M Phil Bioinformatics or Masters of Philosophy in Bioinformatics is a two-year interdisciplinary postmaster’s degree in research. It is often regarded as training for a PhD.
It’s best suited for the candidates having a keen interest in collecting, organizing and analysing the biological data. The course paves the way for solutions to many biological questions and also uses computational techniques to examine data concerning bioinformatics.
See also: Bioinformatics Course
The 4-semester program is open to Master degree holders and computer science. The course is curated to provide exposure to the practical and theoretical aspects of the field.
You’ll learn about Crystallography, Bio-computing, Molecular Modelling, Chemo informatics, Computer-Aided Drug Design, Pharmacogenomics, Small and Macro Molecule X-ray in this program.
Top Colleges to pursue M Phil Bioinformatics are Kerala University, Shri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science, School of Bio- Technology and Health Science, etc. Average fees range from 10,000 to 2 Lakhs.
After completion of the programme, a candidate can find job opportunities in government and private sector. The key areas of employment are pharmaceutical, biotechnological companies, research centres and educational institutes.
The average fees for the course range between INR 20K to 3 Lacs and the average salary for the course varies from INR 2 Lac to 8 Lac.
See More: Top Bioinformatics Colleges in India
Table of Content
- M Phil in Bioinformatics: Course Highlights
- Why Study?
- M Phil in Bioinformatics: Course Advantages
- M Phil in Bioinformatics Admission Process
8.1 Future Scope
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Course Highlights
Few of the highlights of this course are given below: The major highlights of the program are tabulated as follows:
| Course Name | Master of Philosophy in Bioinformatics |
| Duration | 2 year |
| Eligibility | A Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree With 55% aggregate score in each |
| Course level | Postmaster’s Level |
| Admission process | Entrance Examination with counselling. |
| Entrance Examination | AURCET, TANCET, Entrance Test, DU PG Entrance Test, JNU M.Phil. Entrance Test etc. |
| Average Course fees | INR 20,000 to 8 Lac |
| Areas of Employment | Govt./Pvt. Sectors of Pharmaceutical companies, Research Institute, Educational Institutes, Biomedical Product, Manufacturing industries, etc. |
| Average salary | INR 2 Lac to 8 Lac per annum |
Why should you do M Phil in Bioinformatics?
- Advancement and scope in Biology are increasing day by day. Major digital changes are taking place in the Biology field now and it’s pacing forward more to digitalization.
- More analytical functions, allied informatics skills are required to store and analyze big data which will help in attaining a better understanding of biological function.
- Bioinformatics is a specialised programme curated to apply computers and informatics in Biology at the molecular level. It gives exposure to theoretical and practical aspects of the field.
- The main objective of the programme is to build high-end professionals of Bioinformatics researchers for both academic and industrial purposes and to serve the demands of biomedical industries, pharmaceutical companies and other sectors related to the segment who need next-level Bioinformatics professionals.
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Course Advantages
- The program includes the study of advancement and major initiatives in computational and structural biology.
- The course gives a scientific and analytical approach to biological research.
- It develops the research skills and expertise in the field of bioinformatics such as Crystallography, Bio-computing, Molecular Modelling, Chemo informatics, Computer-Aided Drug Design, Pharmacogenomics, Small and Macro Molecule X-ray, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, Genetic Engineering, Proteomics & Software development.
What is the M Phil in Bioinformatics Admission Process
Admissions in MPhil courses are also done through both merit and entrance exams.
Direct Admission
The admission process of M Phil in Bioinformatics may depend on the respective Institutes. However, the general admission procedure is mentioned below :
- Application form: The candidates ought to apply for the course online or offline.
- Reading the instructions: The candidates should go through the instructions before filling the application form.
- First cum first serve: For the most cases, they will be selected for admission on a first cum first serve basis due to limited availability of seats.
- Documents verification and fee payment : The final process of admission would require the candidates' verification of all the documents and payment of fees, as per the rules of the institutes.
Entrance Exam Based Admission
- Most of the reputed colleges, provide enrollment on the basis of scores obtained in entrance examination followed by a counselling process.
- Based on the combined marks, students get enrollment. In counselling, there are two rounds including group discussion and personal interview. In both rounds, the general aptitude and knowledge of the candidate is examined.
- Accordingly, a merit list is then issued by each college or universities announcing the qualifying marks or name of desired candidates.
