Master in Medical Informatics

School of Life Sciences

Ready to shape the future of healthcare? Join our MSc programme in Medical Informatics and play a key role in the digital transformation of the field. Learn how to analyse complex medical data, develop innovative software solutions and apply artificial intelligence to improve patient outcomes. If you're passionate about technology and want to make a real impact, this programme is for you.

Factsheet

Degree: Master of Science FHNW in Medical Informatics
Study mode: Part-time and Full-time
Learning environment: Onsite
ECTS points: 90
Next start: 14.9.2026
Duration: 3 semesters (full-time)/5 semesters (part-time)
Language: English
Place: FHNW Campus Muttenz, FHNW Campus Olten
Staying abroad: Possible
Application fee: CHF 200
Semester fee: CHF 750 / CHF 1 000 / CHF 5 000

At a glance

Data and analytical skills: Gain hands-on experience in biomedical data analysis, software development, and data-driven decision-making models for healthcare and pharmaceutical science.
AI and digital innovation: Explore the role of artificial intelligence in medicine and drug discovery, and learn cutting-edge methods in machine learning, big data and data visualisation.
Practice-oriented learning: Apply your knowledge through integrated internships, working on real-world challenges in hospitals, the pharma industry and MedTech companies.
Strong industry connections: Benefit from direct collaboration with leading institutions in the healthcare and pharma sectors, especially in the Basel area – a global hub for healthcare innovation.

Why study this?

What career opportunities are open to you?

With our Master’s in Medical Informatics and Pharma Informatics you will unlock outstanding career opportunities at the intersection of medicine/pharma, IT and innovation. You will analyse health data, develop smart IT solutions, and help design digital processes in hospitals, research and industry.

Thanks to your combined medical and technical expertise, you will be highly qualified for roles in:

Hospitals and healthcare firms: Optimise clinical workflows, diagnostics and treatment options through innovative digital solutions.
The pharma industry: Apply your knowledge of big data and artificial intelligence to accelerate drug development and enable personalised therapies.
Medtech companies: Work at the interface of technology, software and clinical application, designing innovative products that improve the cyberlives of patients and healthcare professionals.
Start-ups and Health Tech companies: Contribute your medical knowledge and IT skills to drive innovative projects in digital health.
Research institutions: Collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to develop algorithms, digital diagnostic tools and clinical decision support systems.

Structure and programme contents

Two specialisations

Specialisation in Medical Informatics

You will gain the latest insights in information technology with a focus on the healthcare industry, exploring areas such as biomedical data analysis, AI tools and big data, as well as their healthcare applications.

The emphasis is on personalised medicine: internships and seminars with leading healthcare providers address real-world applications in health data analysis, software development for hospitals and pharma firms, along with ethical and data security considerations.

Specialisation in Pharma Informatics

You will learn to combine advanced informatics, machine learning and mathematics techniques with a focus on AI-driven drug discovery. You will be prepared to take on leadership roles in the digital transformation of the sector.

Thanks to a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on internships with leading pharma firms, the curriculum offers a broad skill set, including laboratory automation, digital biomarkers and key aspects of drug discovery.

Details of the degree programme

Programme structure

The master’s degree programme consists of three key components: core competences, specialised training and the thesis. In the first part of your degree programme, you will complete modules totalling 60 ECTS. These include your core modules, specialisation electives and general electives, allowing for individual specialisation. This is followed in the final semester by the thesis, completed over six months and worth 30 ECTS.

Duration of study: Full-time or part-time

The diagram below shows how the programme is structured. After the core modules in your first semester you are free to choose from a range of electives. The programme concludes with your thesis.

Programme structure MSc Medical Informatics

Module groups Medical Informatics

Core modules

The core modules (24 ECTS) cover topics essential for success in medical informatics, going well beyond what is offered in standard computer science courses.

Medical Data Science
Digital Transformation in Healthcare
Digitalization of Business Processes in Healthcare
Medical Software Development

Specialisation electives

You can choose elective modules (≥ 18 ECTS) from a range of medical informatics topics, business modules and other subjects, reflecting the dynamic nature of a field where technologies and challenges are evolving rapidly.

