The School of Pharmacy aims to produce passionate pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists who able to address many of the major healthcare challenges facing the world in the 2020s and beyond. Pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists have the potential to forge strong and unique bridges between science and healthcare to improve health outcomes, developing good relationships with patients, healthcare practitioners, and the pharmaceutical industry.

This research programme provides students with the opportunity to liaise with professionals in the pharmacy, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries, and develop national and international collaborations. Previous research projects have involved work in the USA and across Europe and Asia. The School's research is focused in two main areas; Drug Discovery, Design and Delivery, and Clinical Pharmacy and Practice.

Postgraduate students in the School of Pharmacy can benefit from access to purpose-built laboratory space and specialist equipment, a wide range of training programmes designed to enhance research and transferable skills, and support from dedicated academic supervisors.

The School has strong links with the pharmaceutical industry and an important presence in the Lincoln Institute for Health. It collaborates with the Antimicrobial Research Group (AMR), the Community and Health Research Unit (CAHRU), and the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), as well as the Schools of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences.

How You Study

Our research environment has been designed to support students through a specific framework. This covers all aspects of the postgraduate experience, including supervisor interaction, training, and access to facilities and allied support through the Postgraduate Research Lead and the Director of Research.

All postgraduate students are actively encouraged to prepare submissions to scientific journals in their field. Students are expected to present their findings to national and international conferences, and to participate in internal research meetings.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the majority of time is spent in independent study and research. Students will have meetings with their academic supervisor(s), but the frequency of these will vary depending on individual requirements, subject area, staff availability, and stage of programme.

Placements may occur as part of the research programme, primarily to conduct research abroad (subject to appropriate ethical approval) or to visit a laboratory to use equipment or learn new techniques.

How You Are Assessed

The MSc by Research involves the writing of a Master's thesis under the supervision of a member of academic staff on a topic approved by the course supervisor. The MSc by Research is usually awarded based on the quality of the students thesis and students may defend their chosen research topic in an oral examination (viva voce).

Career Opportunities

This research programme provides an ideal platform for progression into the pharmaceutical, cosmetics or food industries, while others may choose to work in research or academia. Previous graduates have been employed in academic research positions, in pharmaceutical companies, the NHS as well as undertaking further study as PhD students.