About MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Biology at the University of Oxford
MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Biology
The MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Biology equips students with the tools needed to analyse and engineer biological systems. By bringing together artificial intelligence, computational modelling and engineering biology, the course prepares students to tackle challenges at the interface of engineering and the life sciences.
Engineering biology is an area of global importance. It uses engineering methods and tools to design biological systems with new functionalities, offering bio-based solutions to societal challenges such as food security, biomedicine and sustainability. Artificial intelligence is transforming this field by enabling the analysis, modelling and design of complex biological systems that are otherwise difficult to predict, accelerating discoveries and innovation.
Designed for students with quantitative backgrounds, the programme provides foundational training in biology alongside advanced teaching in machine learning, control theory, optimisation and computational methods. It offers a route into engineering biology for graduates in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science and related disciplines, as well as those in the biological sciences with a solid mathematical foundation.
Through taught modules, practical activities, a group project and an individual research project, you will develop the technical and computational skills needed to address complex challenges in engineering biology. You will learn to connect mathematical and data-driven approaches with biological questions, evaluate and optimise synthetic circuits and bioprocesses, and design and conduct independent research.
Based in Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science, the course draws on expertise in artificial intelligence, automation and control, and the wider University’s engineering biology research community. Engagement with academic and industrial speakers will introduce you to current research, applications, ethics and entrepreneurship. The programme prepares graduates for PhD-level research and careers in biotechnology and AI-driven innovation, while developing transferable skills in teamwork, leadership and communication.
