Program Overview

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Industrial Pharmaceutics

Overview

The MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutics will prepare graduates with the expertise and skills required for employment in an industry estimated to be worth $1.42 trillion. Industrial pharmaceutics plays a vital role in the development, validation and manufacture of new medicines, ensuring their safety and quality, and MSc graduates will be able to avail of employment opportunities at all stages of the medicine development pipeline.

Course Structure

Students will join a community of nearly 4,000 postgraduate students, having access to a dedicated hub for postgraduate students (The Graduate School), that provides state-of-the-art facilities for study, and high-quality training within a diverse interdisciplinary research-intensive Russell Group university.

Modules

• Leadership and Project Management (20 credits)
• Research Project (60 credits)
• Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs (20 credits)
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies (20 credits)
• Formulation of Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Products (30 credits)
• Characterisation Methods for Pharmaceutical Products (20 credits)
• Research Skills and Methods (10 credits)

Leadership and Project Management

Overview

The module will provide students with knowledge of the fundamentals of leadership and project management and entrepreneurship, and the skills required to apply these to a typical pharmaceutical project in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

• Understand the relationship between strategic management and leadership
• Critically evaluate the leadership theories and principles that support organisational values
• Demonstrate an understanding of how leadership strategies impact on organisational direction
• Understand the impact of project management approaches on achieving strategic objectives
• Produce a feasible project plan and reflect critically on it
• Implement a project plan and evaluate outcomes
• Demonstrate knowledge of management and business processes within the pharmaceutical industry
• Discuss the key areas relevant to pharmaceutical innovation (e.g. intellectual property, patents)

Skills

• Cognitive skills – critical evaluation and interpretation
• Transferable skills – applying critical thinking and innovation tools
• Knowledge and understanding – demonstrating an understanding of the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of leadership practice and management as well as entrepreneurial methodologies

Research Project

Overview

Students will conduct an individual research project, working in areas such as: Drug delivery, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmaceutical biotechnology, pharmaceutical formulation, pharmaceutical technology, and continuous manufacturing.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Conduct laboratory-based research at a master’s level
• Formulate original research ideas into a coherent strategy
• Collect data using appropriate experimental techniques
• Analyse and evaluate data appropriately
• Apply knowledge and skills in an integrated manner to solve research problems
• Communicate research outcomes to a scientific audience
• Prepare a written dissertation on their research

Skills

• Communication: Report writing and oral presentation
• Analytical: numerical calculations, drawing logical conclusions, critical thinking, problem solving
• Practical: use best practice when working with instruments, equipment and methodologies
• Information technology: computer literacy
• Collaborative working; working in a research team
• Planning and organisation: independent thinking, initiative, decision-making, time-management, target setting and monitoring
• Risk assessment in a laboratory environment

Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs

Overview

This module provides an understanding of the legislation and regulations that govern pharmaceutical manufacturing, the guidelines for their application, and current best practice within the pharmaceutical industry.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Interpret pharmaceutical legislation and regulations
• Describe online process monitoring and the use of process analytical technology (PAT) to advance pharmaceutical process identification, simulation and control
• Select and apply process analytical technology (PAT) tools within a quality by design (QbD) framework, and critically appraise their use in the development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical (and related) products
• Explain the concepts of quality, safety, and efficacy
• Discuss the use and application of analytical laboratory policies and procedures including quality control (QC), quality assurance (QA), quality compliance and good manufacturing practice (GMP)
• Choose and apply appropriate regression and multivariate analysis techniques for the examination of complex data sets
• Compare and contrast the challenges of on-line process analysis versus laboratory-based analysis
• Discuss the quality of medicinal products, including raw materials, licensed and unlicensed products

Skills

• Communication: report writing
• Practical: use best practice when working with instruments, equipment and methodologies
• Analytical: numerical calculations, formulating hypotheses, drawing logical conclusions
• Information technology skills: computer literacy
• Collaborative working
• Planning and organisation: independence, initiative, time-management

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies

Overview

This module incorporates the key scientific and advanced engineering concepts in pharmaceutical manufacturing, ranging from batch to continuous manufacturing, and considering both standard methods and new and emerging technologies.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Discuss drug development, drug manufacturing and process and unit operations in the pharmaceutical industry
• Apply a critical understanding of physiochemical properties in the manufacturing and evaluation of solid dosage forms
• Plan experimental studies using new technologies such as 3D printing, microfluidics, and biological microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS) devices
• Select and apply appropriate analytical or characterisation techniques to compare and contrast products from conventional and new manufacturing techniques
• Apply computational modelling (e.g. Finite Element Analysis) to problem solving in pharmaceutical manufacturing

