Pharmaceutical Quality by Design MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Duration: One year full-time

Attendance: Expected to attend university full-time, up to 10 hours per week (please note this is subject to change)

Start date: September 2013

A good Honours degree (minimum 2:2 or equivalent) in a chemical, biological or physical science, including (though not exclusive to) chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, engineering, pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, or physics (or equivalent)

Alternatively, we will accept a portfolio of professional and/or academic qualifications of equivalent standing to an Honours degree.

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and during the course if you need it.

To find out more, please visit dmu.ac.uk/international|

The learning environment for the first two semesters will be varied with lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory-based practicals and computer laboratories. In the third semester the learning venue will depend on your dissertation topic and will be much more aimed at guided self-study.

The course uses a variety of assessment methods relevant to a master’s level of study. The assessments include oral presentations, group work assignments, case study reports, essay writing, a research proposal and a final dissertation.

International students come to study in the UK because the quality of our teaching is amongst the best in the world, offering a varied selection of teaching methods to suit all learning requirements.

We have received major funds for development of our laboratories and equipment. This has allowed the purchase of equipment that matches those in the best industrial laboratories, such as FACS analyser, confocal microscope, electron microscope, mass spectrometer, fermentation units and tissue culture suites.

The core staff have been teaching for many years and have academic and industrial experiences in areas that underpin the QbD principles. These are product formulation, material science, advanced analytical sciences, and process engineering and control. The group has evidenced its capability in this regard through recent success with the Technology Strategy Board(TS B), and Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) grant-funded collaborative research and development, aimed to improve industrial process quality and efficiency.

Industrial practitioners will also be engaged to give guest lectures, in addition to drawing on the web-based learning material created by industrial practitioners.

Pharmacy has been taught in the faculty for over 100 years and we have gained a reputation for producing high quality graduates. Teaching expertise is of the highest calibre and many academics have experience working in the sector.

This course equips graduates with the relevant knowledge and skills to compete for jobs in pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors linked to industry or academia all over the world. There are career opportunities in areas such as product development, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, marketing and clinical research, and jobs include:

• Manufacturing co-ordinator
• Formulation scientist
• Senior analyst
• Research analyst
• Regulatory affairs associate
• performance manager
• Senior device technologist
• Product development scientist

UKPASS is the postgraduate equivalent of UCAS and gives you a simple and efficient way to apply online. It allows you to search for a course and guides you through the application process. Using UKPASS you can apply for up to ten courses for free.

You can create your application in your own time, so you can consider, research and complete each section at your own speed. You can track your applications as they progress, and can also receive and reply to offers online. Apply online with UKPASS|

You will need to attach qualification transcripts, references and evidence of English language (if you are an overseas student) with your UKPass application. If these documents are not attached to your original application, this will delay the process of your application. 

• Advanced Biomedical Science MSc
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology MSc
• Work-based Studies in Quality by Design for the Pharmaceutical Industry -distance learning PG Cert

I highly recommend this course because it was developed in close collaboration with Astra Zeneca and Glaxo SmithKline, some big leading Pharmaceutical companies. The teaching is great, the lecturers are brilliant and help you as much as they can hence why I came back to study at DMU after my Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science BSc (Hons)|.
Ruksa Tariq Current student

Deciding to study MSc Pharmaceutical Quality by Design at DMU, was due to its reputation and impact in the field of science. The course is a new, interesting and challenging course because it deals with improving the robustness in dosage form manufacturing processes. It's also a very hands on course in the sense that each student has the opportunity to put what they've learnt in theory into practical use.

The course has had a positive impact on the way I as an individual view the pharmaceutical world. Another positive point on the course is that it's run in collaboration with industries and this also provides firsthand knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry.

Overall, the course has been very interesting as students are treated as professionals in the field by working and sharing their understanding in small groups while learning to be independent.
Ayobami Ajibola

“This course directly supports the industry’s new and core scientific and risk-based approach in the development and manufacture of medicines. The course was developed in close collaboration with industry to educate, train and develop research initiatives within the area of Quality by Design.”
Walkiria Schlindwein, programme leader