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Why choose the School of Life Sciences
Our Life Sciences Liaison Board draws in professionals from across the industry including Glaxo Smith Kline, Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Cellmark Forensics
Our academics are involved in real-world research, leading the way in areas such as COVID-19 testing technology, autoimmune disease, obesity, cancer pathways and global food security
We work with leading employers including Glaxo Smith Kline, Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Nelson’s Natural Healthcare and Cellmark
About the course
The development of safe and effective new drugs is a challenging and rewarding field. Our Pharmacology Master’s gives you the high-quality training knowledge and key skills required to make your mark in the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately benefit wider society.
The course gives you a broad knowledge of drug discovery and development focusing on the mechanisms of drug action at molecular level; the treatment of human diseases; and the latest cell and molecular technologies used in pharmacology. You gain an in-depth understanding of individual examples of modern drug research and development before moving on to specialise in one research area through the completion of a laboratory research project.
Intermediate qualifications available
- Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Master’s level
- Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Master’s level
Why choose this course?
- Study the principles of drug design pre-clinical evaluation clinical trials regulatory affairs and the application of new technologies in the drug discovery and development process
- Explore the latest therapeutic concepts and principles relating to the causes epidemiology diagnosis and treatment of human diseases in current clinical practice
- Develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of new technologies in cell and molecular biology
- Work with our expert academic team who are actively involved in research so you are up to the minute when it comes to current and emerging developments in the field
- Gain a wide range of valuable practical and transferable skills as well as the ability to devise an experimental plan as an independent investigator
Course Leader - Dr Prashanth Bajpe
I joined the School of Life Sciences in May 2020 from the Francis Crick Institute, London. I obtained my PhD from Erasmus University Medical Centre from the lab of Peter Verrijzer in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The focus of my PhD was ubiquitination and the reversal of ubiquitination (de-ubiquitination) in the context of gene regulation. I helped discover an interesting protein complex of USP7-GMPS. This work laid the foundation for future works on the role of metabolic enzymes in gene regulation in Verrijzer’s group.
Course Leader - Dr Prashanth Bajpe
I joined the School of Life Sciences in May 2020 from the Francis Crick Institute, London. I obtained my PhD from Erasmus University Medical Centre from the lab of Peter Verrijzer in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The focus of my PhD was ubiquitination and the reversal of ubiquitination (de-ubiquitination) in the context of gene regulation. I helped discover an interesting protein complex of USP7-GMPS. This work laid the foundation for future works on the role of metabolic enzymes in gene regulation in Verrijzer’s group.
What will you study?
Drug Discovery And Development
The unit provides a broad overview of the drug discovery and development process, with hands-on experience of molecular modelling and computer-based drug design to expose you to modern platforms for drug discovery. It covers pre-clinical studies, clinical trials and the regulatory affairs that form an integral part of drug development process. You will be taught specialised topics including: determination of the physicochemical properties of drugs and toxicology in drug development. The unit also benefits from the lectures in regulatory affairs and business marketing and management delivered by pharmaceutical industry scientists.
The aims of this unit are to:
- Gain an insight into the methodology employed in identification of lead compounds, drug synthesis and development
- Develop an in-depth knowledge of determination of the physiochemical properties of drugs in screening process of new compound entities
- Understand principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in drug development
- Recognise the role of toxicology to play in the drug development
- Gain an insight into the clinical trials and its management
- Appreciate the preparation of market and post-market surveillance
Clinical Pharmacology And Therapeutics
The unit provides a broad overview of therapeutic concepts and general principles relating to the causes of disorders of the central nervous system, circulatory system, endocrine and metabolic system, inflammation, infections and cancer in humans. It will cover the aetiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and pharmacological management of these pathological conditions in current clinical practice.
The aims of this unit are to:
- Introduce the therapeutic concepts and principles related to the study of human diseases in the central nervous and circulatory systems
- Present an overview of the major diseases that affect the central nervous and circulatory systems
- Describe current and future treatments of such diseases
- Introduce the therapeutic concepts and principles related to cancers and common infections in humans: their causes, incidence and pharmacological management; Introduce and evaluate therapeutic concepts in dealing with inflammatory disorders
- Introduce and evaluate therapeutic concepts in use of drugs for disorders of the endocrine and metabolic systems.
Cell And Molecular Biology
Advances in cell and molecular biology are at the forefront of biomedical engineering and pharmacology. You will study the cellular processes that have driven the recent revolution in these areas. An emphasis will be given to current techniques in molecular biology and their application to areas of biomedical sciences and applied research. Aspects of gene editing, protein engineering and nanotechnology will be covered along with the cellular and molecular biology that underpins them. You will also look at different aspects of genomics and pharmacogenomics.
