Build on your passion for research

Develop your knowledge and technical skills and use your research to tackle real-life challenges of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry.

During this one-year masters of research programme, our core modules will give you the subject expertise and skills to be able to undertake a major piece of industry demand-led original research.

This postgraduate research degree will provide you with advanced research training and experience in preparation for doctoral studies, a research-intensive career or to meet the demands of a growing chemical and pharmaceutical science sector. The programme covers areas such as pharmaceutical discovery, manufacturing, cosmetics, personalised healthcare, and biotechnology, as well as the energy industry, focusing on the development of sustainable materials chemistry.

The research and critical thinking skills you will gain on this programme will prepare you for roles in the field, whether within a laboratory setting, commercial setting or for PhD study.

Why choose this course

Throughout this course, you will gain subject specialist knowledge and skills to equip you to undertake an independent research project.

Two core modules will give you the subject expertise and specialist skills to delve into an industry-aligned research project.

You will gain advanced research method skills in one of the modules, to help you become a productive, ethical and competent researcher.

You will be able to tailor your specialism based on your interests, with a specialist module aligned to career pathways. The subject-specialist knowledge gained in the additional module will expose you to the Global pharmaceutical, Life Science and Sustainable Materials industries. You will consider the relevant regulatory frameworks that would be taken into consideration for new innovations.

Our use of industry-standard equipment to develop real-world skills has been commended by external professional accrediting bodies.

Our staff have a range of expertise, and are part of a thriving research department that contributes to national and international policy work. This ensures staff are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.

You will join an active research group where you will undertake a research project, supported by a supervisor, in the rapidly-growing international pharmaceutical and chemical sector. Research projects will be offered in topics such as natural product chemistry, advanced formulations, nano materials, medicinal chemistry and sustainability, among others aligned with research group interests.

Course content

Modules

Core modules

30 credits

This module equips you with comprehensive expertise in methods that efficiently and sustainably produces novel products with industrial applications across (but not limited to) natural products, cosmetics, and nanomaterials. You will also choose the specialism to focus on during induction week. This includes cutting-edge science with strong industry relevance to prepare you for diverse career pathways.

You will examine the fundamental chemistry underpinning applied materials processes, while exploring advances in synthesis and formulation with an emphasis on sustainable protocols. This includes environmental impact, health and safety concerns and links to UN SDGs of employed processes, as well as EDI considerations to ensure inclusivity in design, testing, communication and user access when considering the introduction of new innovations to the market.

There will be common co-taught elements across the whole module to facilitate real industry environments of disciplines interacting with each other. Once you choose your specialism you will be assigned to specific workshops and lectures where in small groups you will build fundamental knowledge and practical competency in that specialism to prepare you for an aligned research project.

This module will operate with various routes dependent upon the research specialism you wish to pursue. Examples include the following.

Route 1: Natural Products with Pharmacognosy

You will be exposed to the global pharmaceutical industry, which will include natural product chemistry such as traditional/herbal/heritage medicines, their extraction, biological activity analysis and commercial value.

You will have an overview of different commercialisation processes including structure modification of key natural product skeletons, process optimisation, and sustainable/green synthesis or biochemical routes to natural and synthetic products.

Route 2: Advanced Formulations

You will be exposed to the core theories of chemistry that underpin the growing pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations industry, and how they are created.

You will explore the principles of human physiology and toxicology, including natural biological processes and the mechanisms by which chemicals or other external factors can disrupt normal functions (e.g. aging, scarring, burns) and induce toxicity.

This module will also expose you to industrial practices, legislative pathways for commercialisation and future trends.

Route 3: Nanotechnology and Sustainable Materials

You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the core theory behind the chemistry of nanostructures, nanomaterials, their synthesis, characterisation, and the environmental and social impacts associated with their use. There will be an emphasis on green chemistry approaches and sustainable practices within the field, addressing the life cycle assessment of nanomaterials and the challenges of regulatory frameworks.

You will have an opportunity to explore and apply some of the different techniques available for the synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials and their application in environmental, energy and/or biomedical processes.

A student using a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance machine.

Career opportunities

Graduating with an MRes in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science from Kingston University opens doors to a range of careers in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. You will be prepared to work in roles such as:

PhD candidacy
Medicinal chemist
Natural product chemist
Research associate/scientist
Product development specialist/formulation chemist
Quality control analyst
Regulatory affairs associate

Teaching and assessment

Fees and funding

Fee Category	Annual Fee
Home (UK students)	Full Time £12,300
International	Full Time £23,300

Fee Category	Annual Fee
Home (UK students)	Full Time £11,900
International	Full Time £20,000

Please note: fees do not include the additional bench fees that cover the cost of consumables and specialist materials or equipment.

Additional course costs

Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.

Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.

Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:

Funding support for postgraduate students

If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. Find out more through the government's website.

Find out more

Scholarships and bursaries

For students interested in studying Pharmaceutical and Chemical Research MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:

Two students wearing lab coats and protective glasses using equipment in a laboratory.

How to apply

Before you apply

Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.

How to apply online

Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.

If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.

Application deadlines

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.

Information required to confirm your place

If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.

After you have applied

If the postgraduate admissions tutor requires further information or wishes to invite you to further assessment by interview they will contact you directly. You will then hear whether your application has been successful.

If you do not clearly meet the standard entry requirements and the admission tutor wishes to see a portfolio from you, you will be sent an email asking you to upload your portfolio to your Kingston University OSIS account. Further details on how to do this will be provided at the time.

A student and a member of staff working in a laboratory, they are wearing white lab coats.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.

Pharmaceutical and Chemical Research MRes

Build on your passion for research

Develop your knowledge and technical skills and use your research to tackle real-life challenges of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry.

Why choose this course