Our MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance is aimed at pharmacy, health and biomedical professionals working in the technical services for the NHS or private sector organisations who want to update their skills and knowledge while gaining an academic qualification.
This three-year part-time course allows you to choose from a range of optional units to enable you to develop in your chosen field of interest. Some units allow you to learn alongside students from other healthcare disciplines.
Some of the topics covered by the course are radiopharmacy, aseptics, formulation sciences, production and clinical trials.
You will learn from experts from the NHS and industry, who deliver lectures and workshops as part of the course.
You will also be able to apply what you learn in practical workshops and visits to and placements in NHS and industrial environments.
We aim to provide you with an understanding of core principles and features of clinical pharmaceutical science and professional training.
Successful completion of the course will enable you to:
Students who complete the full MSc qualification will achieve the objectives for the PGDip, and will also critically and creatively evaluate current issues in practice and conduct research that advances pharmaceutical technology, quality assurance and decision-making related to patient care.
This is a residential and distance learning course. Units will include a taught component delivered in Manchester that is supported by extensive experience achieved in the workplace and on visits to specialist facilities.
We use a blend of online and face-to-face methods. This will include small group tutorials, workshops and experience-based learning. You will have a nominated tutor at the University and your practice base to provide guidance on work-based activities and written assignments.
You will engage in work-based learning and demonstrate this to the academic team by producing portfolios of evidence detailing your experiences gained during each visit or placement.
Each unit has a designated leader who is responsible for individual assessments, under the guidance of the course director. All assessments will be monitored and reviewed by the Exam Board.
You must satisfy the course requirements in Year 1 before you can proceed to Year 2 of the course. The timing of re-sits for written examinations will be decided by the course director on an individual basis.
You will take course units covering a wide range of topics within:
Compulsory Components
Optional Components
Introduction to Clinical Pharmaceutical Science 2 (30 credits)
Introduction to Clinical Pharmaceutical Science 3 (30 credits)
You will complete course units from a selection covering:
Compulsory Components
Optional Components (choose 2)
You will complete your research dissertation.
Compulsory Components
There is flexibility through the range of optional units to allow you to develop in your chosen specialist field. Some units also provide the opportunity to learn alongside students from other healthcare disciplines.
The teaching blocks will be held at Chancellors Conference Centre , with some practical sessions taking place on the University campus.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service
Completing this course will help you develop your chosen career path within the pharmacy profession by gaining advanced clinical knowledge, problem solving skills and a critical awareness of the role of pharmaceutical services within the workplace.
This programme is unique as it combines the study of pharmaceutical technology, including pharmaceutical sciences, and medicines control.
It has been designed to provide you with an advanced theoretical knowledge of sciences that are related to disciplines in pharmaceutical sciences, and give you the skills you need for laboratory work in this area.
These disciplines include the development of pharmaceutical formulation, with particular emphasis on the technology used in the pharmaceutical process and the development and production of medicines. This focus leads to an emphasis on the processes and procedures for clinical trials that are needed for licensing and regulation.
Medicines control is an important element of this programme. It encompasses drug regulations, drug licensing, drug testing, and safety. You will learn about the key processes involved in structured enforcement and inspection standards through the application of quality assurance. You will also gain knowledge and develop skills related to pharmaceutical supply chains and pharmacovigilance, including the safe and proper use of medicines.
You'll also have opportunities for hands-on experience in applying analytical and characterisation techniques such as liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) combined with tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and near-infrared (NIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy.
Top 200 - 2018 QS World University Rankings by subject.
The programme structure is modular and the taught components run over two semesters (September to January then late-January to May), with the research project taking place between May and August.
In the first semester you will take three core modules worth 60 credits. In the second semester you will take two core modules (which constitute 40 credits) and you will have the choice of two option modules (worth a further 20 credits). The research project is worth 60 credits.
Modules
Core
Option
A wide variety of teaching and learning methods are employed to engage you in developing your subject knowledge and understanding including:
The programme will progress from structured learning led by lectures and practicals, through to more seminar-based learning and to the individual research-based dissertation and project.
Different methods of assessment will be used as appropriate to the learning outcomes, including written examinations, oral presentations, experimental coursework reports, and, most importantly, an MSc dissertation.
You will have access to sophisticated state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment for practical classes and MSc projects. These include:
Processing Technology
Characterisation techniques
Separation Technologies
Graduates from our MSc Pharmaceutical Technology and Medicines Control programme progress into PhD research and employment in the pharmaceutical industry in various areas such as formulation and drug development, manufacture and production, pharmaceutical analysis, quality assurance and quality control.
The programme enhances graduate employment prospects, and opens up opportunities in government regulatory agencies, drug procurement and distribution centres.
