Drug Discovery and Development - Taught Programme

Programme Details

PROGRAMME LENGTH
MSc 12 months full-time

Aims

To provide students with an understanding of the processes of drug discovery and development to prepare them for careers developing and expanding current knowledge of drugs. To achieve this, the programme will provide a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of drug action and metabolism, drug discovery and development, mechanisms of drug action, therapeutics, preclinical and clinical trials, regulatory affairs and Bio-Business.

Contact Information

Postgraduate Secretary
Graduate School
College of Life Sciences & Medicine

Syllabus

The taught part of the course extends over two terms, consisting of approximately 100 hours of lectures and 10 days of practical classes in addition to tutorials, seminars and clinically based teaching. There are also practical laboratory sessions. MSc only: there is an original research project First Half-Session: Induction Course, Introduction to Bio-business, Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, Generic and IT skills Second Half-Session: Advanced Bio-Business, Pharmacokinetics, Biologic Drug Discovery, Basic Research Methods and Basic lab skills. A project involving original research is carried out over the last four months of the MSc programme. The research undertaken is linked to the areas of interest of the staff in the College but special interests may be accommodated. The project is written up in the form of a thesis.

Assessment

Each course has its own assessment based on continuous assessment of practical and course work, and a written degree examination. Progression to a research project is dependent on performance in the individual courses. The MSc project is assessed with the submission of a thesis and viva examination.

Teaching

Teaching is lecture based with directed self learning, practical classes (where appropriate) and tutorials to support the lecture material. External experts are invited on a regular basis to provide specialist expertise.  Many lectures are recorded via Camtasia and can be viewed again whenever they are needed providing a useful revision tool.

Careers

Careers options include the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Academia, Regulatory and Safety Pharmacology.

Requirements

First degree in Medicine, a Biological Science or Pharmacy is required.

Minimum 2.2, 60% or GPA 2.4/4 or 3.0/5 overall

International applicants must also meet the English Language Requirements of the University

Fees

Full details of tuition fees is available here

Funding

Prospective students should visit the University's Postgraduate Funding Database. 

Thanks to additional funding from the Scottish government this programme has funded places for Scottish and EU Students. More Information.  

University of Aberdeen Alumni Discount Scheme

The University of Aberdeen is very pleased to offer a 20% discount on postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with a degree from the University of Aberdeen.  More Information can be found here.