Course Summary
This course will give you a detailed understanding of the practical and theoretical aspects of pharmaceutical science and help develop the skills needed for individual and collaborative research in areas such as drug development.
Pharmaceutical Science is at the interface of biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, analytical and medicinal chemistry, all of which will be studied in the degree course. Your studies will take place in laboratories fitted with the latest analytical equipment. Within the research area of drug development you will focus on both drug design, drug discovery and drug awareness as well as neuropharmacology and bioinformatics. You will complete four taught modules, and an independent research project. It will offer you the chance to study a core MSc alongside a specialisation within different areas of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
This course is designed and tailored to your own preferred specialism in either of the following: Pharmaceutical Analysis; Pharmacology; Physiology; Phyto-pharmaceuticals or Toxicology.
Teaching will be based on lectures, seminars, workshops, independent web-based learning and laboratory-based learning in our state-of-the-art facilities. The broad field of learning also suits people who are simply interested in furthering their knowledge of the subject. The course can be worked around a full-time job and there are intermediate awards available – a PG Diploma and a PG Certificate.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
Your studies will be overseen by experts at facilities that include newly refurbished laboratories with the latest analytical equipment.
This will be hugely beneficial when you go on either to employment or further research in the field as you will be familiar with all the technology you are likely to encounter.
You will benefit from regular field trips and visits to herbal suppliers and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Recently our students visited GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) at Stevenage and toured the manufacturing facility.
As well as taking two of the same modules as Phyto-pharmaceutical Science students, you will also share laboratories with them in a mutually enriching process. While they concentrate on plants, your focus will be on drug formulation.
You will also share trips with the Phyto-pharmaceutical Science students to places such as the Economic Botany Collection at Kew Gardens and the Medicinal Garden at the Royal College of Physicians. We recently inspected the manufacturing procedure at the Herbs in a Bottle company.
As an MSc student, your course culminates in an individual research project which will give you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your own particular skills and abilities.
We will provide you with the best possible setting for your studies. Bioscience has contributed to outstanding results in the recently published Research Excellence Framework, the six-yearly review by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Some 86 per cent of our research submission was classified as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Three of the taught modules are core to the course: Advanced Pharmaceutics; Drug Design; and Research Skills. The latter serves as ideal preparation for your final project.
You can also choose one optional module from: Pharmaceutical Analysis; Advanced Cellular Pharmacology & Physiology; Bioinformatics; and Toxicology.
Advanced Pharmaceutics develops an understanding of advanced drug delivery systems. It includes study of the legislative process needed to turn a new substance into a medication that can be used safely and effectively.
Pharmaceutical Analysis covers the methods used in the detection, extraction, isolation and quantitative/qualitative analysis of drugs and phytochemicals.
Drug Design looks at the process of drug design and the development of drug products from traditional medicine systems.
Both these last two are joint modules with Phyto-pharmaceutical Science.
For the PG Diploma you would complete the MSc course minus the final project. To gain a PG Certificate you need to complete two modules.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
This course provides you with ideal training either for employment or for continuing your studies with a PhD or further work at a university or research institute.
You could choose to build a career in pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies that are developing new drugs and evaluating new products.
There are numerous small companies in UK and around the world carrying out research and development for drugs.
This course provides you with ideal training to fit into such operations, whether through being employed or by continuing your studies with a PhD.
There are also strong potential employment opportunities within chemical companies making intermediates for the drug industry. They require graduates with analytical skills and an understanding of drug development.
Major pharmaceutical companies need expert personnel to work in the manufacture, formulation and quality control of medicines and to advise customers on technical aspects of products.
The opportunity to work with cutting-edge equipment in our refurbished laboratories means you are likely to be familiar with all the relevant technology when you come to start work or a new research project.
You will be taught by hugely experienced members of staff, who have great contacts with potential employers or educational establishments where you might continue your studies.
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.