MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences

Course outline and modules

Pharmaceutical science focuses on formulation strategies for current and future drug therapies and medicinal products.

Encompassing a range of scientific disciplines such as chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and physiology, this specialist area of study is crucial for the safe and effective design, development, production and regulation of medicines.

The Pharmaceutical Sciences MSc at Aston University has been designed to prepare you for an academic or industrial career in the pharmaceutics or pharmacology arena; an area in considerable demand in response to the continued increase in development of highly complex and sensitive drug molecules.

By choosing to study this specialist pharmacy masters at Aston University, you’ll be joining a well-established and highly respected School of Pharmacy, that can trace its roots back to the establishment of the Birmingham Pharmaceutical Institution in 1847. We’re also the only Pharmacy School in the UK to hold a prestigious Regius Chair in Pharmacy awarded by HM the Queen, meaning you can be sure that you’re learning experience will of the highest of quality.

This course is part of the Aston Pharmacy School which sits within the College of Health and Life Sciences.

Course outline

During your time on the Pharmaceutical Sciences MSc at Aston, you’ll receive specialist training in a broad range of topics such as drug discovery, drug dosage form and design, and chemotherapy and selective toxicity. Ensuring you possess the necessary skills of a pharmaceutical scientist before embarking on your own final research project.

You’ll encounter a broad range of experiences designed to enhance your skills and knowledge. It’s our aim to provide you with:

An understanding of the biopharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic and physicochemical principles important in the design and formulation of drug dosage systems.
An overview of the role of molecular modelling in rational drug design.
An understanding of the biology of specific targets for drug-based intervention.
Knowledge of the latest advances in pharmacology. In particular the new chemistry underlying brain function, the neurochemical and neuroanatomical basis of the common neuropathologies, and pharmacotherapeutic approaches to central nervous system diseases.
An insight into the regulatory procedures and laboratory processes required for analysis of pharmaceutical drug delivery products.

In addition to this subject specific knowledge, you will also develop transferable skills in presenting, team working, report writing, critical analysis, negotiating and data analysis.

Career prospects

On successful completion of this programme, you’ll be well prepared for an academic or industrial career in the pharmaceutics or biotechnology arena. This is an area in considerable demand due to the continued increase in development of highly complex and sensitive drug molecules.

You’ll be provided with not only the specialist training and practical experience the design and development of effective drug delivery systems, but also a wide range of directly applicable transferable skills for career and professional development. This means, you will be well suited for various careers in the pharmaceutical industry such as analytical sciences, formulation development, project management, regulatory affairs and scientific writing.

In addition, for those that wish to peruse a career in academic research or academia, this course is a well-placed stepping stone for PhD study at Aston or another leading institution.