Recent graduates have secured positions such as:
Awarded studentships from universities in the UK to undertake PhD studies:
The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.
Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.
Our comprehensive support services will help you to achieve your full potential – both academically and personally.
We provide all you need to make the very best of your time with us, and successfully progress through your studies and on into the world of graduate employment.
Our support services include:
We have well-stocked libraries and excellent IT facilities across campus. These facilities are open 24 hours a day during term time, meaning you’ll always find a place to get things done on campus.
Our Academic Skills Advice Service will work with you to develop your academic, interpersonal and transferable skills.
Our Pharmaceutical Technology MSc offers you world-class teaching in formulation and drug delivery from internationally renowned scientists. This course has a strong scientific base, designed specifically to improve the skills of pharmacists and graduates with life sciences, chemistry and chemical engineering backgrounds. You will gain hands-on practical experience with some of the most advanced techniques and instruments, and conduct research with experts in the field.
This course will teach you about the science and application of the formulation of pharmaceutical products, and will allow you to assist in the discovery and development of better medicines.
We aim to give you the knowledge and expertise in liquid and solid dosage form design and handling which you will need for a career in the pharmaceutical industry, research institutes or biotech. You will also gain an understanding of the scientific principles that underpin dosage form stability. You will undertake in-depth study and research into the biopharmaceutic and physicochemical aspects of dosage form design.
Teaching
You will be taught by academic staff who are experts in the field and who are members of an internationally leading team. Your contact time will be as follows:
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work
Assessment
We will assess you through a combination of exams, essays and coursework .
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course modules change.
Recent graduates have gone on to take PhD studies; to work in R&D laboratories in the pharmaceutical industry; or biotech. Overseas students have returned to similar positions in their home countries.
The purpose of the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies (two years, 120 CFU) is to endow students with a sound scientific knowledge for modern pharmaceutical research and health biotechnologies.
The organization and the needs of the research in the pharmaceutical field have changed dramatically in recent years. Modern research in both academic and industrial setting is intensely devoted to the study and development of biopharmaceuticals, including the development of biologics and monoclonal antibodies of new conception. Currently, the pharmaceutical scientist requires a thorough education and expertise in molecular biology, genetics, recombinant DNA techniques and bioinformatics, with a solid background in chemistry, pharmacology and advanced pharmaceutical technology. The professionals working in pharmaceutical R&D and production must possess a sound interdisciplinary knowledge, including the specific technical and regulatory issues dedicated to the research, development and monitoring of innovative drugs and biosimilars.
The Master of Science focuses on transferring knowledge, endowing students with strong technical skills (hard skills) and interpersonal skills (soft skills), building at the same time those competencies needed to face the changing pharmaceutical marketplace. Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies will acquire a solid knowledge in biochemistry, molecular biology and protein engineering, immunology, pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology, and in those disciplines required to design, analyze and formulate innovative drugs such as biologics and drugs employed in targeted therapies. The knowledge of the physico-chemical properties of molecules and macromolecules enable students to apply the analytical methods required for the identification, purification and characterization of biopharmaceuticals during production and quality control.
Strengths: innovative teaching approach; critical approach to science (not only theory!); students have an active role in organizing events, projects and investigations; excellent Teacher/Students ratio; high student satisfaction score (>8.5/10); high employability rate (90%, in Italy); most students graduate with full marks and pursue a PhD abroad.
Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies will operate in various areas of academic and industrial research at national and international level. They will be able to tackle problems related to the study and development of drugs and diagnostics and will work in several fields associated with the production and quality control of the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, diagnostic and scientific instrumentation, as well as the cosmetic and nutraceutical industries and those interested in human and animal nutrition.
The University of Padova, the Veneto Region and other organisations offer various scholarship schemes to support students. Below is a list of the funding opportunities that are most often used by international students in Padova.
You can find more information below and on our website here: http://www.unipd.it/en/studying-padova/funding-and-fees/scholarships
You can find more information on fee waivers here: http://www.unipd.it/en/fee-waivers
In the Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences master’s programme you are trained at the leading edge of drug-design and fundamental research of new drugs, optimization of existing drugs, and personalised medicine.
Despite major advances in drug-research, many common diseases such as cancers, neurological diseases, cardiovascular disease and other auto-immune diseases, lack effective treatment, or are found incurable. You are trained for a scientific career in drug research and development. Depending on your interest, you can choose from seven specialisations to further extend your scientific training and theoretical background.
Read more about our Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences programme.
Find more reasons to study Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences at Leiden University.