The aims of this unit are to:
- Gain an advanced understanding of cellular processes applicable to Pharmacology.
- Understand the principles of molecular biology used in Pharmacology.
- Develop practical skills in molecular biology techniques. Appreciate the impact of genomics.
- Explore the potentials of advances in molecular biology and related fields such as genomics and proteomics.
Molecular Pharmacology
Molecular Pharmacology is concerned with the pharmacology of receptors particularly with respect to emerging drug targets or ideas concerning putative mechanisms of drug action. This unit covers in-depth areas of molecular pharmacology that are particularly relevant to the discovery and characterisation of receptors and drug action, such as: modern aspects of drug target development (biologics); anticancer drug development; new drug targets in the central nervous system. It also covers some aspects of systems biology in drug development. Theory is supplemented throughout by practical exercises and literature review, both to improve understanding of the material covered and to develop important transferable skills.
The aims of this unit are to:
1. Consider the criteria that must be satisfied to establish the existence of a new receptor.
2. Explore strategies for discovering new drugs, and for characterising pharmacological receptors
3. Gain detailed understanding of receptor signal transduction processes.
4. Introduce the developments and applications of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics techniques in drug development
5. Gain expertise in use of computer software packages for handling of data by which drugs or receptors are classified and in the interpretation of these data.
6. Gain expertise in selective reading of the objectives and critical interpretation of information resources and in the written presentation of a hypothesis and its underlying evidence.
Pharmacology Research Project
Independent research is a critical part of any master’s degree and the part that most students find the most satisfying since it is an opportunity to undertake an extended period of personal research and present it in a professional format.
The MSc Pharmacology project enables you to apply the theory and practice covered in the four taught units to a specialist theme of relevance to your future career opportunities.
The aim of the project is to provide for you:
- an intensive practical experience in a chosen area of study
- the opportunity to undertake a research investigation under supervision
- experience in scientific reporting of a research project.
How will you be assessed?
The assessment philosophy of the MSc Pharmacology Award conforms to the recommendations of the aspects of relevant QAA Benchmarks and Masters level descriptors. The methods used for the assessment of students achievements will correspond with the knowledge abilities and skills that are to be developed through degree programme. Both formative and summative modes of assessment will be used. Evidence on which assessment of students' achievement is based will include: formal written examinations; summative practical assessments; laboratory and other written reports; problem-solving exercises; oral presentations; individual planning conduct and reporting of project work; and essay assignments. Evidence on which assessment of students' achievement is based may include: literature surveys and evaluations; collaborative project work; preparation and displays of 'posters' reporting project work; personal portfolios of learning achieved; computer-based assessments; and self and peer assessment.
The course assessment strategy is compliant with the University of Bedfordshires Quality Assurance Regulations. The commitment to practical skills and the ability to communicate and interpret data through scientific report writing is emphasised at all units of the programme. As such practical (laboratory) activities form a significant proportion of students assessment. Practical work will be assessed through written practical reports portfolio of varied lab experiments poster presentations and reflective laboratory diaries. Assessment throughout the units most notably in the research project will call upon abstract writing and journal review skills to promote critical thinking and integration of knowledge across the course units. The importance of oral communication skills is also acknowledged as some of the units require students to undertake oral presentations as part of the unit assessments. Throughout the course formative feedback will be provided in support of various tasks that include practical work in all four units mini-projects literature reviews case studies and presentation prior to final summative assessments. Students' capability in carrying out research will be assessed through a research proposal research project activities and presentations. Group work including laboratory practical sessions will help students to develop transferable skills such as taking initiative communication team working and decision making. Ability in oral communication will be assessed through presentations including a poster presentation.
All assessed work will be marked using the University's percentage based marking scheme. The pass mark for all units will be 40% or above. Students that fail to successfully complete the initial taught units may not be eligible to progress to the laboratory based research project stage of the course; this is determined by the Universitys regulations. Students who do not initially progress will be expected to undertake either referral assessments or if necessary retake failed units (no student can retake a unit more than once). When students pass the number of other units prescribed by the regulations they will be able to undertake their research project.
Careers
Graduates progress to careers in pre-clinical research; clinical research; drug licensing and regulatory affairs; medical information; medical writing; and medical sales.
You can also continue in higher education at Doctorate level (MPhil and PhD).
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Fees for this course
UK 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
