This programme provides vocational training in the theoretical, clinical and laboratory aspects of toxicology.
You will learn about the nature and mechanism of adverse effects of chemicals such as those found in industry, in the household, in agriculture, in medicine and those that occur naturally in the environment. We give particular emphasis to molecular and cellular mechanisms of toxicity and to risk assessment.
Our Toxicology programmes are designed to meet the future needs of the sector, with contributions by international experts from the pharmaceutical industries, contract research companies, government and external toxicology centres.
The MSc Toxicology programme provides training in theoretical, clinical and laboratory aspects of toxicology and acts as a conversion course, taking students from a variety of backgrounds and giving them new skills to enable them to move into research and employment in the field of toxicology and related disciplines.
Specific programme aims
The MSc in Toxicology programme aims to:
The School of Biosciences is recognised internationally as a major centre for teaching and research in toxicology. We provide a lively, highly interactive teaching environment, with integrated teaching by well established centres of bioscience, pathology, clinical pharmacology and toxicology, occupational health and environmental and eco-toxicology. You will be taught through a combination of lectures, practical classes, workshops, tutorials and a research project all supported by directed reading and course work.
Most of the teaching takes place at the University but there are important contributions from external experts working in the pharmaceutical and other industries, contract research companies and government establishments as well as visits to external centres of toxicology. These external contacts are very important in relation to the provision of resources, specialist applied aspects of the training and future employment.
As well as specialist disciplinary knowledge, graduates of the MSc Toxicology programme will also acquire many transferable skills such as the ability to design experiments using a variety of research techniques, collate and interpret the data, use of specialist computer software packages to predict metabolism and toxicity, communication and interpersonal skills, which will all provide an appropriate grounding for employment or further study.
The success rate of students on the MSc in Toxicology programme is approximately 95% and the career opportunities are excellent. Even in times of economic hardship toxicology remains a necessary and important area for funding. The current concern over environmental safety adds to these opportunities.
Those completing the programme in recent years have been employed, for example, in:
The Analytical Toxicology MSc is a unique study programme that integrates theoretical and practical aspects of analytical science with clinical and forensic toxicology. This course will provide you with a detailed knowledge and comprehensive understanding of advanced analytical toxicology and its applications.
The Analytical Toxicology MSc has been designed for scientists wishing to enter the field of clinical or forensic toxicology, or for clinical and forensic specialists wanting to develop their existing knowledge and professional experience. This one-year course explores the close connections between clinical and forensic toxicology through a range of modules that includes advanced analytical toxicology, core analytical sciences, biochemical, clinical and forensic toxicology. You will also complete a research project and dissertation related to analytical toxicology.
You will study modules totalling 180 credits throughout the year, with 60 credits coming from the research project and dissertation.
Location
The majority of learning for this degree takes place at the King’s College London Waterloo Campus (Franklin Wilkins Building).
Work placements are at a variety of sites including Cambridgeshire, Surrey, Malvern, Birmingham, and Teddington.
Regulating body
King’s College is regulated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Graduate career paths include analytical and supervisory roles within government and private institutions.
This MSc programme is designed to provide students with an in-depth working knowledge of the principles and practice of forensic toxicology. The major strength of this programme is that students study within an operational ISO 17025 accredited forensic toxicology environment and will be taught by practising forensic toxicologists. This programme will be of particular interest to those interested in pursuing or furthering careers in forensic toxicology as court-reporting scientists, laboratory scientists or academics. This programme also enables graduates to gain experience in research before applying to a doctoral programme.
This programme will prepare you for a post in a forensic toxicology laboratory both in the UK and overseas. Many of our graduates find or return to forensic work or undertake a PhD.
This full-time Master's programme provides a comprehensive overview of drug safety practices within the drug development process.
It addresses key aspects of preclinical drug evaluation through the study of:
It will give you state-of-the-art training in preclinical toxicology, with an emphasis on the molecular in vitro and in vivo aspects of toxicology and safety pharmacology assessments.
As part of the programme you will undertake an original research project that will be the basis of your dissertation.
Delivered at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, an internationally renowned research institution, the programme gives you the skills you need for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or regulatory bodies, along with the foundations for PhD study.
Drug toxicology and safety pharmacology lies at the heart of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and demand for highly skilled practitioners in this field is extremely high.
Top 200 - 2018 QS World University Rankings by subject.
"The course contains the perfect balance between theoretical learning in lectures and hands-on experience by putting our theoretical learning into practice. It has helped spark a greater in-depth interest and knowledge into science and science-related research."
