MSc Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance

Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days .

Please apply via our online application form .

See the Advice to application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require, plus further information if you are a non-graduate.

We recommend you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

All applicants must provide two satisfactory references on letter headed paper, signed and dated. Professional references can be provided in instances where you have been out of university for more than three years. Unfortunately, we cannot request references from your referees on your behalf.

You must provide a copy of your qualification if you are a graduate.

Non-graduates must submit a two-page document detailing your experience and reasons for applying for this course. Non-graduate candidates may be interviewed.

Our MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance is aimed at pharmacy, health and biomedical professionals working in technical services for the NHS or private sector organisations who want to update their skills and knowledge while gaining an academic qualification.

This three-year part-time course allows you to choose from a range of optional units to enable you to develop in your chosen field of interest. Some units allow you to learn alongside students from other healthcare disciplines.

Some of the topics covered by the course are radiopharmacy, aseptics, production, quality control, role of the qualified person, medical gas testing and clinical trials.

You will learn from experts from the NHS and industry, who deliver lectures and workshops as part of the course.

You will also be able to apply what you learn in practical workshops and visits to and placements in NHS and industrial environments.

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

We aim to provide you with an understanding of core principles and features of pharmaceutical science and professional training.   

Successful completion of the course will enable you to:

• critically apply knowledge of pharmaceutical technology and quality assurance to a range of specialist medicines management areas in pharmaceutical technology and quality assurance;
• critically analyse evidence to make judgements regarding complex quality assurance issues in pharmaceutical practice;
• lead on enhancing the achievement of standards and upholding necessary standards and legal requirements in specific areas of practice;
• apply in-depth knowledge and experience of techniques for evaluating and managing the risk to patients from pharmaceutical technology and quality assurance;
• take a proactive and self-reflective role in work.

Students who complete the full MSc qualification will achieve the objectives for the PGDip, and will also critically and creatively evaluate current issues in practice and conduct research that advances pharmaceutical technology, quality assurance and decision-making related to patient care. 

This is a blended learning course combining distance learning with residential modules. Units will include a compulsory taught component delivered online and in Manchester that is supported by extensive experience achieved in the workplace and on visits to specialist facilities.

We use a blend of online and face-to-face methods. This will include small group tutorials, workshops and experience-based learning. You will have a nominated tutor at the University and your practice base to provide guidance on work-based activities and written assignments.

There will be a combination of remote study and face-to-face sessions. Dates are yet to be confirmed, but for 2023/24 they were as follows:

Remote study dates:

• Foundations of PTQA: 16, 23, 30 October and 6 November 2023
• Basic Intro to Radiopharmacy (optional dependent on experience): 18 January 2024
• Intro to Radiopharmacy: 22-26 January 2024
• Intro to Aseptics: 19-21 February 2024
• Intro to Production and Quality Control: 18-20 March 2024

Face-to-face study dates:

• Introduction: 20-21 September 2023
• Foundations of PTQA: 27-28 November 2023
• Intro to pharmaceutical science 2: 15-19 April 2024

Each unit has a designated leader who is responsible for individual assessments, under the guidance of the course director. All assessments will be monitored and reviewed by the exam board.

You must satisfy the course requirements in Year 1 before you can proceed to Year 2 of the course.

Visit the blog to read about recent graduate Stephen Bishop's experience on the course.

Completing this course will help you develop your chosen career path within the pharmacy profession by gaining advanced pharmaceutical knowledge, problem solving skills and a critical awareness of the role of pharmaceutical services within the workplace.