Skip to content
Pathrel
Start free
All courses
Technology

Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics

The Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary programme that combines biology, computer science, mathematics and statistics to analyse and interpret biological data. Offered at the University of Nairobi, the programme equips graduates with skills in computational biology, genomics data analysis and biological database management.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 5 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Cloud Security Engineer, at 14 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, programming, algorithms, database systems, statistics, machine learning, genomics, proteomics, structural bioinformatics, systems biology, data mining, biological data visualisation, computational biology and research methods. Students develop skills in both biological science and computational methods.

The growing availability of biological data from genome sequencing, proteomics and molecular research has created demand for professionals who can analyse and interpret this data. The programme responds to the need for bioinformatics specialists in research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural biotechnology firms and healthcare organisations in Kenya and globally.

The programme is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions in both biology and computing, programming practicals, bioinformatics tool workshops, industrial attachment and a research project. Students gain hands-on experience in sequence analysis, database querying, statistical analysis and bioinformatics pipeline development.

Graduates pursue careers as bioinformatics analysts, computational biologists, genomics data analysts, research scientists, biostatisticians, database administrators in biological databases and software developers in biotechnology companies. They work in research institutions, universities, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural research organisations and healthcare facilities. They can also pursue postgraduate study in bioinformatics, computational biology or data science.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, proficiency in mathematics and an interest in both biology and computing. The programme is suitable for students who want to apply computational methods to solve biological problems.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Biochemistry
  • Programming and Algorithms
  • Database Systems
  • Statistics and Biostatistics
  • Genomics and Proteomics
  • Structural Bioinformatics
  • Machine Learning for Biology
  • Systems Biology
  • Data Mining and Visualisation

Modules

11 in the programme

  • Molecular Biology and Genetics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers DNA structure, replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation, genetic inheritance and molecular techniques relevant to bioinformatics.

  • Introduction to Programming for Biology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Introduces programming concepts using Python for biological data analysis, covering data types, control structures, functions and file handling.

  • Biochemistry Fundamentals

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers protein structure and function, enzyme kinetics, metabolic pathways and molecular interactions relevant to bioinformatics analysis.

  • Algorithms and Data Structures

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers algorithms relevant to bioinformatics including sequence alignment, dynamic programming, graph algorithms and string matching algorithms.

  • Database Systems for Biology

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers relational database design, SQL, biological database management and integration of public biological databases like GenBank and UniProt.

  • Statistics and Biostatistics

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers statistical methods for biological data analysis including hypothesis testing, regression, ANOVA and statistical inference applied to genomic data.

  • Genomics and Proteomics

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers genome sequencing technologies, genome assembly, annotation, comparative genomics, protein identification and proteomics data analysis.

  • Machine Learning for Biology

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Applies machine learning methods to biological data including classification, clustering, dimensionality reduction and deep learning for genomics.

  • Structural Bioinformatics

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers protein structure prediction, molecular modelling, docking simulations and analysis of macromolecular structures using computational tools.

  • Systems Biology and Networks

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines biological systems modelling, network analysis, pathway analysis and computational approaches to understanding complex biological systems.

  • Research Project in Bioinformatics

    Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore

    An independent research project applying bioinformatics methods to a biological problem, demonstrating computational analysis skills and presenting findings.

Specialisations

  • Genomics

    Focuses on genome sequencing, assembly, annotation and comparative genomics for careers in genomics research and clinical genomics.

  • Structural Bioinformatics

    Specialises in protein structure prediction, molecular modelling and drug design for careers in pharmaceutical research.

  • Health Bioinformatics

    Focuses on clinical and biomedical data analysis, precision medicine and healthcare data management.

  • Agricultural Bioinformatics

    Applies bioinformatics to crop improvement, plant genomics and agricultural biotechnology for careers in agricultural research.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on molecular biology or genetics, followed by a programming practical in Python or R for biological data analysis. Afternoon sessions may include a bioinformatics laboratory using BLAST for sequence alignment, a database workshop querying GenBank or UniProt, or a statistics class on analysing genomic data. Students also work on group projects developing bioinformatics pipelines.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Bioinformatics is a growing field with increasing demand as biological data generation outpaces the availability of trained analysts.The programme requires proficiency in both biology and computing, which can be challenging for students strong in only one area.
The interdisciplinary nature of the programme opens diverse career paths in biology, computing, healthcare and data science.Bioinformatics job opportunities in Kenya are currently limited, with most positions concentrated in a few research institutions.
Bioinformatics skills are globally transferable, with opportunities for remote work and international careers.—

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

The fine print

Not offered at bachelor's level in Kenya; only MSc Bioinformatics exists at UoN/JKUAT.

Students can access HELB loans. Some research institutions offer bioinformatics internships with stipends.

Funding options

  • HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

  • HELB Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan undergraduate students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised universities

Scholarships you could apply for

11 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

KACE with two Principal passes in science subjects, or relevant Diploma from a recognised institution.

Subject requirements
Biology or Biological SciencesC+
MathematicsC+
Chemistry or Physics or Computer StudiesC+

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, University of Nairobi, Maseno University.

May 20275 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, University of Nairobi, Maseno University.

September 20275 institutions

Including Mount Kenya University, University of Nairobi, Maseno University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Written examination30% of the mark

    Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering molecular biology, programming and biochemistry fundamentals.

  • Programming and Laboratory Practical Reports

    Practicum40% of the mark

    Assessment of programming assignments, database exercises and bioinformatics tool practicals.

  • Industrial Attachment Report

    Practicum100% of the mark

    Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at a research institution, biotechnology company or bioinformatics lab.

  • Research Project

    Project100% of the mark

    A final-year research project applying bioinformatics methods to a biological problem, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    AcademicRequired

    Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Science and Technology.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Bioinformatics Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Analyses biological data including genomic sequences, protein structures and expression data using bioinformatics tools and pipelines.

  • Computational Biologist

    Low demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Develops computational models and algorithms to solve biological problems, working in research institutions and biotechnology companies.

  • Genomics Data Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Processes and analyses genome sequencing data, performing variant calling, annotation and interpretation for research and clinical applications.

  • Research Scientist

    Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Conducts bioinformatics research in academic or research institutions, applying computational methods to biological questions.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as bioinformatics analysts, computational biologists and genomics data analysts in research institutions, biotechnology companies and healthcare organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Python

    CodePrimary

  • R

    Code

  • BLAST

    Tool

  • Galaxy

    Platform

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Bioinformatics is just biology with computers.

    Bioinformatics is a rigorous interdisciplinary field requiring deep knowledge of molecular biology, algorithms, statistics and database systems to solve complex biological problems computationally.

  • Bioinformatics graduates can only work in research labs.

    Graduates work in pharmaceutical companies, agricultural biotechnology firms, healthcare data analytics, software development for biological applications and consulting, not only in academic research.

  • You need to be a biologist to study bioinformatics.

    The programme is designed for students from both biology and computing backgrounds, with the curriculum building foundations in both domains from the first year.

  • Bioinformatics is not relevant in Kenya.

    Kenya has growing biotechnology and agricultural research sectors, with institutions like KEMRI and KALRO generating biological data that requires bioinformatics expertise for analysis.

Further reading

Read next