Manisha Prabhakar, MSc Drug Toxicology and Safety Pharmacology
The programme delivers a combination of theoretical learning and hands-on laboratory experience in a number of key aspects of biomedical, pharmacological and toxicological laboratory techniques.
Key elements of scientific analysis, such as critical appraisal and analysis and presentation of data, are also included.
Modules
Core
Option
You'll learn through lectures, tutorials, student-led seminars and laboratory investigation, plus self-directed learning.
Assessment consists of exams and coursework. An important component is the final dissertation derived from the research project.
The programme gives you the skills you need for a career in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical trials, or regulatory bodies, along with the foundations for PhD study.
Drug toxicology and safety pharmacology lies at the heart of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and demand for highly skilled practitioners in this field is extremely high.
The majority of our students find employment in the pharmaceutical industry (e.g. Covance, Envigo, Cyprotex) as well as the clinical setting ( e.g clinical trials at St James Hospital, Leeds). A number of overseas students have returned to their country of origin and have taken high profile positions in the regulatory environment. In addition, many of our students have continued their education and progressed to PhD study (e.g. Universities of Oxford, Leeds, Liverpool, and Bradford).
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.
One of the most rapidly developing areas of toxicology.
This programme provides students with a research-orientated training in the application of molecular and cell biology to develop an understanding of chemical toxicity at the cellular and molecular level. You will study within a lively, highly interactive teaching and research environment.
One of the most rapidly developing areas of toxicology is the use of molecular, cell biology and omics to identify adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) and to develop a mechanistic understanding of chemical toxicity at the cellular and molecular level. This is not only of fundamental interest (i.e., understanding the mechanism of action) but it also relates to an increased need for a mechanistic component in chemical risk assessment and development of high throughput screens for chemical toxicity.
The MRes in Molecular Mechanistic Toxicology is a one-year full-time programme that provides students with a research-orientated training in a lively, highly interactive teaching and research environment.
The programme is coordinated by the School of Biosciences, which is recognised internationally as a major centre for both teaching and research in Toxicology. Molecular Toxicology is a major component of the School of Biosciences research activities along with interactions with other departments including Chemistry and the Medical School.
Specific areas of active research include:
Two five-week taught modules are held in Semester 1 in conjunction with the taught MSc in Toxicology programme. Training in generic and laboratory research skills is also an important element of the programme. The programme also includes a six-month research project, which provides students with an opportunity for further advanced research training and hands-on experience of molecular and cellular biology techniques embedded in a research laboratory. Research projects can take place either in academic or industrial institutions.
Semester 1
Semester 2:
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, coursework, practical classes, student seminars and placement in a research laboratory. The taught component is assessed by a combination of examinations and coursework. The dissertation component is assessed by preparation of a research thesis.
After completing the course you will have gained a detailed knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of chemical toxicity (e.g. polymorphisms and metabolism, genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens, mechanisms of apoptosis, cDNA microarray and other high throughput screening strategies). You will also be able to critically evaluate and interpret available scientific literature, and effectively present the results of your research to peers using both written reports and oral communications. The programme will help you to develop laboratory skills and enable you to effectively interact in a research laboratory setting.
There is a demand for Toxicologists with molecular biology training in industry and other research organisations. The skills you gain from this course will stand you in good stead to enter research-based careers in the pharmaceutical industry and the medical sciences. You will also have enhanced your opportunities to further your research training by studying for the degree of PhD.
This research-based course has a taught component that is the same as an MSc. It provides a springboard into a career that involves a working knowledge of scientific research.
The course is designed for graduates with a BSc in the life sciences or other science disciplines, and for intercalating and fully qualified MBBS or BDS students. It can be taken either as a stand-alone qualification or as an entry route onto a PhD or MD.
The taught component of the course includes subject-specific content in the area of toxicology. You have the flexibility to develop your own bespoke course by selecting additional, complementary modules. You will also participate in training in general research principles, and other professional and key skills.
The subject-based modules give a broad understanding in toxicology, from basic concepts and molecular mechanisms to a review of target organ toxicities, pre-clinical and clinical pharmaceutical toxicology testing. They provide a broad overview of toxicology as it is applied in the pharmaceutical industries.
Your research project comprises the major element of the course. This project will involve 24 weeks of research in an area of toxicology under the supervision of an expert academic researcher in the field.
