
MSc Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance / Course details
Year of entry: 2023
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Course description
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 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.
You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.Aims
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.
Teaching and learning
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.
You will engage in work-based learning and demonstrate this to the academic team by producing portfolios of evidence detailing your experiences gained during each visit or placement.
There will be a combination of remote study and face-to-face sessions. Dates are yet to be confirmed, but for 2022/23 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 (TBC) – 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
Coursework and assessment
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.
Course content for year 1
In Year 1 you will take two compulsory course units covering the breadth of Pharmacy Technical Services:
- Foundations of PTQA (30 credits) Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science 2 (30 credits)
- Introduction to Radiopharmacy
- Introduction to Aseptics
- Introduction to Production and Quality Control
Course content for year 2
In Year 2 you will take two compulsory units:
- Advanced Pharmaceutical Science 1 (30 credits)
- Advanced Pharmaceutical Science 2 (30 credits)
You will be able to choose from the following 10 credit optional blocks to build the two 30 credit units:
- Radiopharmacy
- Preparation for Practice
- Medical Gases
- Clinical Trials
- Advanced QA
- Aseptics
- Role of the Qualified Person
- Production
- Quality Control
- Research Skills
Course content for year 3
You will complete your research dissertation.
Course unit details
There is flexibility through the range of optional units to allow you to develop in your chosen specialist field. Some units also provide the opportunity to learn alongside students from other healthcare disciplines.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science 2 | PHAR61730 | 30 | Mandatory |
Foundations of Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance | PHAR61780 | 30 | Mandatory |
Research Project | PHAR61810 | 60 | Mandatory |
Quality Control | PHAR61900 | 15 | Mandatory |
Aseptics Advanced | PHAR61910 | 15 | Mandatory |
Pharmaceutical Risk Mgmt and the role of the Qualified Person | PHAR61920 | 15 | Optional |
Pharmaceutical Medical Gas Testing | PHAR61930 | 15 | Optional |
Radiopharmacy Advanced | PHAR61940 | 15 | Optional |
Clinical Trials for the NHS | PHAR72090 | 15 | Optional |
What our students say
Visit the blog to read about recent graduate Stephen Bishop's experience on the course.
Facilities
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .