Introduction

Studying our MSc Pharmaceutical Science will expand your knowledge of the design, analysis and manufacturing processes of effective and safe pharmaceutical products. Our SuperLabs and Pharmaceutical Research Lab in Chelmsford will become your workspace as you carry out safe and ethical experiments while meeting world-class pharmaceutical standards. You’ll develop scientific-reasoning and problem-solving skills in addition to deepen your understanding of quality control and quality assurance of pharmaceutical products. You’ll also develop a wider knowledge of the integral parts of the pharmaceutical industry including research, development, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sales.

The industry is always developing, which is why we’ll challenge you to debate contemporary or difficult topics and solutions such as drug safety, ethical issues, the readiness of a potential drug for clinical trial in humans and pharmacovigilance. Our collaborative team of research active academic staff and industry specialists will help you develop your research skills and understand how research informs quality practice judgements.

How you'll be assessed

Although they vary, our assessment strategies are all carefully designed to challenge you so that you expand your critical and creative thinking, as well as your problem-solving skills. The assessments will enable you to demonstrate that you can synthesize existing knowledge, accumulate new knowledge, and will evidence the development of your professional practice. As well as our MSc in Pharmaceutical Science, we also offer two intermediate awards – a PG Diploma and a PG Certificate. If you’re taking the full Masters course then you’ll also need to complete a dissertation.

Careers

We’ve worked closely with industry to ensure our postgraduate course meets the need for highly skilled employees in pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing. Once you graduate, you could work within the pharmaceutical industry as a formulation, quality control or production scientist. alternatively, you might decide on a career in regulatory affairs and research, or in a government regulatory body working on licensing and post-marketing surveillance procedures. Other choices could include the medical publication industry, academia, technical support, food or cosmetic industry. As an MSc Pharmaceutical Science graduate you’ll be eligible to apply to join the Royal Pharmaceutical Society after you’ve spent two years in a suitable pharmaceutical scientist role.