MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis
Belfast, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
16 Sep 2024
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,800 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for EU and international
Introduction
Acquire the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience for a career as a Pharmaceutical Analyst in Industry or Academia.
You are probably a recent physical or life sciences graduate – chemistry, pharmacy and biology.
But you could equally be in work and want to develop your professional skills. If you are, we offer this course part-time as well, one day per week.
Our industrial partners are always telling us they need people like you. Analysts are among the most sought after professionals with some of the highest employability rates.
You will receive practical training on state-of-the-art separation techniques, such as HPLC/MS and GC/MS, in the purpose built Pharmaceutical Analysis lab designed in partnership with Agilent (a world-leading instrument manufacturer)
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Applicants are advised to explore fully the funding opportunities for studying in the UK, for example, international students may find funding is available from sources within their own countries.
The funding set out in this section includes funding available from the University and from some external sources. Information provided in this section is intended to highlight some sources of funding: it is not a comprehensive list of funding sources.
Applying for funding which is available from the University is part of an integrated, online, postgraduate admissions process. An offer of a place at Queen’s does not constitute an offer of financial support.
For 2023 entry, Faculties and Schools in the University will be setting their own deadlines for postgraduate applications for admissions, studentships and scholarships. Applicants who wish to apply for postgraduate funding available from the University for 2023 entry should refer to the relevant Faculty and School websites for information.
- The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
- A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas.
Curriculum
Course Details
You’ll learn the theory behind state-of-the-art analytical techniques and have an opportunity to practice your skills using the most modern instrumentation.
You’ll be trained on techniques such as:
- Liquid and gas chromatography (HPLC, GC)
- Mass spectrometry (MS)
- Thermal Analysis (DSC, TGA)
- X-ray crystallography (PXRD, XRD)
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
You will also receive training on QA/QC aspects of the Pharmaceutical Industry. For your research project, you’ll spend 2-3 months in a laboratory. You have the option to do this in industry, for example in Almac.
Indicative Number of Modules Per Semester
- Full-time: Two Modules
- Part-time: One Module
Indicative Proportional Mix of Time in Classes, Tutorials/Seminars/Labs, and Private Study in a Teaching Semester
Contact time:
- Lectures / Seminars 56 hrs.
- Laboratory / Workshop classes 48 hrs.
Study time:
- Coursework 50 hrs
- Preparation of written/oral reports 96 hrs.
- Private study / revision 150 hrs.
List of Indicative Programme Modules Advanced Separation Science
- Chemical, Biochemical and Spectroscopic Analytical Methods
- Solid State Pharmaceutical Analysis Methods
- Quality Assurance/Control in the Pharmaceutical Industry
- Research Project
Modules
The course comprises four taught modules, two of which will run during the entire academic year (Sept-May) and two semester-long modules; the first running Sept-Jan and the second Feb-May.
Advanced Separation Science: (Sept-Jan) will cover the most important separation techniques relevant to the Pharmaceutical Industry as well as method validation, stability of pharmaceutical compounds and sample preparation methods (20 CATS points).
Chemical, Biochemical and Spectroscopic Analytical Methods: (Sept-May) will cover the majority of modern spectroscopic techniques and their applications in pharmaceutical analysis as well as aspects of GMP and GLP (40 CATS points).
Solid State Pharmaceutical Analysis Methods: (Sept - May) will discuss a series of solid state characterisation techniques and their application in pharmaceutical analysis (40 CATS points).
These three modules include a large number of practical sessions, which involve conduct of experimental work using state-of-the-art analytical techniques and instrumentation, literature search and preparation of scientific reports.
Quality Assurance/Control in the Pharmaceutical Industry: (Feb-May) will cover QA and QC aspects of the Pharmaceutical Industry (20 CATS points) and is assessed exclusively by class tests and group assignments.
During the summer semester (June-September) the students will undertake a laboratory based research project with an accompanying dissertation.
The research project will provide training in how to tackle a research problem in chemistry and will include a strong emphasis on the development of critical thinking, analysis of data and independent research.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This programme is designed to prepare students for employment as analysts in the pharmaceutical and related industries.
There is currently a high demand, both locally and internationally, for graduates with analytical skills in this sector.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Where You Might Be In Five Years Time
You might be working as a laboratory analyst or senior analyst, in quality assurance or quality control or in an industrial R&D facility.
You could be managing graduate recruits of your own, signing off the analysis and the quality of drugs and releasing batches into the world.
You could study further towards obtaining a PhD and continue towards an academic career.
The main focus of this degree is pharmaceutical analysis, but your training could open up career pathways in other areas, such as the food industry or environmental protection.
Duration
2 years (Part Time)
1 year (Full Time)