Do the fascinating aspects of the life sciences excite you? Are you particularly intrigued by people and questions about their health? Or do you ponder questions about the environment or food production? Do you also feel inspired by topics such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and computation? If so, the interdisciplinary study programme in Applied Digital Life Sciences is perfect for you.

Rapid digitalisation in the life sciences is creating vast amounts of data that when processed intelligently, can lead to pioneering innovations and technologies as well as many "Aha!" moments. Whether it be automated early detection of diseases, computer-aided drug development, data-based generation of new food processes or species protection through drone monitoring, Digital Life Sciences make this possible.

During your studies, you will learn to deal with questions from the life sciences using various digital tools and data-based methods. You will study in a practical and realistic way in the laboratory, in nature or in production facilities and at the same time, acquire skills in programming, artificial intelligence, data engineering and simulation.

The programme will enable you to take on a key role at the interface between data science and life sciences, using your digital skills to gain valuable insights from data. Become part of the digitalisation revolution and actively shape the world of tomorrow.

1. You will have access to an excellent infrastructure, providing you with the perfect platform from which to launch your career.
2. Our practical work in all 6 semesters will fully prepare you for working life, as you learn to respond flexibly to requirements in practice.
3. You will benefit from individual guidance and manageable class sizes.
4. You will learn in the most beautiful location, which encourages inspiration, creativity and balance.
5. We study digitally and paperless

In the first three semesters, you will acquire the relevant basic skills in science, mathematics, data science & computation and life sciences.

From the start of your studies, you will work on diverse projects and with various ZHAW research groups as well as external experts from the industry. You will apply what you have learnt directly to practical tasks and will be introduced step by step to the requirements of your future professional field.

In addition to competence in the technical disciplines, great emphasis is also placed on the acquisition of soft skills. The following core industry requirements are integrated into the projects:

• good communication skills 
• interdisciplinary collaboration
• project management
• entrepreneurial ways of thinking and acting

In the third semester, you will gain an overview of the fascinating range of topics in digital life sciences as part of the "Life Sciences Datalab" module group.  You will delve deeper into the collection, analysis and understanding of data. Some examples are measuring activity with medical wearables and analysing data, land use with drone remote sensing, industrial production of ice cream or identifying unknown plants with DNA sequencing.

From the 4th semester onwards, you can choose your own specialisation - Digital Labs and Production, Digital Health or Digital Environment. In order to prepare for an international working environment, the lessons will be held entirely in English from this point on.

Both study models require good organisation. In addition to on-site lessons, allow sufficient time to process what you have learnt and exam preparation at home (self-study).

Participation in the start week at the beginning of the study programme as well as in further project weeks is mandatory.

The graphic shows the classic structure of the full-time bachelor's degree programme. You determine your focus by specialising from the 4th semester by choosing one of the three specialisations "Digital Health", "Digital Environment" or "Digital Labs and Production". You can further qualify for minors by selecting specific combinations of elective modules. The elective modules are continuously supplemented and offered in collaboration with various institutes of the ZHAW.

The complete overview of the compulsory modules (blue) throughout the 6 semesters is provided in the chart below.

This combination of life sciences and data science is unique in the Swiss university landscape. The practice-oriented education of a bachelor's degree in Applied Digital Life Sciences opens up a wide range of opportunities in a rapidly growing segment of the economy, both in Switzerland and worldwide. As a graduate, you can work in the healthcare sector, environmental research and monitoring, in chemical, biotech and pharmaceutical companies or in the agri-food sector. The roles you can expect to take on include: project team member, consultant or research and development specialist.

The ZHAW recognised the advantages of digitalisation long before the trend emerged and has assumed a pioneering role in the field of digital transformation. Our experts always work with the latest methods and have been implementing projects in the field of data science for more than 25 years. Furthermore, close collaboration with research and business partners guarantees that your studies will have a high practical relevance. During excursions to renowned industry partners, you will not only gain valuable insights into the latest developments, but you will also meet potential employers and learn about areas where you can apply your skills in the future.

In semester papers and your bachelor thesis, you will independently work on research or development projects, often in conjunction with an international research or partner in industry.