MSc Pharmaceutical Science (with specialism)
Course overview
Start date
January 2021
September 2021
Subject area
Chemical and Drug Sciences
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
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.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreTailored to maximise employability
This course is designed and tailored to your own preferred specialism in either of the following: Pharmaceutical Analysis; Pharmacology; Physiology; Phyto-pharmaceuticals or Toxicology.
Taught by industry professionals
You will be taught by a highly experienced team headed by Course Leader Dr Mukhlesur Rahman. He has worked extensively within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, spoken at numerous international conferences and published 80 research articles.
Top
UK Modern university for Research Quality*
Bioscience made a major contribution to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. It deems us the top modern university in London for our area of research and eighth in the country. *( Biological Sciences, CUG, 2018)
What we're researching
We have two research groups, one working to develop new medicines and treatments, the other in infections and immunity. We’re also involved in research that tries to model and predict new drugs using bio-informatics. This uses computers to process and study biological data to help predict what a new drug structure would look like before making it.
We often carry out research in collaboration with other leading research universities in London, including University College London and King’s College London as well as overseas institutions. Our Phyto-Pharmaceutical scientists have close links with researchers at Kew. Students studying at all levels have an opportunity to get involved in our research work.
Bioscience research played a major part in our successful performance in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework - the six-yearly national review of research quality in higher education. The work of our researchers was rated the best in London among modern universities. The expert panel rated 67 per cent of our research as ‘internationally excellent’ and 19 per cent of it as ‘world-leading’, the highest possible accolade.
Key researchers in our Medicines Research Group include Professor Corcoran, whose work on wound-healing, smoking-related cancer and natural products with significant economic potential in low-income economies has been internationally acclaimed.
Other prominent researchers include: Dr Mukhlesure Rahman (antimicrobial natural products); Dr Samir Ayoub (inflammation, pain and thermoregulation); Dr Stefano Casalotti (molecular neuroscience); Dr Winston Morgan (toxicology of natural products and synthetic drugs); Dr Barbara Pendry (cancer and mental health); Dr Michael Seed (preclinical models of inflammation and immunity); Dr Sue Outram (the immune response); Dr Sally Cutler (zoonosis); Dr John George (targeted drug design); Dr David Guiliano (microbiology) and Dr Geoffrey Webb (diet and nutrition).
Making a difference
UEL is one of the UK’s leading modern research universities. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 17 per cent of our overall research submission was classified as ‘world-leading’ for its quality and impact – almost double our previous REF score. A further 45 per cent of our work was considered ‘internationally excellent’.
Fees and funding
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Per 30 credit module
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA page for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
We would normally expect you to have Grade C in GCSE English and Maths.
Overall IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening (or recognised equivalent).
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course.
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll study
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
Drug Discovery, Design and Development
Evidence-based practice and career development (Mental Wealth)
Clinical Biochemistry and Toxicology
Advanced Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Health and Disease of Physiological Systems
Research Dissertation
Level 7 Short Work Placement
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed via a mixture of coursework and written exams at the end of each term. Coursework takes a variety of forms, including laboratory work, data analysis, essays, case studies and oral presentations.
The Research Skills module is assessed by coursework involving several forms of presentation. The research project is assessed mainly by final written report, with contributions from a poster presentation and portfolio. Course specificationHow 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’.
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
