Program Overview

Drug & Medicinal Product Analysis – BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

This programme has been developed in conjunction with people working in the industries that employ our graduates. We aim to produce graduates who understand how medicines and healthcare products, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, are manufactured and checked to make sure they are safe, effective, and of a high quality. Drug and Medicinal Product Analysis is a highly relevant programme that leads to excellent job prospects. There is an eight-month work placement in Year 3 of the programme to provide valuable work experience. Some examples of companies where our graduates are working include Regeneron, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Pfizer, Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, Wyeth, Stryker and GlaxoSmithKline.

Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate

• A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including English or Irish and a minimum of an O6 in Mathematics.

Mature Applicants

• Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.

International Applicants

• International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application.

Course Modules

Year 1

• Biology (Credits: 15)
  • This module is an introduction to the fundamental principles and concepts underlying how biological systems function. It is intended to introduce students to key concepts in biochemistry, cellular reproduction, genetics, cellular metabolism, photosynthesis, and human physiology. A core element of this module is practical laboratory experience where students will learn scientific techniques relevant to biochemical analyses.
• Chemistry (Credits: 15)
  • This module is an introduction to the fundamentals of modern chemistry. It is divided into Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry. The module includes lectures, tutorials and important laboratory techniques and practices, the latter making up a large portion of the module.
• Introduction to Drug and Medicinal Products (Credits: 10)
  • This module introduces students to how scientists work and communicate. It provides a broad introduction to the drug and medicinal products industry, with an overview of manufacturing practises and environmental considerations. Students also learn about health and disease and study various methods of formulating medicines.
• Introductory Physics Concepts (Credits: 10)
  • This algebra-based physics module is designed to introduce students to the concepts in fundamental physics that are necessary to support other core modules and to provide a comprehensive grounding in physics that is relevant to chemical and biochemical analysis. Lectures, practicals, and tutorials are relevant, interactive and student-focused to ensure deep learning.
• Science Mathematics (Credits: 10)
  • This mathematics module will provide students with the necessary mathematical skills, problem solving skills and computer application proficiency required by the analytical scientist. Lectures, computer practicals, and tutorials are applied, interactive and student-focused to ensure students can transfer their mathematical knowledge across other modules.

Year 2 – Semester 1

• Introduction to Analytical Techniques (Credits: 5)
  • This module introduces students to laboratory based analytical techniques, e.g. standard calibration, using spectroscopic, chromatographic and electroanalytical instruments.
• Drug and Medicinal Product Technology I (Credits: 10)
  • This module develops the students’ knowledge of the drug and medicinal product industries, discussing areas like production (Chemical and Biological processing methods), plant structure and layout and waste disposal processes.
• Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 1 (Credits: 5)
  • This module builds on the fundamentals of general chemistry already covered allowing the student to form a deeper understanding of the basic principles of Inorganic & Physical Chemistry.
• Pharmaceutical Biochemistry (Credits: 5)
  • This module provides students with an understanding of the biochemical structure and function of biomolecules. There will be an emphasis on their industrial applications associated with the healthcare sector, both pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical/biologics.
• Introduction to Statistics (Credits: 5)
  • This module introduces basic statistical concepts. It examines the practice of collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. Students will develop the necessary skills to undertake preliminary statistical analysis.

Year 2 – Semester 2

• Analytical Techniques (Credits: 5)
  • This module follows on from the theory covered and builds on the skills developed in the Introduction to Analytical Techniques module.
• Drug and Medicinal Product Technology II (Credits: 10)
  • This module develops the students’ knowledge of the drug and medicinal product industries, discussing areas like production (Chemical and Biological processing methods), plant structure and layout and waste disposal processes.
• Inorganic and Physical Chemistry II (Credits: 5)
  • This module allows the student to develop their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in synthesis and reaction kinetics of transition metal complexes with relevance to the drug Manufacturing Industry.
• Pharmaceutical Microbiology (Credits: 5)
  • This module will provide an understanding of the fundamental knowledge and skills of microbiology pertaining to classification, culture and control of microorganisms in the pharmaceutical environment and products of pharmaceutical industries.
• Statistical Process Control (Credits: 5)
  • This module introduces students to important quality control concepts. It will provide students with the necessary skills required to create and analyse statistical process control charts.

Year 3 – Semester 1

• Drug and Medicinal Products & Good Manufacturing Practices (Credits: 10)
  • This module enhances the learners’ awareness of regulatory and good manufacturing requirements in the Drug and Medicinal Product industries.
• Instrumental Analysis (Credits: 5)
  • This module builds on the chromatographic, spectrophotometric and electrochemical instruments and techniques developed in second year.
• Molecular Techniques & Immunobiology (Credits: 5)
  • This module will provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills in molecular techniques used in areas of diagnostics and biopharmaceuticals.
• Molecules in Medicine (Credits: 5)
  • This module studies pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical processes. It teaches the principles for formulation of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, and the associated manufacturing technologies.
• Quality Assurance (Credits: 5)
  • This module seeks to enhance the learners knowledge of working within regulated scientific environments with a focus on fundamental concepts of quality assurance.

Year 3 – Semester 2

• Work Placement (Credits: 30)
  • This module is an exciting opportunity for students to get paid placement (up to 9 months) with science companies in Ireland or internationally.

Year 4 – Semester 1

• Advanced Drug and Medicinal Product Analysis (Credits: 15)
  • This module is a problem, lab-based subject that mimics operations within a pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical company.
• Data Analysis (Credits: 5)
  • This module seeks to develop key statistical techniques and concepts that are invaluable tools in data driven analytic environments.
• GMP and Chromatographic Methods (Credits: 5)
  • This module builds on the earlier good manufacturing practice (GMP) modules in the course which is highly relevant to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and medical device sectors.
• Spectroscopic and Complementary Methods I (Credits: 5)
  • This module involves in-depth examination of useful spectroscopic techniques that are widely used in industry.

Year 4 – Semester 2

• Chromatographic Methods and Validation (Credits: 5)
  • This module examines the most up to date chromatographic methods and technologies, mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis and looks at these techniques as applied in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, chemical and environmental sectors.
• Research Project (Credits: 10)
  • This module is very exciting in that it gives students the opportunity to examine and research a topic of interest or indeed work on a project related to their previous years’ work experience.
• Quality Management (Credits: 5)
  • This module will provide the learner with a detailed knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques employed in quality management.
• Special Topics (Credits: 5)
  • This module provides final year science students with the opportunity to study a range of specialist areas in which they can apply the knowledge they have gained from their course to date to specific industrial contexts.
• Spectroscopic and Complementary Methods II (Credits: 5)
  • This module involves an in-depth examination of NMR, thermal methods, atomic absorption (AA) and X-ray methods that are widely used in analysis and characterization.

Career Opportunities

The employment record of graduates of this programme is one of the best in Ireland. You will have excellent employment opportunities in the following sectors: medical device, biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, chemical, food and local authorities. These industries are worth in-excess of €40 billion a year to Ireland and a significant number of the employees are third level graduates.

Graduates of this programme work as Process Scientists, Production Specialists, Analytical Chemists, Microbiologists, Quality Assurance Specialists, Regulatory Affairs Specialists and at managerial level in companies such as Regeneron, Stryker, Wyeth Nutritionals, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Edwards Lifesciences, Pfizer, MSD, Beckman Coulter and Lilly.

Further Study

Successful graduates of this programme are eligible for Level 9 and 10 postgraduate programmes within TUS or elsewhere.