- Enrolling for entrance exam based admission have to sit for the entrance exam and they should qualify for the exam as per the qualifying merit list provided by the institution.
Some of the popularly held Bioinformatics entrance exams in different colleges are given below:
- M.Phil. Entrance Exam
- PG Entrance Test
- MCC Entrance Exam
- M.Phil. Entrance Exam
- GATE(Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering)
- JRF NET ( Junior Research Fellowship National Eligibility Test)
- CSIR NET ( Council of Scientific & Industrial Research ), etc.
Do I qualify for M Phil in Bioinformatics Eligibility Criteria?
To pursue a Master in Philosophy in Bioinformatics or M.Phil. (Bioinformatics),
- A candidate must have a minimum aggregate score of 50% at the level of graduation and postgraduation, from a recognised university or board.
- Many reputed colleges and universities may provide relaxation for aggregate scores for SC/ST candidates.
- Candidates must have a Master degree in any relevant discipline of Science field and a graduation degree in the field of B.Tech/ M.Sc or an equivalent qualification.
- A minimum of 2-year work experience might be preferable as many colleges and universities take enrollments for professional students
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M Phil in Bioinformatics: Entrance Exam Preparation Tips
- Candidates who are appearing for the entrance examination should be well versed with the entrance examination basic concepts.
- It’s always an ideal option to check out all the previous year question papers of the course and practice them thoroughly.
- Candidates should refer to books for clearing their basic concepts as some of the entrance exams are subjective and candidates need to have a good command of the concepts.
- They can seek help from many coaching centers which imparts knowledge to help the candidates clearing the entrance.
- Set up an ideal study plan to evaluate your whole pattern of studying.
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Top Colleges
Many colleges are offering this course in India. Some of the top colleges offering this course are listed below –
| INSTITUTE | PER SEMESTER FEES |
|---|---|
| Presidency College | INR 2,210 |
| GITAM University of Science | INR 58,600 |
| Bioinformatics Institute of India | INR 40,000 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University ( JNU) | INR 20,000 |
| School of Life Sciences | INR 22,000 |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science | INR 45,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | INR 20,000 |
| Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University | INR 53,000 |
M Phil in Bioinformatics: College Comparison
The comparison between two of the leading institutes offering M Phil in Bioinformatics is made using the following table:
See More:
| BASIS | Kerala University | Shri Ramakrishna College Arts and Science |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Thiruvananthapuram | Coimbatore |
| Eligibility | Minimum aggregate of 55% from a recognized university. | Master degree in concerned and related discipline with a minimum aggregate of 55% from a recognized university. |
| Admission process | Entrance exam such as followed by interview and counselling. | Entrance exam such as followed by interview and counselling. |
| Average Fees | INR 53,400 | INR 15,000 |
| NIRF RANK | 42 | 69 |
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Tips to get Best College
- Get good grades in your high school as they will be deciding whether you are eligible or not.
- Spend time focusing on how to get good marks in the entrance examination by practicing in advance the previous question papers.
- Decide earlier which college you want to enroll and make a thorough research on their eligibility and admission procedure.
- Keep an eye on the cut off dates and application dates, so you won’t miss any updates.
- Prepare a full bullet proof plan on how you are going to crack the interview round.