The course allows you to experience an internationally competitive research area, predominantly in academia but also potentially in industry.
Toxicology MRes is closely linked to a suite of MRes courses that you may also be interested in:
Our Medical Sciences Graduate School is dedicated to providing you with information, support and advice throughout your research degree studies. We can help and advise you on a variety of queries relating to your studies, funding or welfare.
Our Research Student Development Programme supports and complements your research whilst developing your professional skills and confidence.
You will make an on-going assessment of your own development and training needs through personal development planning (PDP) in the ePortfolio system. Our organised external events and development programme have been mapped against the Vitae Researcher Development Framework to help you identify how best to meet your training and development needs.
We come into contact with a vast number of chemical, biological, and physical agents that could do us harm. These agents are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even the food we eat. We encounter them when we travel, when we work or when we use consumer goods such as cosmetics or electrical equipment. Determining the source of these risks, and quantifying their effects, requires collaboration by experts across a host of different disciplines.
Toxicology and Environmental Health trains you to become an expert in the fundamentals of toxicology, environmental epidemiology and exposure assessment. Learn to assess the risks present in everyday life. Gain the knowledge and skills needed to identify chemical, biological, and physical hazards, as well as the risks associated with exposure to these agents.
The multidisciplinary nature of our programme means that you will have the possibility to specialise in a particular field or undertake more generalist training in risk assessment. Decide to take part in experimental laboratory research within various fields of toxicology such as neurotoxicology, immunotoxicology or endocrinel toxicology. Interested in undertaking practical field work? Select an environmental or occupational exposure assessment and engage in activities such as collection and in-depth analysis of samples taken from a variety of sources or exposure modelling .
This programme is designed to meet the proven demand for analytical scientists in a wide range of industries including drug, pharmaceutical, oil, food and drink, environment, biochemistry, and forensic analysis.
The essential purpose of the programme is the production of professional, competent, knowledgeable practitioners in Analytical Sciences. There are three courses within the programme and the student will choose either:
The course has been designed to produce graduates who are eminently equipped with the skills and knowledge required for subsequent employment in a variety of workplaces including areas such as research, project management and technical services associated with a range of industry including analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical, oilfield chemistry, food / drink analysis and environmental science.
Student satisfaction for this course on average 95-100%. This is monitored by the Student Evaluation Questionnaire (SQE).
Please visit the website to find out how to apply
This part-time PGDip/ MSc course is offered by the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Ulster University. The School was originally established in 1969 and it has a long and successful record of teaching and research in an interrelated group of geographical and environmental science subjects. The School is among the largest providers of part-time postgraduate courses in the Physical Sciences in the United Kingdom. We have been offering this innovative, fully online distance learning Masters’ programme for over 15 years. The geographical spread of our students is global, with students from many areas of the European Union and also further afield such as Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and the United States. The various modules on this course will encourage you to develop an evidence-based approach to understanding the impact of chemicals on the environment and will give you the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills for testing, monitoring and controlling these toxins.
The specific objectives of the course are for you to develop:
Why study with us?
Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and have included employees from areas such as: The Pharmaceutical Industry; Oil, Gas and Nuclear Industries; Government Environmental Protection Agencies; Engineering and Mining Companies; Environmental Consultants; Laboratory Technicians as well as people from unrelated areas who wanted a career change.
This course is offered fully online and is completed part-time by distance learning. You do not need to visit Ulster at any stage to successfully complete this course.
The Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) is made up of four taught modules (30 credits per module). One module is taught in each semester (late September to early January and late January to early May). It takes 2 academic years to complete the award of PgDip (120 credits). At this stage you can take the PgDip award or continue studying for the MSc. This entails completing a research project module (60 credits) over a further two semesters. This leads to the award of Master of Science (MSc) worth in total 180 credits. The full PgDip/ MSc programme normally takes three years part-time (6 semesters).
Our students enrol for this course to develop their professional knowledge and to acquire new skills. They do this to improve their career and promotion prospects, change their career, or, if they are recently graduated, to specialise in a new subject area to enhance their job prospects.
Experience has shown that the majority of students who register on this course are already working in the environmental field. We therefore aim to be as flexible as possible in terms of the topics studied and will give you the opportunity to focus on areas of particular interest to you and/or the organisation for which you work where possible.
Strong links to consultancies and environmental agencies both private and governmental ensure that the course remains current and relevant to the needs of potential employers.
Established provider of online distance learning Master’s courses in Environmental Science and Geography
