Program Overview

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Pharmacology MSc

The Pharmacology MSc course is designed to give students the theoretical and practical skills needed to enter a career in pharmacology. This can be in an academic institution, a research institute, or in the industrial/business sector.

About this course

This course is ideal for:

• Recently qualified undergraduates looking for professional skills to obtain a job in a pharmaceutical company
• Those working in an organization and wanting a master's-level qualification for a competitive edge
• Individuals requiring skills and experience for a research degree
• International students wishing to study abroad
• Those wanting a course delivered by experienced research academics with the possibility of completing a research project in industry
• Students who want to use cutting-edge facilities to develop their learning and research

Placement Opportunities

If students choose the sandwich route, they will be given the opportunity to do a work placement to develop their professional experience.

World-Leading Research

99% of NTU's Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing, and Pharmacy submission was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent by the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).

A University Campus Experience

The course is set within one of Europe's top 25 student cities, home to over 75,000 learners.

What you'll study

This course is made up of six core modules and a research project. If students are part-time or on a sandwich course, they will continue to study the second year from the modules listed below.

Module information

Here's a breakdown of what students will be studying throughout the course:

• Cell Biology and Physiology: Develop an understanding of basic cellular function within physiology and gain an appreciation of cellular systems. Modern pharmacological concepts and techniques are introduced, as well as studying cell organization, gene expression, metabolism, and physiological systems. (20 credits)
• Neurophysiology: A number of hot topics in molecular and cellular neuroscience will be selected from current scientific literature. These topics include subjects such as neuronal pathways involved in the expression of behavior, neural degeneration, neurotoxicity, and recent advances in understanding certain neurological and psychiatric illnesses. (20 credits)
• Biology of Disease: Students will gain an understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney fibrosis. Lectures and seminars examine cancer aetiology, the genotypic and phenotypic properties associated with tumor progression, metastasis, and current approaches to cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy. (20 credits)
• Research Methods and Bioethics: This module encourages students to think beyond their subject and interact accordingly. Students will gain a solid foundation in literature review, research design and planning, data analysis, and presentation by focusing their studies on a related ethical issue. Ethical issues in research will also be explored, as students discover when and how to obtain ethical clearance in accordance with ethical governance at NTU. (20 credits)
• Pharmacology: In this module, students will see how genes can influence physiology and, hence, pharmacological response to drugs used to treat pathological conditions. Students will develop the concept of tailoring therapeutic drugs as the future of drug design, enabling physicians to prescribe personalized medical treatments based on an individual's genome. (20 credits)
• Techniques in Macromolecular Analysis: The aims of this module are to provide advanced knowledge and understanding of techniques that can be used to isolate and purify macromolecules and the approaches that can be used to track, study, and predict macromolecular structure and function. (20 credits)
• Research Project: Students will choose from a range of research projects offered by academic staff, giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to an in-depth investigation in a specialist area of biosciences. Students will learn to critically evaluate literature, apply appropriate methodologies, analyze and interpret data, and communicate their findings in a variety of formats. (60 credits)

Entry requirements

UK students

• Academic entry requirements: 2.2 honors degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmacology, or Pharmacy.
• Additional requirements: There are no additional requirements for this course.
• Other qualifications and experience: NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience.

International students

• Academic entry requirements: 2.2 honors degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmacology, or Pharmacy.
• English language requirements: See the English language requirements page for requirements for the subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
• Additional international requirements: There are no additional requirements for this course.

Fees and funding

UK students

• Full-time: £10,300
• Full-time with placement year: £10,300 + £1,905 for placement year
• Part-time: £5,150
• Scholarships: NTU awards scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion, and dedication to their studies.
• Alumni discount: A 20% alumni discount is available for most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni.
• Postgraduate loans: There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees.

International students

• Full-time: £20,750
• Full-time with placement year: £20,750 + £1,905 for placement year
• Scholarships: NTU awards scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion, and dedication to their studies.
• Alumni discount: A 20% alumni discount is available for most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni.
• Living costs: Advice is available on managing money, the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham, and how to budget.

Careers and employability

This course provides the professional skills, experience, and knowledge necessary to pursue a wide range of careers within the field of pharmacology. Graduates are also well-versed in the ethical issues surrounding drug development and usage and their impact on business, making them a valuable addition to any company.

Placements

NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. The school of Science and Technology will work closely with students to help find a placement and strengthen their CV and interview techniques.

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have successful careers in organizations such as:

• AstraZeneca
• Eurofins Laboratories
• LabCorp Drug Development
• Siemens Health
• Catalent Pharma Solutions

Our graduates are

Graduates from this course now work in a wide range of roles such as:

• Analytical Scientist
• Associate Scientist
• Biotechnologist
• Clinical Support Officer
• Laboratory Scientist

Campus and facilities

Students will study in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) and the Rosalind Franklin Building, with access to facilities such as the extensive SuperLab. The self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures.