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2022/23 Taught Postgraduate Programme Catalogue

MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial Placement) (part-time)

Programme code:MSC-BSG/BD4PUCAS code:
Duration:48 Months Method of Attendance: Part Time
Programme manager:Dr Dimitra Mitsa Contact address:D.Mitsa@leeds.ac.uk

180 credits to be completed over a maximum of 4 years. Students are recommended to study 40 credits per academic year. The sequence of modules is flexible to accommodate studying whilst working. However, the following principles will apply:

1. Students must complete and pass at least 35 credits worth of taught modules before they embark on their research project. These include:

- BIOL5123M Drug Discovery and Development Pathways (5 credits) S1
- BIOL5325M Practical Skills for a Regulatory Environment (20 credits) S1&2
- Plus 10 additional credits from the remaining taught modules.

2. BIOL5280M Integrated Drug Development Plan (20 credits) S2 synthesises the different components of the drug discovery pipeline and so should be the final taught module that is taken.

3. The research project should commence no earlier than year 2 of the 4 year part-time programme. Maximum duration for the 80 credit project is 2 years.

Total credits: 180

Entry requirements:

Normally a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in a Biological Sciences subject, Bioprocessing or Biochemical Engineering, but relevant experience may be taken into account. In addition, applicants will need to demonstrate leadership potential, which might be evidenced from academic, sporting, volunteering or other professional experience.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

Faculty of Biological Sciences

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

The Masters Bioscience Exam Board

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

Subject benchmark statements for biological sciences Masters programmes do not exist. However, students will be expected to demonstrate the characteristics embodied in the QAA Qualifications Frameworks level descriptors for Masters degrees (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf).

Programme specification:

The programme will:
Provide a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the industrial pathway of biological drug discovery, development and exploitation. Training will focus on the development of specialist technical skills and theoretical knowledge required to work in the biologics industry and apply this training in a regulatory environment.

On completion of the programme, students will be prepared to take up a range of biologics medicine development roles in a biotechnology, contract manufacturing, contract research organisation or pharmaceutical company globally and enhance the value they add to that organisation with immediate effect.

Part-time students will be taught alongside the full-time students and therefore no new teaching will be introduced. The full-time modules are currently timetabled to facilitate attendance over a day/series of days and therefore should fit with the work commitments of those taking the programme and in employment.

All lectures/seminars are lecture-captured and therefore occasional non-attendance could be accommodated through students listening to recorded lectures. We have also previously used facilities such as webinars/video conference for remote attendance and this could be considered on an ad hoc basis if required.

Assessment type and schedule will follow that of the full-time variant. On average, there are one or two coursework assignments per 10 credit (taught) module. Therefore for students studying e.g. 45 taught credits of teaching in a year, will be expected to complete approximately 6 assessed pieces of coursework in that year.

The exception to the above is the part-time variants of two modules:

BIOL5325M: Practical Skills in a Regulatory Environment (20 credits) (Semester 1 & 2)
BIOL5346M: Research Project (80 credits) - This will be carried out in industry within the students work organisation. The maximum duration of the project will be two years.

There are three pathways students can undertake:

Pathway 1 (recommended MSc route) - Students will complete the taught modules with the exception of BIOL5280M over Years 1 and 2. Students will undertake the Research Project in Years 3 and 4 and will study BIOL5280M in either Year 3 or Year 4.

Pathway 2 (alternative MSc route) - Students will study their Research Project over Years 2 and 3, alongside the taught modules. To complete the MSc, students will then study BIOL5280M in Year 4.

Pathway 3 (PGDip route) - For the award of a Postgraduate Diploma, students will complete the taught modules with the exception of BIOL5280M over Years 1 and 2. Students will undertake a Short Research Project of 30 credits and BIOL5280M in Year 3. Students will not progress to Year 4.



Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Students are recommended to take 40 credits of study each year.