Skills

• Communication: report writing
• Practical: use best practice when working with instruments, equipment and methodologies
• Analytical: numerical calculations, formulating hypotheses, drawing logical conclusions
• Information technology: computer literacy
• Collaborative working
• Planning and organisation: independence, initiative, time-management

Formulation of Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Products

Overview

This module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects underpinning the design and development of a range of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical formulations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Discuss the physicochemical and physiological principles that impact upon formulation design and development
• Apply theory effectively in the formulation of a range of dosage forms, and in the formulation of biopharmaceuticals
• Appropriately analyse formulated products
• Interpret data and concisely report conclusions
• Identify key challenges and propose solutions for addressing critical issues in the development and testing of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products

Skills

• Communication: clearly and concisely report scientific information
• Analytical: numerical calculations, formulating hypotheses, drawing logical conclusions
• Practical: use best practice when working with instruments, equipment and methodologies
• Information technology: computer literacy
• Collaborative working
• Planning and organisation: independence, initiative, time-management

Characterisation Methods for Pharmaceutical Products

Overview

This module introduces students to a wide range of techniques used in qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical products, including physiochemical characterisation, in vitro and in vivo testing.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Describe, in the context of analysis of drugs and related substances, the principles and application of method validation (e.g. accuracy, precision, robustness, reproducibility and repeatability)
• Define the instrumental and procedural requirements for successful use of different techniques in on-line process monitoring (e.g. UV, IR spectrophotometry, HPLC)
• Develop and validate methods appropriately
• Analyse, evaluate and interpret results correctly
• Critically appraise the challenges of on-line process analysis versus laboratory-based analysis
• Discuss the quality of medicinal products, including raw materials, licensed and unlicensed products
• Describe, in the context of pharmaceutical analysis, the principles and application of chemometrics in the analysis of drugs and other related substances

Skills

• Communication: report writing
• Practical: use best practice when working with instruments, equipment and methodologies
• Mathematical: numerical calculations
• Information technology: computer literacy
• Collaborative working
• Planning and organisation: independence, initiative, time-management

Research Skills and Methods

Overview

This module will equip students with essential skills to plan and design a research study at a postgraduate and professional level.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Describe and discuss a range of research methods
• Identify, review and critically appraise research papers in the field
• Apply data and information management to the development of effective strategies for data handling
• Analyse, interpret and clearly present data
• Formulate appropriate research hypotheses and apply the fundamental concepts of design of experiments (DoE) to construct a research proposal
• Appraise ethical considerations that arise in pharmaceutical research and development

Skills

• Communication: written, poster, and oral communication of scientific information
• Analytical: statistical interpretation of data, formulating hypotheses, drawing logical conclusions
• Information technology: computer literacy
• Risk assessment
• Critical evaluation of own or other’s work
• Planning and organisation: independence, initiative, time-management

Entrance Requirements

• Normally a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering or closely allied subject
• The School of Pharmacy reserves the right to interview applicants or review the content of their previous qualifications to ensure suitability to enter the programme
• Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2025 for courses which commence in late September

International Students

• Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region
• Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region

English Language Requirements

• Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years)
• International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research
• Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI) £8,800
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) £8,800
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB) £9,250
• EU Other £25,800
• International £25,800

Additional Course Costs

• Terms and Conditions for Postgraduate applications
• Due to high demand, there is a deadline for applications
• You will be required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the course
• The current mandatory tuition fee deposit payment is:
  • £400 for Domestic (NI/ROI/GB) students
  • £1000 International (Non- EU & EU except ROI)
• This condition of offer is in addition to any academic or English language requirements

Career Prospects

• Graduates from this course will be able to pursue a career in a range of areas, such as:
  • Pharmaceutical Industry (e.g. R&D, production, regulatory)
  • Academia (research and teaching)
  • Government agencies, such as drug licensing authorities
  • Healthcare
  • Scientific Research

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

• In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills
• For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more
• So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall
• We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award
• It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special

How to Apply

• Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply
• Apply now

Terms and Conditions

• The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study
• Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions
• Download a prospectus

Course Location

• Pharmacy

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