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Syllabus
The following topics are to be covered under the syllabus of M Phil in Bioinformatics course:
| M.Phil. In Bioinformatics |
|
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Recommended Books
Some of the highly recommended books along with their authors are given below:
| Name of the Books | Authors |
|---|---|
| Bioinformatics Basics | Hooman Rashidi, Lukas K. Buehler |
| Algorithms in Bioinformatics | Marcel turcotte |
| The Ten Most Wanted Solutions in Protein Bioinformatics | Anna Tramontano |
| A Practical Guide to Analysis of Genes and Proteins | Andreas d. Baxevanis |
| Bioinformatics Basics | Hooman Rashidi, Lukas K. Buehler |
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Course Comparison
Comparing M.Phil in Bioinformatics with M.Phil in Biotechnology in the table shown below:
See More: Top M.Phil in Biotechnology Colleges in India
| BASIS | M.Phil in Bioinformatics | M.Phil in Biotechnology |
|---|---|---|
| About the course | Bioinformatics is a specialised programme curated to apply computers and informatics in Biology at the molecular level. Course gives a scientific and analytical approach to biological research | The course focuses on combining the biological science and engineering techniques to develop advance medicines, health, pharmaceutical, food and agriculture products |
| Duration | 2 years | 1 year |
| Enrollment | Admissions are based on entrance exam merit scores such as AURCET, TANCET Entrance Test. | Admissions are based on entrance examinations such as UGC NET, GATE which is followed by interview and counselling. |
| Eligibility Criteria | A Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree with 55% aggregate score in each | Candidates should have a BSc/BTech degree with an aggregate minimum score of 55% from a recognized university. |
| Subjects Covered |
|
|
| Job profile | Bioinformatics, Software Developer, Bioinformatics Scientist, Junior Research Associate, Database Designer, Computational Biologists and Database Programme | Biotechnology experts, Biotechnology patent analyst, Biotechnology executive, Research associate and Maintenance engineer |
| Annual salary | INR 2 LAKHS – 8 LAKHS | INR 2 LAKHS – 20 LAKHS |
| Average course fees | INR 20,000 to 8 Lakhs | INFR 3,000- 2 Lakhs |
M Phil in Bioinformatics: Job Prospects
- The increasing demand for Bioinformatics is evident from the fact that the future and present scope of Bioinformatics is expanding with the expansion of medical science with the use of information technology in the field of molecular biology.
- Not in India, but internationally it’s one of the highest paid sectors. So, bioinformatics is a highly career- oriented course.
- Candidates taking part in the Bioinformatics field can largely contribute to a country's economy.
- A candidate can get an opportunity both in private & government sectors in the area of research institutes, educational institutes, manufacturing industries of biomedical products and as a professional in a Biotech company.
- A candidate can expect a decent salary after a degree in Bioinformatics. As a fresher, you can expect 2 Lac to 5 Lac per annum. As the experience adds up and skills are more enhanced a candidate can expect 8 lac to 12 lacs per annum.
Job Profile along with Description:
Some of the popular job profiles along with their description are discussed as follows: Here is the detailed description of some of the major job description with their annual salary:
| Job Profile | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Bioinformatics Scientists | INR 4 Lacs |
| Professors | INR 3 Lacs |
| Junior Research Associate | INR 4.5 Lacs |
| Database Designer | INR 5 Lacs |
| Bioinformatics Software Scientists | INR 5 Lacs |
The average salary trend of the above-mentioned job positions can be observed using the following graph:
Future scope after M Phil in Bioinformatics
Apart from doing a job, one can even continue to study and pursue higher education such as PhD ( Doctorate of Philosophy) and many more research studies. Apart from this, a person can also go in the Research and development field ( R&D department) in Bioinformatics. Diploma courses or internship courses on specific skills can also be done by a candidate for achieving bright career
Related Courses:
Ph.D: It is basically a program of about 2 years of duration. The eligibility criteria of the program is Postgraduate degree from any recognised board or institute. The admission process is usually based on entrance exams.
See More:
M Phil in Bioinformatics: FAQs
Ques. Who are the top recruiters?
Ans. After completing the course, a candidate can work in reputable job profiles in top companies. Such as; Reliance, Tata Consultancy Services, Satyam and Wipro are some of the top recruiters.
Ques. Is there any personal interview round in M.Phil. in Bioinformatics?
Ans. Once a candidate has passed the merit list, candidates are needed to follow the counselling process which may be further taken to group discussion and personal interview. It depends on which institute you are applying to.
Ques. What is the salary you can expect in 2021 after M.Phil. in Bioinformatics?
Ans. A candidate can expect a decent salary after a degree in Bioinformatics. As a fresher, you can expect 2 Lac to 5 Lac per annum. As the experience adds up and skills are more enhanced a candidate can expect 8 lac to 12 lacs per annum
Ques: What is the pattern of Entrance Exams for MPhil in Bioinformatics?
Ans: Pattern of entrance examination:
Mostly both subjective and objective type questions are asked in M.phil entrance examination. Objective questions are asked from Chemistry, Physics, Logic, Reasoning, English and Mathematics. Subjective questions are divided into two sections- Part A and Part B. Mostly subjects related to zoology, microbiology, genetics, botany, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
Ques: What are the learning outcomes of MPhil in Bioinformatics?
Ans:The Learning outcome of the M.Phil. Bioinformatics is to:
- Develop the competency in problem-solving.
- Help them to develop the necessary IT and Bioinformatics skills.
- Get them familiar and well versed with knowledge related to bioinformatics.
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