Program Overview

Master's Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development

The Master's Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development is a 2-year academic program that provides students with comprehensive expertise across the entire drug development pipeline, from molecular discovery to marketing approval.

Extent of the Study Programme

• The program consists of 120 ECTS.
• The planned duration is 2 academic years.
• Tuition fee: Free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, 12,000/academic year for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries.
• Qualification: Master of Science.
• Studies begin in late August 2026.
• Location: Turku, Finland.
• Language: English.
• Mode of teaching: Contact teaching.

Faculty/Department

• Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine.
• Annual quota: 15.
• Application period: January 2026.

Entry Requirements

General Admission Requirements

• A nationally recognized first cycle degree (normally a Bachelor's degree) from an accredited institution of higher education.
• The degree must correspond to at least 180 ECTS or to three years of full-time study.
• The degree must be in a relevant field for the Master's degree programme.

Language Requirements

• Applicants must have excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills.

Study Right

• You will not be granted a new, similar study right to pursue a degree or course of study that you are already pursuing, or have already completed, within the same field or a corresponding subject at the University of Turku.

Programme-Specific Admission Requirements

• The degree on basis of which you are applying to the MDP in Drug Discovery and Development must be in a relevant field of study, such as bioengineering, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, medical sciences, life sciences, pharmacology, or pharmacy.
• Applicants should also be familiar with the basics of laboratory practice relevant to the programme, and with pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, histology and cell biology.
• In case the applicant gets admitted, they may need to conduct 0-18 ECTS supplementary studies in the above-mentioned areas in the beginning of the studies.

Application Evaluation

• The applications are evaluated by the admission committee of the Master's Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development.
• The evaluation is based on:
  • Suitability of background studies.
  • Previous academic success.
  • Relevant laboratory experience.
  • Motivation letter.
  • Pre-assignment and interview (the most successful applicants only).

Programme in Brief

Programme Structure

• See the Study Plan of Drug Discovery and Development for 20242027.

Academic Excellence & Experience

• Turku is a great place to study drug discovery and development, with 90% of Finnish drug innovations made in Turku.
• The University of Turku is internationally recognized for its excellence in biosciences and medicine.
• Students benefit from a compact and collaborative campus environment and a university hospital that work together to foster innovation in translational medicine, disease modeling, and biomedical imaging.

Master's Thesis & Topics

• The Master's thesis project is a hands-on research project conducted in real-world laboratory settings in the guidance of a supervisor.
• Examples of past thesis topics include drug development for receptor antagonists, pharmacological characterization of ion channels, and optimization of microfluidics encapsulation with nanoprecipitation for controlled drug delivery.

Biomedical Sciences at Turku Universities

• Turku has longstanding research traditions in the field of biomedicine, especially in drug discovery, diagnostics, and biological and medical imaging.
• The Drug Discovery and Development programme has collaboration with other programmes in the field of biomedical sciences at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Technology, as well as with the Ĺbo Akademi University.

Career Prospects

Competence Description

• After completing the MDP Drug Discovery and Development, students can formulate and solve scientific problems and conduct independent research with confidence.
• They are skilled in critically reviewing scientific literature and producing high-quality scientific texts.

Job Options

• Graduates of the programme are well-prepared to pursue careers in academia, industry, and regulatory agencies.
• Career paths for graduates include roles such as medical liaison, medical writer, regulatory consulting expert, scientific/technical advisor, research director, project manager, drug development pharmacologist, and university lecturer/researcher.

Student Experience

• The University of Turku is an excellent place to grow both academically and professionally, with a passion and curiosity for pharmacological research and drug development.
• Students have opportunities for course, internship, and research project exchange in partner universities through the BalticSeaBioMed network.