Bioinformatics scientist (degree)
Level 7 · Degree (Master’s)Health and science 2.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Bioinformatics Scientist degree apprenticeship trains you to apply computational and statistical methods to analyse biological and genomic data in research, healthcare or pharmaceutical settings. Apprentices develop skills in data science, programming and life sciences to extract meaning from large biological datasets. It leads to roles in genomics, drug discovery, clinical research and data science in life sciences.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Genomic sequencing data analysis and interpretation
Programming in Python or R for biological data
Statistical methods applied to life science datasets
Database design and management for biological data
Machine learning approaches in bioinformatics
Bioinformatics pipelines and workflow automation
Scientific communication and research ethics
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Process and quality-control raw sequencing data
Write and maintain bioinformatics analysis pipelines
Interpret genomic variants and annotate findings
Produce data visualisations and analysis reports
Collaborate with scientists and clinicians on research questions
Manage biological databases and curate datasets
Present findings at team meetings and scientific forums
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 7 (Degree (Master’s)) - roughly Master’s-degree level. Usually needs a relevant degree or Level 6 qualification, or significant experience.
What’s next: Leads into senior and chartered professional roles.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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