISSION PROCESS | AVERAGE ANNUAL FEES |
---|---|---|
Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala | Merit based | INR 3,280 |
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Entrance followed by interview | INR 75,000 |
Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Entrance based | INR 71,000 |
DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra | Entrance based | INR 85,000 |
Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu | Merit based | INR 30,000 |
Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan | Merit based + PI | INR 49,700 |
YBN University, Ranchi, Jharkhand | Entrance based | INR 34,500 |
GITAM Institute of Science, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | Entrance based | INR 65,000 |
Deogiri College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra | Entrance based | INR 20,485 |
CMJ University, Meghalaya | Entrance based | INR 65,000 |
BSc Bioinformatics: College Comparison
The table below gives a comparison between the Mahatma Gandhi University, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology. All these three institutes provide BSc Bioinformatics courses. Find out the difference between them in key areas.
Parameter | Mahatma Gandhi University | Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education | Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology |
---|---|---|---|
Overview | Mahatma Gandhi University envisions to champion the cause of higher education in the country by catering to the scholastic, expertise and developmental needs of the individual, the society and the industry through the creation of a critical knowledge base with well-defined means for its dissemination and extension for the society’s sustained and inclusive growth, to create an environment that would foster higher education in its area of jurisdiction and to create educated individuals qualified in specialized areas of knowledge. | Sri Ramachandra Educational and Health Trust established Sri Ramachandra University. It is a private not-for-profit university. The university covers 150 acres of land. The university is 9001:2000 certified. | Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University) formerly known as Sathyabama Engineering College was established in the year 1987 by Dr. Jeppiaar. It is a Christian Minority Institution imparting quality education in the fields of Engineering and Technology, Science, Arts and Medicine. The University has been awarded category ‘A’ University by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India and accredited by NAAC with Grade "A" in the year 2017. |
NIRF ranking | 49 | 51 | 61 |
Location | Kottayam, Kerala | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Average annual fees | INR 3,280 | INR 75,000 | INR 71,000 |
Average annual package | INR 3 LPA to INR 5.5 LPA | INR 3.7 to INR 5.2 LPA | 2.8 LPA to 5 LPA |
Top recruiters | TCS, Deloitte, Amazon, Wipro etc | Britannia, P&G, Pfizer, Mankind | Amazon, Hitachi, Yamaha, Adobe, Oracle, Federal Bank, HSBC Technologies etc |
Source: Official websites
Below table gives a comparison between BSc Bioinformatics and BTech Bioinformatics on the basis of their eligibility, admission process, job positions, average annual fees, and average salary offered to the graduates.
BASIS | BSc Bioinformatics | BTech Bioinformatics |
---|---|---|
Full form | Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics | Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology |
Eligibility | 10+2, with Physics, Chemistry and Biology | 10th and 12th from a recognized board with science stream |
Admission process | Merit based or entrance exam followed by an interview | Entrance Exam Based |
Average annual fees | INR 5,000 to 5 Lakhs | INR 3,000 to 1 Lakh per annum |
Job options | Application Support Specialist, Bio-Analyst, Bioinformatics Programmer & Analyst, Bioinformatics Trainer, Clinical Pharmacologist, Computational Chemist, etc | Territory Manager - Genomics Business Development, Research Associate in - vitro Biology, Sales Officer - Institutional Sales, Assistant Research Analyst, Analyst-Biotech Product, Research Associate - Cancer Biology |
Average annual salary | INR 2 Lakhs to 25 Lakhs | INR 30 Lakhs per annum |
Source: Official websites and Payscale
What After BSc Bioinformatics?
Students who have completed BSc Bioinformatics degree are of great demand in most of the foreign countries and in India as well. They can work in a broad variety of work profiles and they can earn a lot of certification courses there which are needed for various work profiles there.
They can get good exposure to various new organizations there that enables them to attain great heights in the industry. Some of the BSc Bioinformatics jobs available after the course are:
- Application Support Specialist
- Bio-Analyst
- Bioinformatics Programmer & Analyst
- Bioinformatics Trainer
- Clinical Pharmacologist
- Computational Chemist
- Database Design & Maintenance Expert
- Informatics Developer
- Pharmacovigilance Associate
- ·Research Associate
- Sequence AnalystApplication Support Specialist
BSc Bioinformatics courses come with various jobs and career opportunities. Fresh graduates of the course can easily expect a salary of INR 2 Lakhs to 25 Lakhs per year. The salary offered is proportional to the experience earned in the respective field.
