MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis

Work in industry-standard facilities to get an introduction to pharmaceuticals from drug discovery to manufacture, and learn to use the tools needed for their analysis.

• Study in state-of-the-art facilities, developing the skills you need to operate common analytical laboratory instruments.
• Learn to obtain and interpret analytical information from a variety of products.
• Apply good experimental design techniques and use statistical methods for data evaluation.
• Analyse and interpret data with industry-standard management systems.
• Understand the background of drug design and development and the wider industry.

In this course, you'll learn the skills required of an analyst and become familiar with the principles of modern instrumental analytical techniques, methods, and statistics. You'll study the practice and theory of the field, and consider the pharmaceutical industry in detail.

All our courses are designed around key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Throughout the course, you'll learn the fundamentals of analytical chemistry and how it is applied to pharmaceutical, environmental, and materials analyses. You’ll work in industry-standard laboratories and teaching laboratories, alongside research-active staff who are renowned in their field.

You learn how to develop methods to determine the levels of active ingredients and contaminants in pharmaceutical preparations. You will understand regulations governing the analysis which demand that you work under strict quality assurance and quality control regimes.

Modules may include Separation and Detection Science, Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery, and Biopharmaceuticals and Drug Discovery.

You learn through

• lectures and seminars
• academic advice
• a program of laboratory classes
• full semester research project

Applied learning

Laboratory experience and research project

To supplement the classroom activities there is a programme of laboratory classes. Your laboratory work is carried out in our teaching laboratories which are extensively equipped with the latest models of analytical instruments, such as HPLCs and GCs. This is supplemented by access to our research facilities where you have access to more sophisticated equipment, such as NMR and a suite of various types of mass spectrometers.

You will have the opportunity to conduct a semester-long investigative research project within the field of pharmaceutical analysis. This work will take place in cutting-edge, industry-standard laboratories and teaching labs under the supervision of world-renowned active research staff.

This work will be aligned with the current research interests of an academic member of staff within our specialist Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre. The project will include a critical review of the literature relevant to your research project, the development of a project proposal, the design of research methods, and the analysis, presentation, and interpretation of experimental data.

Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

Final year

Compulsory modules

• Advanced Laboratory And Research Practice: 30 credits
• Applied Laboratory Practice: 15 credits
• Biopharmaceuticals And Drug Discovery: 15 credits
• Medicinal Chemistry And Drug Discovery: 15 credits
• Research Project: 60 credits
• The Analytical Approach: 15 credits

Elective modules

• Forensic Drug Analysis: 15 credits

• Innovations In Analytical Science: 15 credits

• Separation And Detection Science: 15 credits

• Surface Analysis And Related Techniques: 15 credits

This course prepares you for a career in

• The pharmaceutical industry
• Academic or industrial research
• Quality assurance
• Analytical laboratories

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work as

• Methods development scientists
• Drug development scientists
• Compliance officers
• PhD students