The master’s programme of Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS) aims to train you in the research area of bio-pharmaceutical sciences and drug research in such a way that you have extensive knowledge and hands-on experience to be able to work independently as a scientific researcher. Moreover, you have a wide range of other career opportunities bio-pharmaceutical industry, science communication, and education.
Chemical engineering now extends beyond its traditional roots in oil and gas processing. In this course you will learn about the aspects of chemical engineering that deal with the design and development of formulated products such as food and pharmaceuticals. The programme has options in Food Processing, Pharmaceutical Technology and Business Studies.
Chemical Engineering is dynamic and evolving. It provides many solutions to problems facing industries in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, oil, energy and food and drink sectors. It is vital to many issues affecting our quality of life; such as better and more economical processes to reduce the environmental burden, and more delicious and longer lasting food due to the right combination of chemistry, ingredients and processing.
Birmingham is a friendly, self-confident, School which has one of the largest concentrations of chemical engineering expertise in the UK. The School is consistently in the top five chemical engineering schools for research in the country. It also has a first-class reputation in learning and teaching, and regularly ranks highly in league tables.
This programme focuses on exploring the aspects of chemical engineering that deal with the design and development of formulated products, such as food and pharmaceuticals. Our graduates are well prepared for a career in a variety of industries and have an opportunity to capitalise on the growing global demand for chemical engineers.
In the autumn and spring semesters, you will study 5 compulsory core modules and 60 credits of optional modules. In the summer semester, each student on the MSc programme will then undertake an individual project in a research area of their choice within one of the School’s internationally recognised research groups.
The multidisciplinary core modules cover the fundamental science and engineering underpinning the design of sophisticated formulated products. Depending upon your academic background, you will begin by studying
the fundamental principles of either chemical engineering or the relevant biological science.
A wide range of optional modules enables you to gain specific knowledge relating to fuel cells, food and/or pharmaceutical product development. Safety, regulatory and quality issues applicable across the relevant industries are also considered. Core skill modules are topics that may be applied across all themed areas. You may also choose to study business and management modules, or develop mathematical modelling skills. You will have the freedom to pick and choose modules from each theme (providing timetabling allows for this).
Related links
This programme comprises 120 credits of short-course taught modules (60 credits of core and 60 credits of optional) and a 60 credit research project carried out with one of the department's research teams (MSc only).
The programme has options in Food Processing, Pharmaceutical Technology and Business Studies.
University Careers Network
Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.
Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.
If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.
This MSc will provide students with the skills and knowledge to allow them to participate effectively in the creation and growth of high-impact pharmaceutical business ventures. Its graduates will be ideally positioned to initiate their own start-up companies or join existing biotech or pharmaceutical businesses.
Students will learn how to develop and assess a new business concept, and how to raise finance for and market a business and its outputs. They will build their scientific skill set by exploring four scientific research areas in pharmaceutics, and will interact closely with and be mentored by those who have direct experience of initiating a start-up business.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits), a scientific research project (30 credits) and a business case development project (30 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Students select three optional modules in term one (from a choice of four), and a further optional module (from a choice of five) in term two.
Dissertation/report
Students undertake two projects which culminate in two written reports and oral presentations. One is a short laboratory research project, while the second involves the development of a business case for a new pharmaceutical endeavour.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars and practical sessions, as well as industrial visits. Assessment is through a combination of written examinations, coursework assignments and project work.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship MSc
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Graduates from this MSc find work in various areas of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. They are fully equipped with the skills to start their own businesses, and can approach UCL Innovation and Enterprise to assist with this if desired. Alternatively, they may join small biotech or major pharmaceutical companies, pursue further research in academia, work in consulting, or join world-leading technology companies where there is increasing emphasis on healthcare and the life sciences. For instance, recent graduates have undertaken PhD research at the University of Cambridge or found work with start-ups such as Intract Pharma.
Employability
Employability skills are embedded in the programme, with emphasis placed on the development of "soft" skills and a series of workshop sessions organised on CV writing, undertaking interviews, and networking. We make extensive efforts to provide opportunities for students to meet with potential employers. Students from this MSc are highly competitive in the global jobs market.
This programme is unique in equipping students with a broad skill set in both medicines design and entrepreneurship. It is delivered by world-leading academics in both the UCL School of Pharmacy and UCL School of Management.
UCL staff with direct experience of launching a pharmaceutical start-up will teach students best practice and how to overcome the major challenges involved in enterprises of this kind.
UCL’s central London location combines state-of-the-art research with an entrepreneurial dynamic that fosters start-up creation, and provides access to venture capitalists, business angels, and world-leading pharmaceutical companies. UCL Innovation and Enterprise, UCL’s centre for entrepreneurship and business interaction, offers UCL students direct practical support in launching a business.
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