Pharmaceutical Analysis MSc

If you would like to gain a recognised qualification that will further your career in the pharmaceutical industry or public services, or would like to gain an excellent foundation for a further research degree, this course is ideal. You will gain a strong background in the theory of analytical techniques used in pharmacy and how to apply them to complex problems in an industrially relevant context.

The MSc course provides exemption from Part A of the Mastership in Chemical Analysis, which is the statutory qualification for a public analyst.

What will you study?

You will gain the key skills required in the specialised area of pharmaceutical analysis, including good measurement and scientific practice, evaluation interpretation of data, and other professional and organisational skills. In addition to studying core analytical techniques and their applications in the pharmaceutical industry, you will also be introduced to various pharmaceutical technologies – for example, formulations and topics such as clinical pharmacokinetics.

To put your studies into context, you will be offered a placement within industry or the University's laboratories where you will carry out your independent research project. You may be placed within a pharmaceutical company, a forensic laboratory, analytical consultancy, hospital laboratory or research lab. There is also scope to study and explore recent trends in pharmaceutical analysis and the latest analytical techniques.

Find out more about the teaching on this course by watching a video of James Barker, Reader in Analytical Science:

Many of the staff in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing are research active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.

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Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Modules

• Introduction to Analysis, Quality Systems, Equilibria and Classical Analysis

• Introduction to Analysis, Quality Systems, Equilibria and Classical Analysis

  This module will:

  • define analytical chemistry and establish the fundamentals that distinguish it from other sciences;
  • describe the analytical process in a systematic manner;
  • introduce you to the planning and development of quality systems in the analytical laboratory;
  • explain ionic equilibria, teaching the important aspects of the subject underpinning the analytical techniques covered in the course; and
  • introduce the important techniques of classical analysis applicable in the modern analytical laboratory.
  
   
• Statistics and Computing

• Statistics and Computing

  This module will:

  • provide an understanding of the application and importance of statistics to chemical analysis;
  • develop the skills required to perform statistical calculations on paper, with a calculator or with suitable computer software; and
  • develop an understanding of how knowledge of statistical analysis allows better experiments to be designed.
  
   
• Separation Science

• Separation Science

  This module will:

  • describe the fundamental principles and typical applications of modern separation techniques;
  • extend this to more advanced practical aspects of separation techniques;
  • allow you to study modern Liquid Chromatography instrumentation in detail – including interfacing of Liquid Chromatography separation techniques to other analytical systems;
  • allow you to study modern instrumentation relative to the appropriate techniques in depth;
  • give you an appreciation of the interfacing of Gas Chromatography to other analytical systems; and
  • discuss the practices of Gel Electrophoresis and Capillary Electrophoresis.
  
   
• Molecular and Atomic Spectroscopy

• Molecular and Atomic Spectroscopy

  This module will:

  • show the principles, advantages and limitations of atomic spectroscopic techniques, instrumentation and applications;
  • enhance your understanding of the bases for quantitative spectroscopic measurements;
  • allow you to practice the interpretation of simple molecular spectra to deduce chemical structures; and
  • provide an in-depth knowledge of the modern analytical methods and instrumentation used in:
    • atomic fluorescence;
    • uv/visible and infra-red spectroscopy;
    • nuclear magnetic resonance;
    • mass spectrometry;and
    • their applications.
  
   
• Pharmaceutical Analysis

• Pharmaceutical Analysis

  This module will:

  • define the role of the pharmaceutical analyst, particularly within the pharmaceutical sector;
  • describe some aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing and hence the requirement for process analysis; and

  extend your knowledge of total quality management and the ability to apply it to the analytical laboratory in the pharmaceutical industry.

  
   
• Pharmaceutical Technology

• Pharmaceutical Technology

  This module covers:

  • the relationship between the quality, efficacy and patient compliance of pharmaceutical delivery technologies;
  • the relationship between the in vivo disposition of pharmaceutical dosage forms and the methodologies used in the development, clinical testing and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals; and
  • the construction and deployment of advanced drug delivery technologies for optimising drug delivery.
  
   
• Independent Research Project

• Independent Research Project

  This module will:

  • encourage creative and independent thinking by allowing you to work independently on a project appropriate to analytical chemistry or pharmaceutical analysis;
  • develop your ability to critically evaluate your own and others' work; and
  • further develop the analytical and laboratory skills acquired during the taught element of the course.
  
   

The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing holds a number of open day events throughout the year. These are a great opportunity to find out more about this course, the Faculty itself, and the facilities we offer.

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Learn more about the facilities available to you as a student of this course. Find out more...

Our links with industry provide a practical base for our courses. They also help us to ensure your studies are kept up to date and relevant to the working environment.

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