General Course options Programme Practical How to apply? Looking for a way to process your scientific information more effectively? Then this R programming course is just for you!What?In today’s data-driven world, the ability to analyze and visualize data is essential. R is a powerful and widely used programming language for statistical analysis and data visualization, especially in fields like bioinformatics and data science. Do you want to learn how to turn data into valuable insights? Build interactive dashboards? Support data-driven decision-making? Then this course is perfect for you!In this hands-on training, you’ll explore the fundamentals of R and discover how to perform data analysis, create visualizations, and automate reporting using tools like RMarkdown and Shiny. Whether you want to present research results clearly, uncover patterns in large datasets, or develop interactive applications – by the end of this course, you’ll have the skills to make an impact with data.For whom?Are you curious about the world of data analysis? Do you work with numbers, research, or reports and want to get more out of your data? Or are you simply fascinated by how data helps us make better decisions? Then this course is for you!Whether you come from a scientific background, are active in business, or are taking your first steps into data science – this course provides you with the tools to use data in a powerful and insightful way. R is a language used worldwide by researchers, analysts, and data specialists. Now it’s your turn to get started!Why R?R is free, flexible, and incredibly powerful. While many statistical software packages require expensive licenses, R offers an open-source alternative with a global community of developers continuously creating new tools and packages. This makes R a smart choice for anyone looking to work with data.Moreover, R skills are highly sought after in the job market. Data plays a crucial role in nearly every sector, from healthcare and marketing to finance and science. By taking this course, you give yourself an edge and develop skills that will allow you to make a difference – in your current job, your research, or your future career. How can I participate in the course? The training is offered in two different formats: as a daytime course during office hours and through distance learning.The course content and competencies are the same in both formats. Below, you can see how the two formats differ from each other. Distance education - self-study, supported by evening classes, on campus or from home Period: November - December 2025Duration: 6 weeksAcademic Year 2025-2026Start time: the first week of November.Study Approach:You process the learning material through self-study, where the study materials are provided with the necessary text and explanations for independent processing.In addition, we provide recordings of the daytime education as an additional resource.Contact moments: There are three scheduled contact moments every two weeks, held on campus from 18:00 to 20:00. These sessions can also be followed remotely via live streaming and are recorded, so they can be reviewed later.The evaluation consists of two components: an assignment (25%) and an exam (75%). The assignment offers the opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge to a self-chosen dataset, either public or private. The exam tests both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills covered in the course.The exam is scheduled to take place in the evening, from 18:00 to 21:00, on the campus in Bruges (Building A), Belgium. However, for an additional cost, the exam can also be taken from home. Daytime education - on campus or at your own pace from home Period: February - April 2026Duration: 6 weeksAcademic Year 2025-2026Start time: the second week of February.Weekly schedule: 8 hours of lessons per week, divided into 2 sessions of 4 hours each on 2 different days.Depending on your schedule, you can choose to attend some lessons on campus and review others later:On campus: You will participate in the lessons alongside students from the Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics program.Unable to attend? No problem, all lessons are recorded and can be reviewed or watched again later.The evaluation consists of two components: an assignment (25%) and an exam (75%). The assignment offers the opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge to a self-chosen dataset, either public or private. The exam tests both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills covered in the course.The exam is scheduled on the campus in Bruges (Building A), Belgium, during office hours. Learning objectives and content of the program During this program, you will deepen your knowledge of R as a programming language for data analysis and visualization. You will not only learn the basics but also how to apply R in realistic scenarios within bioinformatics and data science.By the end of this program, you will be able to:Data types and structures in R: Understand and use different types of data in R, such as vectors, lists, and data frames.Data manipulation and analysis: Learn how to efficiently edit, transform, and analyze datasets using R packages.Data visualization: Discover how to present data clearly and comprehensively by applying the right graphical techniques.Working with R and Bioconductor packages: Search for, install, and apply specialized packages to enhance your analytical capabilities.Descriptive statistics and data evaluation: Apply statistical principles to explore and interpret datasets.Performing and reporting statistical tests: Select and implement the appropriate statistical tests and report the results in a scientifically sound manner. Dates and locations The microdegree in R through daytime education will take place during the period of November - December 2025 in the academic year 2025-2026. Classes will start in the first week of November. Registration for this program is possible from July 1, 2025, until the end of October 2025. Pre-registration is already available via this link. The contact moments can be attended either on campus in Bruges (Building A), Belgium, or via live streaming from home. The exam will take place on campus or can, for an additional cost, be taken from home.The microdegree in R through distance education will take place during the period of February - April 2026 in the academic year 2025-2026. Classes will start in the second week of February. Registration for this program is possible from July 1, 2025, until early February 2026. Pre-registration is already available via this link. Classes will be held on campus in Bruges (Building A), Belgium, but can also be reviewed later, from home and at your own pace. The exam will take place on the campus in Bruges. Study LoadThe microdegree in R for Data Analysis and Visualization has a workload of 5 credits (ECTS). One ECTS corresponds to a study time of 25 to 30 hours.To successfully complete the program, you should consider the following (estimated) time commitment:Daytime Education: In addition to attending classes (8 hours/week), you should allocate time in the evenings or weekends to review and process the course material. During classes (week 4 to 6), time is allocated to work on assignments. Prior to the exam, you should set aside time for studying.Distance Education: Generally, you will need at least one evening and one full day on the weekend per week to independently go through the course material. Prior to the exam, you should allocate time for studying. Tuition FeesThe tuition fee for the academic year 2025-2026 is €370.50 or €1624.00 for non-EEA students (subject to change). There are no additional fees for study materials or software. The program requires a good laptop. SME PortfolioThis program is eligible for support through the SME Portfolio under the topic of profession-specific competencies.Contact personJasper Decuyper - jasper.decuyper [at] howest.be (jasper[dot]decuyper[at]howest[dot]be) Enrolment Enrolment for the 2023-2024 academic year starts 1 July 2023. You can enrol at one of the Info Days on campus, by appointment at the student secretariat of the Howest campus where your programme takes place, or by using the online registration system. Which documents will you need? A copy of your ID (front and back) will be requested during online enrolment. You will also need to upload a copy of your (higher education) diploma. Online enrolment Open your online application check that all the necessary documents have been uploaded. Are all your documents are in order? Now you can put your study programme together and sign it. After you've registered After completing the online application, you will receive an e-mail with all the information needed to complete your enrolment. Once your file has been checked and processed by Howest, you will receive your contract and the request for payment of tuition fees and extra study costs electronically. FAQ Can't find what you're looking for, or do you have a specific question about this course? Don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to help you further. Jasper Decuyper Contact person Ask your question What is the difference between the daytime course and the distance learning course? Both variants cover the same course content but are organized differently. The day course takes place on campus in Bruges, Belgium, and occupies two half-days per week over a six-week period. Presence on campus is not mandatory, as the classes can also be attended online. In the @home course, the material is mainly processed through self-study. Over a six-week period, there are only a limited number of contact moments (three in total) that take place in the evening. Is there an evaluation associated with this micro degree? Yes, the course includes an assignment (25% of the final grade) and an exam (75% of the final grade). Those who pass the course (with a score of 10 or more out of 20) will receive a credit certificate. Will I receive a diploma after completing this micro degree? After successfully completing the micro degree and passing the exam, you will receive a credit certificate for this course. With the credit certificate, you can apply for an exemption from the course unit “Data analysis, visualization and biostatistics using R” of the Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics and Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics at home programs.