Master’s Degree in Health Informatics

The master's degree in Health Informatics, offered by the Polytechnic University of Milan in collaboration with Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, trains professionals at the intersection of computer science and health. The curriculum includes machine learning, deep learning and biomedical data analysis, human-machine interfaces and wearable devices, epidemiology and clinical trial design and omics biomarkers. The approach is multidisciplinary and integrates computer science, biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology. In the first semester a personalised selection of courses with alternative modules is provided, to adapt the pathway to the students' backgrounds. Digital health is a fast-growing field, in which the use of data and artificial intelligence can improve diagnosis, treatment and the organisation of services, and the programme trains professionals able to develop and evaluate these technologies with an understanding of the clinical context, of ethical constraints and of the needs of patients and healthcare workers.

The programme lasts two years, is held in person in Milan and is delivered in English. The approach is practical and includes collaborations with industry, as well as opportunities for internships and theses in academic and industrial settings. Admission requires a degree in computer science, mathematics or biomedical disciplines and an English certificate of at least B2 level. Assessment takes place in two phases: an examination on basic knowledge (computer science, mathematics, biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology) and an evaluation of the CV. The page does not state the credits, the hours of teaching, the start dates and deadlines, the number of places, the calendar or the cost, which is not made public. The collaboration between two institutions, one technical-scientific and one with a strong biomedical and healthcare vocation, makes it possible to combine IT skills and medical knowledge, and offers students an environment in which dialogue between engineers, biologists and clinicians is part of the educational experience and of applied research.

The aim is to train experts able to develop and use information technologies for healthcare and biomedical research. The qualification gives access to roles such as healthcare data analyst, biomedical engineer and healthcare information systems manager, and makes it possible to sit the State examination for the profession of information engineer. The programme is suited to those who wish to work in hospitals, healthcare organisations, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries and research centres, where demand is growing for skills to manage and interpret large amounts of clinical data. The initial examination on basic knowledge and the possibility of personalising the first semester with alternative modules take into account the different backgrounds, such as computer scientists, mathematicians and graduates in biomedical disciplines, and help build a common base before tackling the more advanced topics of data analysis and machine learning.