Pharmaceutical Science MSc

If you would like to build a critical and technical knowledge related to the development, analysis and production of medicines, the drug industry and regulatory affairs, this course is ideal. It is of particular value if you are keen to enter employment in areas such as marketing, sales, production, public relations, regulatory affairs, process development, medical statistics and clinical trial organisations.

Your research project may be conducted in industry or in collaboration with other laboratories, enabling you to gain real-world experience.

What will you study?

You will have the scope to study and explore recent trends in chemical, biological and biotechnological therapeutics and take a 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, manufacturing and regulation of medicines. You will also develop your computing and statistical skills.

In addition, emphasis is placed on key skills such as data collection, communication skills, time management, organisational skills and review and synopsis. To put your studies into context, you may be offered a placement within industry or the University's laboratories where you will carry out your independent research project. The Research Methods and Skills module helps prepare you for your project.

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.

Available modules

• Clinical Trials and Pharmacovigilance

• Clinical Trials and Pharmacovigilance

  This module outlines the testing of medicine and medical devices by both volunteers and patients. It reviews results from drugs under test and in therapeutic use so that you can judge the data and make valid recommendations or warnings where appropriate. The module also enables you to:

  • critically evaluate clinical trial procedures to ensure compliance with good clinical practice and legislation;
  • review long term clinical data in an ethical manner, relating the findings to the drug, mode of use, dose, device or co-therapies;
  • use IT skills in medical data management; and
  • consider the role and limitations of statistical analysis of clinical findings.
  
   
• 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.
  
   
• Developing, Manufacturing and Regulation of Medicines

• Developing, Manufacturing and Regulation of Medicines

  This module provides a detailed review of the progress of medicinal products from instigation to patient. It enables you to:

  • design improved systems of production, testing and control of medicaments; and
  • recognise viable strategies for targeting disease states that are appropriate for successful therapeutic management.

  The module also contrasts different formulations of same drug, in terms of production, mode of action and efficacy in the patient.

  
   
• Pharmaceutical Instrumentation

• Pharmaceutical Instrumentation

  This module develops:

  • laboratory skills - including manipulation of volumetric glassware and the use of a range of scientific instrumentation; and
  • critical analysis of methods, instrumentation and your own performance.

  It also encourages independent thinking by allowing you to work on problems in small groups.

  
   
• 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.
  
   
• 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.
  
   
• 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.
  
   
• Research Methods and Skills

• Research Methods and Skills

  This module gives you the skills needed to undertake original research. It aims to provide a grounding in the methodologies used in original research.

  
   
• 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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