Pharmaceutical Science Masters (MSc)

Facts about Pharmaceutical Science

Qualification	MSc
Duration	Full time (September start): one year
Attendance	Full time: Three to four days per week
Assessment	Exams, tests, laboratory reports, assignments, case studies, oral and poster presentations, research project
Course structure

Choose Kingston's Pharmaceutical Science MSc

This course will develop your knowledge of the design, development, analysis and production of medicines, the drug industry and regulatory affairs. It is particularly suitable if you are keen to enter employment in areas such as marketing, formulation, regulatory affairs, process development, medical statistics and clinical trial organisations.

What will you study?

You will have the chance to explore current trends in chemical, biological and biotechnological therapeutics, and will look at the latest technologies used in the pharmaceutical industry. You will gain an understanding of the processes used in clinical trials and in the development, manufacture and regulation of medicines. You will also develop your computing and statistical skills and other key skills, such as data collection, communication, time management, organisational and review and synopsis skills.

You can choose to study management studies with this degree, which is particularly useful if you are seeking to gain a management position within the pharmaceutical and allied industries.

Course structure

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

Available modules

Statistics and Quality Systems
Statistics and Quality Systems

The module introduces students to the role of statistics and quality systems in modern analytical science. It demonstrates how a thorough understanding of statistical concepts, the analytical process and the quality systems and quality management paradigms collectively enable the consistent and reliable interpretation of analytical chemical data to support the economic requirements of a business organisation. The module aims are:
- To define analytical chemistry and the criteria that distinguish it from other sciences.
- To describe and appraise the analytical process in a systematic manner and emphasise the purpose of each stage.
- Provide the rationale for the use of statistics in chemical analysis and experimental design and the skills required to perform statistical testing and interpretation of chemical data manually, via a calculator and with software.
- To enhance students knowledge of the planning and development of quality systems in the analytical laboratory.
Pharmaceutical and Analytical Technology
Pharmaceutical and Analytical Technology

The module is intended to ensure that students are aware of the processes by which a drug is formulated into a medicine. It examines the effect that formulation decisions have on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines, and on the pharmaceutical industry's business model. It includes the principles of pharmaceutical analysis and the application of pharmaceutical analytical techniques (both routine and non-routine) for the design, process- and quality-control of manufactured pharmaceuticals and process-intermediates. It is designed to enable students to review instrumentation choices when confronted with pharmaceutical issues and to select the appropriate tool(s). It also looks at the emerging quality assurance concepts of process analytical technology and quality by design. The module aims are:
- To analyse aspects of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing including process analysis.
- To extend the students' knowledge of total quality management and apply it to the analytical laboratory in the pharmaceutical industry.
- To provide current examples of the applications of the techniques studied in this course specifically to pharmaceutical problems.
Manufacture and Clinical Trials of Medicines
Manufacture and Clinical Trials of Medicines

This module introduces you to the different phases and types of clinical trials and the associated legal, regulatory and ethical issues. This includes statistical data analyses and how to manage and review clinical trial data in relation to evidence-based medicine. The technology and application of the manufacture of various medicine formulations are discussed and the place of biotechnological products introduced. The module also covers elements of medicines regulation with particular reference to the UK and European Union. Regulations are dealt with both within a general framework and specific areas including manufacturing, dealing with specialist products, regulation in clinical use, and licensing. The module aims are:
- To develop an understanding of the testing of medicines and medical devices in human volunteers and patients, and role of statistics and clinical data management.
- To facilitate review of results from drugs under test or in therapeutic use, to make judgement of these data and to make valid recommendations or warnings where appropriate.
- To enable students to undertake detailed review of the progress of medicinal products from instigation to patient.
- To allow design of improved systems of production, testing and control of medicaments including the different types of clinical trial.
Design, Discovery and Development of Pharmaceuticals
Design, Discovery and Development of Pharmaceuticals

This module complements others on the course by looking at drug development from a medicinal chemistry perspective. It covers:
- key aspects of drug design, lead optimisation, pharmacokinetics and toxicology, with respect to drug development;
- how drugs are designed and developed from laboratory bench to approval; and
- the essential research which must be conducted as part of this overall process.
Research Project
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.