Our MSc Drug Discovery and Development course is ideal if you wish to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry, you will also have the opportunity to go on an optional professional placement.
We’ve designed this course to give you the knowledge and practical skills you need to become a valuable team member within the pharmaceutical industry. There’s an emphasis on the drug development process and the journey from discovery to product marketing, including quality control and regulatory science.
You’ll get deep insights into the molecular basis of disease, drug targets and their validation, identification of lead compounds, structure-based drug design, and analytical and synthetic techniques. You’ll also learn all about the regulatory and commercial aspects of management in the pharmaceutical industry.
By the end of this course you’ll have developed in-depth knowledge of biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology, and an understanding of research skills and scientific methods. Our aim is to produce scientists with expertise in drug discovery and development as well as non-scientists who are equipped to work in pharmaceutical work environments.
Why study with us
- You’ll learn about current and emerging trends in drug discovery, drug design and regulatory sciences through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions delivered by highly experienced academics and industry experts.
- We have excellent links with some of the biggest names in the pharmaceutical industry and you’ll have the opportunity to go on a professional placement and gain valuable work experience.
- You’ll be taught by research-active staff with extensive academics, industrial and clinical expertise.
What you'll do
- Develop a range of transferable skills required in the global pharmaceutical industry and beyond.
- Gain an in-depth knowledge of the drug discovery and development process.
- You will have opportunities build your research skills and practical experience.
Module overview
Compulsory modules
• P34013: Fundamentals of Formulation Drug Delivery and Biopharmaceutics
• P34015: Research Project
• P34016: Nanomedicine and Biotechnology Products
• P34022: Research Development
• P34026: Drug Development and Regulatory Science
Course delivery
Following the pandemic, we have found that some courses benefit from a blended learning and teaching approach. Therefore, the majority of your teaching will be face-to-face on campus aside from a small amount of online teaching where we have learnt it works best.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
Future careers
When you graduate you’ll be equipped with a knowledge and skills base that will allow you to pursue a range of scientific and non-scientific careers within pharmaceutical work environments.
This may include roles in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, academia or further studies (such as a PhD).

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