Pharmaceutical Sciences

The programme will provide an academically challenging and vocationally relevant education in pharmaceutical sciences, both theoretical and practical. You will learn to apply your knowledge, skills and technology for the benefit of the pharmaceutical and related industrial sectors.

You will receive an up-to-date understanding of core areas of pharmaceutical sciences including drug discovery, development, formulation and delivery, quality assurance and evaluation of drugs, analysis of medicines and medicinal natural products and pharmaceutical instrumental methods. It will increase your awareness of ethical issues and scientific integrity in the pharmaceutical sciences.

Elective modules allow you to specialise in one of the core specialisms of pharmaceutical sciences. MSc students will learn to formulate hypotheses, design, conduct, analyse and report research.

This course is designed to meet the demands of employers and is also suitable for academics who wish to enhance education in this area.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Research Methodologies
This module provides the foundation for undertaking of scientific research. The design of experimental investigation is discussed. The module requires the the development of a research hypothesis through critical evaluation of published literature, completion of problem-based assessments and a research proposal. The latter incorporates issues relating to ethical and professional subjects in pharmaceutical sciences. Consideration is paid to the means for exploiting pharmaceutical sciences research commercially.

Instrumental Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences
This module helps students to develop an understanding and expertise in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical products and GLP.

Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery
This module provides a thorough understanding of the scientific principles of how medicines are developed, manufactured, and brought to the market place through the process of discovery, development and approval of drugs.

Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems
This module introduces the principles and procedures of the industrial manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, and provides the students with relevant knowledge and skills to apply basic physicochemical principles and preformulation information to the design and production of stable pharmaceutical dosage forms. It also includes modern approaches to drug delivery systems.

Research Project
This module provides practical laboratory experience in pharmaceutical analytical techniques and experience in research philosophy, planning, generation and evaluation of data, and reporting in pharmaceutical sciences.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

A Honours Degree in subjects such as Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences or in a course that has significant amounts of chemistry and biology from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard.

If English is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent. Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students.

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Full-Time Coleraine / Part-Time Online.

Year of entry: 2020/21

Postgraduate Information Session 26 March 2020
Register at: ulster.ac.uk/pg-information-events

Career options
This postgraduate programme is tailor-made to meet the demands of employers in the pharmaceutical industry sectors. It is suitable for those who wish to follow careers in pharmaceutical and related industries and also as academics in various universities to enhance and promote education in the pharmaceutical sciences area. As the proposed programme will have significant amounts of research elements, it is assumed that a number of postgraduate students from this programme may choose further postgraduate research studies such as a PhD.