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Pharmaceutics MSc

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2023/24)

£18,000

Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)

£35,000

Duration

1 calendar year

Programme starts

September 2023

Applications accepted

All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A second-class UK Bachelor's degree or higher in pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, physical science, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, biotechnology, pharmaceutics or a related field in the life or physical sciences, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

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.

Equivalent qualifications

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. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This programme provides education in the science of successful medicines design, development and manufacture. Students acquire the key skills needed to pursue a career in industrial product development or a research career in the design of drug delivery systems. Particular emphasis is placed on developing research skills.

Who this course is for

The programme is particularly suitable for graduates with a first degree in a life science, not necessarily pharmacy, who wish to pursue a research degree or a career in product development in the pharmaceutical industry.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The research project, perhaps the most exciting aspect of this programme, lasts four months. During this period you will join the research team of one of our world-leading academics, pursuing research that will advance the progress of contemporary medicine design.

Our close links with the UK pharma industry mean we can arrange careers days and other networking opportunities where you will have direct access to potential employers.

We have introduced elements to the programme which will provide evidence of continuing professional development and increase your employability. These include building a portfolio of practical and analytical skills, and classes and research skills workshops to develop your key skills in communication, calculations and IT.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Employability skills are embedded in the programme, with emphasis placed on the development of "soft" skills, and a series of bespoke sessions organised on CV writing, undertaking interviews, and networking. We make extensive efforts to provide opportunities for students to meet and connect with potential employers.

Employability

Graduates of this programme progress to careers in various areas of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including research, product development and manufacturing, clinical trials and regulatory affairs. Others pursue a PhD in the UK or overseas.

Accreditation

Satisfies the academic requirements for the award of Chartered Chemist (CChem) for students entering the programme between 2018 and 2023.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes and seminars.. Assessment is through a combination of written examinations, coursework assignments, and the research project report and presentation.

Modules

In term one, you will take four compulsory modules providing the key principles of Pre-formulation and Formulation of small molecule active ingredients, their pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control as well as giving perspective about Personalised Medicine.

In term two, you will take one compulsory module and choose three optional modules from a choice of five modules. The compulsory module will give you an overview about pharmaceutical biotechnology including the medical uses of vaccines, proteins and peptides. The optional modules will include Initiating a Pharmaceutical Start Up, Nanomedicines, Clinical Pharmaceutics, Natural Products and Cosmeceuticals, Pharmacometrics and Polymers in Drug Delivery.

In term three, you will undertake the compulsory laboratory-based research project in which you are expected to develop your own research ideas and experimental series in discussion with your supervisor.

Compulsory modules

Analysis and Quality Control

Preformulation

Formulation of Small Molecules

Personalised Medicine

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Research Project for MSc Pharmaceutics

Optional modules

Pharmacometrics

Initiating a Pharmaceutical Start-Up

Clinical Pharmaceutics

Nanomedicines

Formulation of Natural Products and Cosmeceuticals

Polymers in Drug Delivery

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 are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Pharmaceutics.

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.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£18,000
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£35,000

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no programme-specific 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.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

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.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

How your academic and professional background meets the demands of Pharmaceutics
Why you want to study Pharmaceutics at graduate level
What particularly attracts you to this programme at the UCL School of Pharmacy
Where you would like to go professionally with your degree and how this programme meets these needs

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.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.