Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Systems MSc

Program Overview

This two-year distance learning program in Pharmaceutical Technology & Quality Systems meets the EU educational requirements for Qualified Person (QP) status. Combining online content and block attendance, it provides a comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, and quality. Graduates can pursue careers as QPs or in other pharmaceutical industry roles, enhancing their professional development and staying abreast of current trends.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This two-year Pharmaceutical Technology & Quality Systems distance learning programme is aimed at graduates who currently work within the pharmaceutical industry and wish to fulfil the EU educational requirements for Qualified Person (QP) status. Graduates who complete this course and have relevant work experience are eligible to apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or EU regulatory authority to register as a QP. The course is not limited to aspiring QPs: it is designed to broaden your professional development and provide up-to-date assessments of the latest trends in the areas of pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical development, manufacturing and quality. The individual modules provide knowledge and experience of benefit to all technical, quality, regulatory and managerial staff in the pharmaceutical industry.

Part II (30 credits):

• PF6210 Research Project — Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Systems (30 credits): The research project will be within the field of Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Systems.
Consideration will be given to your chosen project area but all project titles must be approved in advance by the course committee and supervised by a member of the academic staff at UCC.

Note:

Taught modules are offered on a cyclical basis over alternative years.

Course Requirements (Pathway 2):

• Students take 30 credits as follows:

Course Practicalities:

• This programme is taught as a blended learning programme, with both online content and block attendance at UCC.
• The programme consists of taught modules delivered via distance learning, running from September to April each year.
• In Year 2, the research project runs from April to October/November.
• The taught modules incorporate online module notes, recorded material, webinars, workshops, online assessments and end of year written exams.
• Webinars are held regularly throughout the year and students must attend a workshop held in UCC at the end of each semester, (usually in December and February).

Assessment:

• Assessment consists of a mixture of continuous assessment and end-of-year written exams.
• Exams take place in April each year, with repeats in autumn if required.
• Continuous assessments form part of each taught module and can be in various formats such as online Multiple Choice Questionnaries (MCQs), essays and interactive exercises on Canvas.

Careers:

• Although the course meets the educational requirements for registering as a QP, it is not only aspiring QPs who complete the course.
• Many of our graduates use the skills obtained in the course to develop their careers within other areas of the pharmaceutical industry.
• Recently a number of our students from Malta graduated from this course and registered as QPs in Malta.

Other:

• The MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality systems has been approved by the HPRA in meeting the educational requirements for QP status as stated in directive 2001/83/EC.
• The Programme Management Committee may permit graduates holding a Postgraduate Diploma (equivalent to NFQ Level 9 award) in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Systems from an appropriately accredited School of Pharmacy to enter a one year programme.
• To be considered for entry to this programme, candidates must have completed their Postgraduate Diploma no later than five years prior to the date of registration for this programme.
• All candidates must be approved by the programme committee within the School of Pharmacy.
• Applicants may be shortlisted for interview.
• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
• Note that not all courses are open to international
  on-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.
• Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.