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.

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.

Duration: 4 years
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

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 favour

Bioinformatics is a growing field with increasing demand as biological data generation outpaces the availability of trained analysts.
The interdisciplinary nature of the programme opens diverse career paths in biology, computing, healthcare and data science.
Bioinformatics skills are globally transferable, with opportunities for remote work and international careers.

Against it

The programme requires proficiency in both biology and computing, which can be challenging for students strong in only one area.
Bioinformatics job opportunities in Kenya are currently limited, with most positions concentrated in a few research institutions.

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

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KACE with two Principal passes in science subjects, or relevant Diploma from a recognised institution.

Biology or Biological Sciences
C+
Mathematics
C+
Chemistry or Physics or Computer Studies
C+

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

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

Accredited by

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

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

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.