MSc Pharmacology and Biotechnology

Course summary

• Work in state-of-the-art facilities on exciting practical projects.
• Explore the fundamental principles of molecular pharmacology and biotechnology.
• Enhance your laboratory skills from experimental design through to interpretation of results.
• Learn how to synthesise new drugs, or produce them from genetically modified microorganism.
• Develop as an autonomous learner capable of reflecting on learning, knowledge and professional practices.

This course has been designed to respond to the increasing need for professional pharmacologists and biotechnologists. You'll learn to translate laboratory medical research into clinical applications, and study topics such as diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of disease. Throughout, you'll learn to apply medical biotechnology, biopharmaceutics and drugs.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of 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.

On this course, you’ll work with researchers and academics who are expert and renowned in the field, and do so in cutting-edge industry-standard facilities.

You’ll tackle theoretical topics including pharmacology and advanced cell biology, as well as technical topics such as sub-cloning, cell culture and quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR)

Research skills and statistical analysis are developed throughout the program and applied to pharmacological and biotechnological problems or case studies. New elements of Genomics and Proteomics have been introduced, which allow you to apply basic science knowledge and skills to experimental study design. Modules may include Fundamentals of Laboratory Practice, Cell Biology and Applied Laboratory Practice.

You learn through

• lectures and seminars
• a programme of laboratory classes
• a full semester research project

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in:

• academic research
• the industrial biotechnology sector
• the health biotechnology sector
• the pharmaceutical industry
• environmental sector.

A 2:1 in a relevant Honours degree is normally accepted as the entry requirement for the course. Applicants with a 2:2 are also actively encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants with alternative qualifications with academic attainment or skills in subjects which are directly relevant to the course will also be considered.