BIOL5123MDrug Discovery and Development Pathways5 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5325MPractical Skills For A Regulatory Environment (part-time)
Pre-requisite for: BIOL5346M
20 credits1 Sep to 31 Mar

Optional modules:

Students will be required to study a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 credits from the following list of optional modules:

BIOL5134MCommercialising pharmaceutical products10 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BIOL5180MBiopharmaceutical Drug Discovery and Non-clinical testing20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5181MManufacturing Biopharmaceuticals15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5267MBiopharmaceutical Development: Clinical10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)


Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Optional modules:

Students are recommended to take 40 credits of study each year.

Students NOT taking the Research Project module in Year 2 (Pathway 1) will be required to study the modules from the following list that they did not take the previous year.

BIOL5134MCommercialising pharmaceutical products10 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BIOL5180MBiopharmaceutical Drug Discovery and Non-clinical testing20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5181MManufacturing Biopharmaceuticals15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5267MBiopharmaceutical Development: Clinical10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students taking the Research Project module over Years 2 and 3 (Pathway 2) will be required to study 15-20 credits from the above list of optional modules.

Students have the option of commencing their 24 month Research Project in Year 2 (Pathway 2) subject to programme leader approval.

BIOL5346MResearch Project Biopharmaceutical Development (Part-time)80 credits1 Sep to 31 Aug (24mth)

Students must complete and pass at least 35 credits worth of taught modules before they embark on their research project. These include:

- BIOL5123M Drug Discovery and Development Pathways (5 credits) S1
- BIOL5325M Practical Skills for a Regulatory Environment (20 credits) S1&2
- Plus 10 additional credits from the remaining taught modules.


Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Optional modules:

Students are recommended to take 40 credits of study each year. However, students will be required to study BIOL5280M in Year 3 or 4 in addition to the Research Project.

Students taking Pathway 1 will undertake their Research Project over Years 3 & 4.
Students taking Pathway 2 will be undertaking the second year of their Research Project in Year 3.

BIOL5346MResearch Project Biopharmaceutical Development (Part-time)80 credits1 Sep to 31 Aug (24mth)

Students must complete and pass at least 35 credits worth of taught modules before they embark on their research project. These include:
- BIOL5123M Drug Discovery and Development Pathways (5 credits) S1
- BIOL5325M Practical Skills for a Regulatory Environment (20 credits) S1&2
- Plus 10 additional credits from the remaining taught modules.

Students taking the Research Project module over Years 2 and 3 (Pathway 2) will be will be required to study the modules from the following list that they have not previously taken.

BIOL5134MCommercialising pharmaceutical products10 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BIOL5180MBiopharmaceutical Drug Discovery and Non-clinical testing20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5181MManufacturing Biopharmaceuticals15 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5267MBiopharmaceutical Development: Clinical10 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

The final taught module for students to take is BIOL5280M.
Students taking Pathway 1 must take BIOL5280M in Years 3 or 4.
< Students taking Pathway 2 cannot take BIOL5280M in Year 3.

BIOL5280MIntegrated Drug Development Plan20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students taking Pathway 3 must take BIOL5280M in Year 3.

At Year 3, students have the option of taking Pathway 3 and aiming for a Postgraduate Diploma. To complete this Pathway they will have to take the following module. Students not taking Pathway 3 cannot study BIOL5291M.

BIOL5291MShort Bioscience Research or Literature Project30 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)


Year4 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Optional modules:

Students are recommended to take 40 credits of study each year. However, students will be required to study BIOL5280M in Year 3 or 4 in addition to the Research Project.

Students taking Pathway 1 will undertake their Research Project over Years 3 & 4.

BIOL5346MResearch Project Biopharmaceutical Development (Part-time)80 credits1 Sep to 31 Aug (24mth)

Students taking Pathway 1 must take BIOL5280M in Year 3 or 4.

Students taking Pathway 2 must take BIOL5280M in Year 4.

BIOL5280MIntegrated Drug Development Plan20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Last updated: 27/07/2022 12:25:02

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