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Pharmaceutical Technology and Medicines Control

MSc

Duration
Start date
Location

Suitable for applications.

Please note: We are no longer able to accept applications from international students for the September 2024 intake of this course. You are welcome to apply for the January 2025 intake. Home students can still apply for September 2024.

Overview

This programme is unique as it combines the study of pharmaceutical technology, including pharmaceutical sciences, and medicines control.

It has been designed to provide you with an advanced theoretical knowledge of sciences that are related to disciplines in pharmaceutical sciences, and give you the skills you need for laboratory work in this area.

These disciplines include the development of pharmaceutical formulation, with particular emphasis on the technology used in the pharmaceutical process and the development and production of medicines. This focus leads to an emphasis on the processes and procedures for clinical trials that are needed for licensing and regulation.

Medicines control is an important element of this programme. It encompasses drug regulations, drug licensing, drug testing, and safety. You will learn about the key processes involved in structured enforcement and inspection standards through the application of quality assurance. You will also gain knowledge and develop skills related to pharmaceutical supply chains and pharmacovigilance, including the safe and proper use of medicines.

You'll also have opportunities for hands-on experience in applying analytical and characterisation techniques such as liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) combined with tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and near-infrared (NIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy.

It was a very rewarding journey. This place makes you feel like home and everyone is so supportive. The atmosphere is well established to bring out the best in students; professors are highly experienced in their fields and the rest of the staff are well trained and friendly. Through our program, we came across technologies that are found in only a few spots around the globe. I completed my Masters with breakthrough novel results in my thesis, and the findings are being translated into three publications. Malaz, MSc graduate

Entry requirements

Acceptance to this Master’s programme requires a first degree with Honours or equivalent (2: 2) in a relevant area such as Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Integrated Science, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Pharmacology or Pharmaceutical Sciences.

For North American students a GPA of normally 2.5 and above on a scale of 4.0 is required, or equivalent.

Candidates with certain two year’s work experience and a degree below the 2:2 will also be considered.

English language requirements

If your native language is not English, you will need to pass a test in English approved by the University before you can be admitted. The International English Language Testing System test (IELTS) administered by the British Council is the test which is preferred by the University.

You will need to achieve an overall score of at least 6.0, with at least 5.5 in each of the four sub-tests (speaking, listening, reading, writing). Testing facilities are available at most British Council overseas offices. When you take the test, you should ask for a copy of your Test Report Form to be sent to the University.

Alternative English language tests include:

  • The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE-A), for which you will need to achieve an overall score of at least 55, with at least 51 in each of the four sub-tests
  • TOEFL, for which you will need to score at least 80 on the internet-based test, with sub-tests not less than Speaking 20, Listening 17, Reading 18, Writing 17

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, and you have a UKVI approved IELTS, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course. See the Language Centre for more details. For further information on English Language requirements please see the dedicated international entry requirements page.

What you will study

All module information is for 2023 entry, and is subject to change. 

Learning and assessment

A wide variety of teaching and learning methods are employed to engage you in developing your subject knowledge and understanding including:

  • formal lectures
  • laboratory practicals
  • demonstrations
  • seminars
  • workshops
  • laboratory investigations
  • critical appraisal
  • coursework assignments
  • directed study

The programme will progress from structured learning led by lectures and practicals, through to more seminar-based learning and to the individual research-based dissertation and project.

Different methods of assessment will be used as appropriate to the learning outcomes, including written examinations, oral presentations, experimental coursework reports, and, most importantly, an MSc dissertation.

Official programme specification

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2024

  • Home: £9,462
  • International: £24,180

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Graduates from our MSc Pharmaceutical Technology and Medicines Control programme progress into PhD research and employment in the pharmaceutical industry in various areas such as formulation and drug development, manufacture and production, pharmaceutical analysis, quality assurance and quality control.

The programme enhances graduate employment prospects, and opens up opportunities in government regulatory agencies, drug procurement and distribution centres.

Recent graduates have secured positions such as:

  • Pharmaceutical Scientist and Lab analyst at Abbott, United Kingdom
  • Regulatory Officer at the Food & Drug Board, Ghana
  • Pharmaceutical Scientist, Analytical Research Department at Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Jordan
  • Assistant Lecturer, Garyounis University, Libya

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Study support

Our comprehensive support services will help you to achieve your full potential – both academically and personally. 

We provide all you need to make the very best of your time with us, and successfully progress through your studies and on into the world of graduate employment. 

Our support services include: 

  • Personal tutors 
  • Disability services 
  • Counselling services 
  • MyBradford student support centres 
  • The Students’ Union 
  • Chaplaincy and faith advisers 
  • An on-campus nursery 
  • Halls wardens 

We have well-stocked libraries and excellent IT facilities across campus. These facilities are open 24 hours a day during term time, meaning you’ll always find a place to get things done on campus. 

Our Academic Skills Advice Service will work with you to develop your academic, interpersonal and transferable skills. 

Research

This programme is mainly delivered by the Medicines Development and Pharmaceutical Sciences (MDPS) research group. The academics within this MDPS research group are also associated with one or more cross-departmental and cross-faculty research groups and centres. The major research themes of the group are within pharmaceutical sciences and medicines development.

The strong research component of the course provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your scientific creativity and originality in applying your new-found knowledge and skills to develop ideas that are essential to the good pharmaceutical scientist.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.