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This programme is offered by the internationally renowned UCL Division of Medicine, supported by the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, and is designed for the more research-oriented student, complementing the Drug Design MSc. Conducting cutting-edge research within the drug industries and UCL's academic group, it offers opportunities for networking and future career development.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
1 year full time on-site
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
Entry requirements
An upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (for example, life sciences, medicine, chemistry) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, or an appropriate professional qualification, or a minimum of three years’ relevant work experience.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Standard
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
This programme teaches students the latest methodologies and approaches and covers all aspects of drug design: drug discovery, computational and structural biology, screening, assay development, medicinal chemistry, and most importantly the industrial practices involved in modern drug design technology.
Find out more about this degree: WIBR Teaching
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of five optional modules (75 credits) and a research project/dissertation/report (105 credits).
Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MRes in Drug Design.
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Compulsory modules
- Research Project
Optional modules
Students select five of the following.
- Bioinformatics and Structural Biology as applied to Drug Design
- Target Identification and High Throughput Screening
- Cheminformatics and Computer Drug Design
- Biological Molecules as Therapeutics - Antibodies, siRNA, and Stem Cells
- Biophysical Screening Methods, Protein NMR and Phenotypic Screening
- Fragment-based Drug Design
- Target Selection - Commercial and Intellectual Property Aspects
- Target Selection - Scientific Grounds
- Practical Laboratory Research Skills
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 to 20,000 words. Projects are wet or dry lab, computational or modelling based project.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and problem classes, critical journal clubs and a research project. Assessment is through coursework, practicals, laboratory work, examination, dissertation and oral presentation.
Additional costs
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
Bursaries are not applicable to the MSc Clinical and Public Health Nutrition, MSc Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition or MSc/MRes Drug Design. Students should check UCL's website for information on broader schemes.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
We expect students graduating from this programme to take leading roles in drug discovery and development worldwide or to undertake further PhD-level research. Drug Design MRes graduates have found jobs in the pharmaceutical industry as well as PhD studentships in leading universities
Employability
The advanced knowledge and skill set acquired by taking this programme will enable students to find employment in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries in a global market.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The UCL Division of Medicine hosts research groups in the areas of medicine, pharmaceutical research, cell cycle, neurobiology, mitochondrial function, stem cells and cancer. Underpinning the translational aspects of the biomedical research, we have a medicinal chemistry group which conducts research where chemistry and biology intersect, using the latest techniques and developing new ones for the study of biological systems.
The division collaborates extensively within industry and academia to develop biological tools and therapeutic agents. There are plenty of opportunities to conduct translational research that has an impact on drug discovery.
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, well established in the West, have been transferring their research and development to the East. Given these substantial developments, particularly in China and India, the programme will have a broad international appeal.
Find out more about this degree: WIBR Teaching
Department: Division of Medicine
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
Who can apply?
This MRes is ideal for suitably qualified graduates who wish to obtain a broad understanding of the drug design process, either to establish a career in drug discovery, or to undertake further research in this field. It is also suitable for industry professionals wishing to refresh their existing knowledge and skills and become familiar with cutting-edge research and developments.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 30 July 2021
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Drug Design at graduate level
- why you want to study Drug Design at UCL
- what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
- how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
- where you would like to go professionally with your degree
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