Digital Biomarkers
Applied Quantum Computing
Development in Medicines and Medical Devices
Machine Learning in Medicine
Medicine and Informatics
Innovation Trends in Medical Informatics
Clinical Decision Support Systems
Human Machine Interaction and Bias Mitigation
Applied Computational Intelligence
Cyber Security in Health
Independent Learning
Internship

General electives

For the remaining ECTS you can select from a wide range of general electives that support different academic and career interests.

Data Science
User-Centred Design and Usability Testing
IT Governance, Risk and Compliance
Knowledge Processing and Decision Making
Healthcare Entrepreneurship
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery
Laboratory Automation in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Biomarkers
Cloud Computing
Business Intelligence

Master’s thesis

The thesis is industry oriented and comprises 30 ECTS credits. Cooperation with external partners allows you to get industry experience during your thesis. You work on challenging, application-oriented informatics projects and you will be supervised by a lecturer from the MSc programme.

Module groups Pharma Informatics

Core modules

The core modules (22 ECTS) cover topics essential for success in medical informatics, going well beyond what is offered in standard computer science courses.

Foundations of Pharma
Digital Transformation in Healthcare
Medical Data Science
Applied Mathematics and Informatics in Drug Discovery
Mathematical and Computational Biology in Drug Discovery

Specialisation electives

You can choose elective modules (≥ 20 ECTS) from a range of pharma informatics topics, business modules and other subjects, reflecting the dynamic nature of a field where technologies and challenges are evolving rapidly.

Digital Biomarkers
Applied Quantum Computing
Development in Medicines and Medical Devices
Machine Learning in Medicine
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Innovation Trends in Medical Informatics
Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery
Biomarkers
Laboratory Automation in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Business Intelligence
Cloud Computing
Independent Learning
Internship

General electives

For the remaining ECTS you can select from a wide range of general electives that support different academic and career interests.

Data Science
User-Centred Design and Usability Testing
IT Governance, Risk and Compliance
Knowledge Processing and Decision Making
Healthcare Entrepreneurship
Medicine and Informatics
Clinical Decision Support Systems
Human Machine Interaction and Bias Mitigation
Applied Computational Intelligence
Cyber Security in Health

Master’s thesis

International

Our master's programme opens up global horizons: whether planning your Master's thesis overseas or coming to us from abroad, we will support you every step of the way!

Incoming Students: Studying with us as an international student: Information

Requirements and admission

The programme is designed for BSc graduates in Medical Informatics, as well as related disciplines such as Computer Science/Informatics, Medicine (MSc in Medicine or equivalent), Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or similar fields that meet the programming/medical knowledge requirements.

Highly qualified graduates are admitted to the master’s programme if they:

have acquired a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with grade A, B or ≥ 4.8 (≥ "good")
or possess an equivalent educational background and professional experience (college or university degree)
and have successfully passed the interview
and demonstrate a very good command of the English language.

Pre-master’s courses are available to ensure required prior knowledge. The Admissions Committee may set completion of these courses as a prerequisite for starting the programme. They begin before the semester and are free of charge.

Pre-master’s courses are available in: Digital Life Sciences, Programming, Mathematics and Business Information Systems.

Proof of sufficient English skills must be provided with one of the following certificates:

Type of certificate	Required level
CE (Cambridge English)	B2/FCE
IELTS (English Language Testing System)	5.5
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)	IBT 72
Spoken or Written Academic English (module in the bachelor’s degree programme at the School of Life Sciences)	4.5

Organisational matters

Start of studies

The master’s programme begins in the autumn semester (calendar week 38).

Tuition fees

The following semester and registration fees are payable. Further details can be found in the FHNW fee regulations, valid from academic year 2025/26.

Tuition fees per semester:

CHF 750

Swiss citizens
Students legally resident in Switzerland at the start of their studies
Students whose parents are legally resident in Switzerland at the start of their studies
Recognised refugees and stateless persons who are legally resident in Switzerland.

CHF 1 000