Biopharmaceutical Engineering

Biopharmaceutical products are highly important in today’s global healthcare systems in treating illnesses and disease. The industry in the British Isles has seen significant investment, particularly in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) where there has been capital investment of approximately £7.97 billion in new facilities, mostly in the last 10 years. The global market for biopharmaceuticals was valued at £149 billion in 2017, and is projected to reach £419 billion by 2025, growing at an annual rate of 13.8% from 2018 to 2025. As a result, over 30,000 highly skilled people are currently employed in Ireland north and south with new companies setting up facilities in RoI every year. The increased uptake of skilled biopharmaceutical employees has necessitated the need for a high quality education in this sector.



Queen’s University Belfast School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering has a proven track record for delivering high quality teaching and research and has launched the options-based Postgraduate Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Engineering from this platform. This qualification will provide students with knowledge and skills which will help them to find employment in the field of biopharmaceutical production, separation and purification by applying fundamental science and engineering principles.



It is partly designed to augment skills and qualifications already gained by STEM graduates and by staff who are working in the Biopharmaceutical Engineering sector but who wish to add some specialisations in order to progress. It should also help anyone seeking a career pathway change who meets the entrance criteria.



Through studying this postgraduate course students will be able to gain a highly relevant qualification which will give them greatly enhanced employability.



This course is run in collaboration with our industrial partner Eli Lilly, a global company with excellent standing in the field of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical production and commercialisation. A collaborative course of this nature is the first of its kind in the British Isles and will provide students with real-world knowledge of how these systems are operated in an industrial setting through the case studies and first-hand knowledge imparted by the academics and industry staff delivering the course.

Optional Modules

Medicinal Chemistry (20 credits)

Biopharmaceuticals and Upstream Processing (20 credits)

Chemical Engineering Principles (20 credits)

Bioreactor Design and Bioprocess Control (20 credits)

Separations, Downstream Processing and Bioanalytical Science (20 credits)

Regulatory Affairs and Quality Systems (20 credits)

Entrance requirements

Normally a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biochemistry or closely allied subject.



Applicants with relevant work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.



International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region at https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/your-country/



English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).



International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.



For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.



If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 30th June 2026 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.



Please note: a deposit will be required to secure a place.

1 year part-time.

Entry Year: Academic Year 2026/27

Career Prospects

Introduction

This course will develop your biopharmaceutical engineering knowledge and skills increasing your opportunity of being employed in many roles in the industry. You may be already in employment and want to skill up and equip yourself with the knowledge to either progress on or seek employment in a biopharma company.



Employment after the Course

With a course like this, you will gain highly desirable skills which will feed into the rapidly expanding industry which is biopharmaceutical production. With the vast investment on the island of Ireland alone, there will be many companies for students to gain employment in.



Alongside working in the field of biopharmaceutical production, the skills and knowledge gained through this course will also give students the opportunities to work in a chemical engineering role more widely (subject to options taken).