2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Programme Catalogue

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

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. The exception to the above is the part-time variants of two modules: BIOL5326M: Practical Skills in a Regulatory Environment, Part-Time (30 credits) (Semester 1 & 2) BIOL5347M: Research Project (Industry), Part-Time (60 credits) - This will be carried out in industry within the student's work organisation.

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 be employed in a (bio)pharmaceutical, CRO, or related industry.

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 information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme in 2022/2023 or before. For students entering the programme from September 2023 or after, you can find the details of your programme: MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial Placement) (part-time) (For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

The programme consists of 180 credits of compulsory modules to be completed over a maximum of 4 years.

The maximum duration of the research project is two years and cannot commence earlier than Year 2. The research project will be mentored and supervised by an employer (industrialist) working within the biopharmaceutical sector, and co-mentored by an academic staff member from the university.

The part-time version of the programme aims to provide maximum flexibility to industry professionals, so modules (other than the Research Project) can be taken in any order throughout the 4-year duration of the programme, however, we recommend to attempt the Introduction to Pharmaceuticals: Science & Commerce as one of the first modules, and the Intergrated Development Plan as one of the last modules.

Year1 - View timetable

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

Compulsory modules:

Students are recommended to study 45 credits in year 1 from the list below

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Students taking Pathway 2 must take BIOL5280M in Year 4.

Last updated: 12/05/2023 16:51:17

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