Some of the major BSc Bioinformatics jobs available to these professionals are mentioned below:
JOBS | DESCRIPTION | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
---|---|---|
Bioinformatics Programmer & Analyst | A bioinformatics programmer or analyst's duties are to build programs by using computational formulas to determine outcomes based on biological projects or research, the individual may develop software, creating query routines & building relational databases and the individual must also possess knowledge of algorithms. | INR 3.39 Lakhs |
Research Associate | A research associate's work involves producing financial models, evaluating public information, and gathering any other available forms of data, interviewing managers, suppliers, customers, and even competitors, to collect data. | INR 3.43 Lakhs |
Clinical Pharmacologist | A clinical pharmacologist is responsible to carry out research and find out drugs for the treatment, for bring out new treatments for diseases, he should be continuously working towards innovation of new and effective drugs, to working on different technology and equipment for his innovations, he should have planned designs for his research, for documentation of future drug tests. | INR 4 to 15 Lakhs |
Application Support Specialist | Application specialists' duties are to support and troubleshoot software, typically working with both end users and developers and they usually work in an office environment, supporting end users and interacting with developers. | INR 4.77 Lakhs |
Sequence Analyst | A Sequence Analyst uses sequence alignment and verifies them with the data base to understand features, function, structure, or evolution of analytical methods by subjecting a DNA, RNA or peptide sequence to it | INR 3 to 17 Lakhs |
Source: Payscale
What is the BSc Bioinformatics Scope in Future ?
The recent trends regarding the future Bioinformatics scope forecast a good career prospect. The points given below discuss the future scope of the BSc Bioinformatics course.
Bioinformatics is an emerging field of science and career prospects in this field have been rapidly increasing.The degree holders of Bioinformatics can work in the sectors of Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Biomedical, Research institution, and in Hospitals.
The candidates can work in all those industries where the information technology of molecular biology is used. The requirement of medical sciences is increasing. It has become one of the highest-paid sectors and is continually rising.
One can teach in private and government colleges, work in the manufacturing units of biomedical products as well as in the scientific research institutes.Biotechnology Research centres and biotechnology firms hire students from the bioinformatics background for further research.
The bioinformatics degree holders can work in the leading IT companies and work as "Bio-Informationists". Candidates can find the career options as the computational chemist, Bio-analytics, database design & maintenance, proteomics, pharmacologists, informatics developer, pharmacology, etc.
There is a lot of scope and job opportunities abroad as the laboratories and foreign firms also hire Bioinformatics candidates.
Furthermore, these candidates can go ahead with MSc Bioinformatics as an immediate option of studying. This will help them to gain recognition by letting them earn more and more in the same domain.
Read More: MSc Courses
BSc Bioinformatics : FAQs?
QUES: Which one is better, BSc Bioinformatics or B.Tech?
ANS: It depends on what you want to do, biotech is more instrument or lab based and bioinformatics can be more computers based. It totally depends on your career goal whether you want to do hands on work (biotech) or behind a computer work (bioinformatics).
QUES: Is M.Sc. (Bioinformatics) after BSc Bioinformatics a good option?
ANS: Since you have completed your BSc Bioinformatics , going for M.sc is a good decision. Master degree is always more convenient and reliable than any post graduate diploma.
QUES: B.Sc. in Biochemistry vs. BSc Bioinformatics . Which course is better?
ANS: It is not that easy to point out which course is better than the other. It all varies according to one’s individual interest. Both the courses provide abundant opportunities both in terms of future studies and also in pursuing a job. Some of the scholars try to convey that BSc Bioinformatics is better than B.Sc. in Biochemistry considering the applications of these fields in the current era. But both the fields are providing numerous career prospects for the aspirants and have their own unique importance.
QUES: Is a BSc Bioinformatics course pursued after 10+2?
ANS: One of the most chosen fields of study is the BSc (Bioinformatics) course after 12th Science. BSc (Bioinformatics) is a 3 years Job oriented undergraduate degree. BSc (Bioinformatics) for science students proves to be the best choice as this course is ideal of students who have a strong interest and background in Science and Mathematics.
QUES: What is the difference between Bs (Bioinformatics) and BSc Bioinformatics ?
ANS: Both the courses are same in name, the difference is in the course structure and duration is a three-year course whereas, BS is being offered as a BS-MS dual degree. Degree to make way for BS.
QUES: Is BSc Bioinformatics a good course for pursuing a career?
ANS: Yes, BSc Bioinformatics is a good course for a career. Now-a-days this course is in demand among students because of the new advancements and techniques in this field. Moreover, after successful completion of this course opens lucrative job opportunities and future scope options.
QUES: What is the duration of the BSc Bioinformatics course?
ANS: It is a 3-year undergraduate course.
QUES: What is the highest pay scale offered to a BSc Bioinformatics graduate?
ANS: After successfully completing your graduation in bioinformatics, you can expect the highest salary package of up to INR 25 Lakhs per annum (depending upon the skills and experience you hold).
QUES: What can be done after the BSc Bioinformatics course?
ANS: After completing this course you can either opt for jobs or you can go for further education like MSc and Ph.D. or more as per your choice.
QUES: Is there any delay in the admission process of the BSc Bioinformatics course, because of COVID-19?
ANS: Many Bachelor of Science entrance exams have been postponed because of COVID-19 crisis and lockdown situation in India.