About the course

Overview

The course is designed with the aim of producing a new generation of potential global industry leaders with a broad, solutions-focused knowledge of the applied pharmaceutical sciences and who are able to participate in and manage global product development teams.

This year-long, 180-credit MSc is split into three, equal-credit semesters. The first semester of the course aims to equip you with the necessary business skills and integrate this with the pharmaceutical science knowledge needed in product development and management with two business modules delivered by our Keele Business School. The second semester continues to build on this knowledge but also has more laboratory-based modules to allow you to develop your laboratory skills and demonstrate how well you are able to apply the necessary pharmaceutical knowledge required within each session. The final semester allows you to specialise into an area of your interest with a project that can either be research or audit based, in an appropriate subject relating to pharmaceutical development and business management.

The course has three exit routes as listed below:

• Master of Science (MSc) in Pharmaceutical Development with Business Management – 180 credits at Level 7 to include the 60 credit Pharmaceutical Development with Business Management project.
• Postgraduate Diploma (Pg Dip) in Pharmaceutical Development with Business Management - 120 credits at Level 7 to include all taught modules.
• Postgraduate Certificate (Pg Cert) in Pharmaceutical Development with Business Management – 60 credits at Level 7 to include the module “Product Development and Management”.

You are able to exit the course after the successful completion of Semester 1 with a Postgraduate Certificate or at Semester 2 for a Postgraduate Diploma upon the successful completion of both semesters. If you successfully complete all three semesters, then you will graduate with an MSc in Pharmaceutical Development with Business management.

Teaching facilities

• State-of-the-art Laboratories – purpose-built laboratory used in module ‘Development of Biopharmaceuticals’
• Award winning 3D-cinema teaching facility
• Small group teaching
• Face-to-face teaching

Course structure

How the course is taught

The course is taught in small groups and involves face-to-face teaching sessions, workshops and laboratory sessions. Project students will be assigned project tutors who will be able to provide one-to-one academic support.

Our distinct, multidisciplinary curriculum is developed in collaboration with our Business School. Students will undertake two 15-credit modules in their first semester learning alongside other business students to develop key skills to set them apart when they come to work within the Pharmaceutical industry. In conjunction with this, you will also study a product development and management module that will integrate the business aspects with the applied pharmaceutical sciences to enable you to incorporate both skillsets together.

Your second semester has modules that aim to develop your laboratory skills and applying your pharmaceutical knowledge. The pharmaceutical industry has a growing pipeline of biopharmaceuticals. We have incorporated this into our second semester curriculum to ensure you are able to contribute to this growing market upon graduation as well.

In your final semester, you will have the choice of completing a research or audit based project that is geared towards your areas of interest. Projects are either based within the University or with our partners. Projects can also be laboratory-based or more business oriented. There is also the possibility to complete this semester within a setting that you may want to work in in the future if you are successful in securing a project placement.

Assessment

The course is assessed in a variety of methods to provide a fair and balanced evaluation of yours skills and knowledge. Whenever possible, we have chosen assessment types that best mimic what you would need to be able deliver when working within the industry. Formative assessments are offered where appropriate.

Our assessment types include:

• Portfolios
• Oral presentations
• Examinations
• Literature reviews
• Group presentations
• Essays
• Workshop assignments
• Individual viva voce
• Laboratory reports
• Project reports and notebooks

Taught Modules

The list of modules below are indicative of proposed offering in the 2020/21 academic year. If the modules change we will inform you during the admissions process.

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements

This course is open to students from relevant science or healthcare backgrounds who want to enter the fast-paced pharmaceutical industry. We also welcome applications from students who are studying towards a medical or healthcare-related qualification and wish to intercalate with this course.

We are normally seeking a minimum of a 2:1 (upper second class honours) degree qualification or an equivalent overseas qualification in relevant science and healthcare subjects at undergraduate level (unless intercalating).

English Language Entry Requirement for International Students

IELTS 7 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component. The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

During your degree programme you can study additional English language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.

Funding

Some travel costs may be incurred if an external project or placement is undertaken; any such costs will be discussed with the student before the project is confirmed. It will be possible for the student to select an internal project and that would not incur any additional travel costs. There may be additional costs for textbooks and inter-library loans.

Living costs

Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.

Scholarships and Funding

We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our bursaries and scholarships webpages for more information. 

Our expertise

This course is led by:

Dr. Szu Shen Wong, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

I’m a UK registered pharmacist with a background in community, hospital, industrial pharmacy and academia. I earned my Master in Pharmacy (MPharm) from the University of Nottingham in 2009, graduating with first-class honours before going on to complete an Industrial PhD with Novo Nordisk A/S and the University of Nottingham. My PhD was in biophysics and I specialised in the structure and function of Coagulation Factor XI. As part of my PhD, I have a postgraduate certificate in business for industrial PhD students awarded by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).  I have international working experience in Malaysia, Denmark and the UK within the pharmacy sector.

I started at Keele in January 2017 as a Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Science. In addition to programme and module leadership on this MSc course, I also teach on the Keele MPharm and BSc in Pharmaceutical Science, Technology and Business (PSTaB) courses. I am the module lead for the BSc PSTaB business modules.

More on my research interest can be found here

School: 

The School is a tight-knit community of undergraduate and postgraduate students and is led by a team of academics with work experiences from a variety of pharmacy sectors. The School is also supported by a dedicate team of administrators, IT technicians and Learning Technology Officers.  Together, we are dedicated to provide the best education experience for you in a friendly setting; much like the ethos Keele University was founded on – the pursuit of truth in the company of friends. We embrace teaching innovation and adopt a variety of teaching and learning methods to enhance your experience with us at Keele.

Lecture sessions are led by experienced authorities in their field. Academics within the school have experience working in Astra Zeneca, Unilever and Novo Nordisk working and are from different sectors within the pharmaceutical industry. It is our aim that you receive a wide knowledge base from academics and practising experts whilst on your MSc course.

Academic: 

Gary Moss

Dr. Patricia Regazzon

Dr. David Mottershead

Careers

Our graduates will have the following as career pathways and options :

• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Food industry
• Cosmetic industry
• Could go on to do a PHD or further study