COURSE CURRICULUM

The taught stage of the Pharmacokinetics MSc is structured to provide a comprehensive 120-credit foundation in drug development science, combining core pharmaceutical knowledge, research training and specialised study in how medicines behave within the human body. Students begin with Drug Discovery, which introduces the early stages of identifying and developing new therapeutic compounds, alongside Chemotherapy and Selective Toxicity, which explores how drugs can selectively target disease-causing cells or organisms while minimising damage to healthy tissues, forming a key principle in safe and effective treatment design. The Research Skills module builds essential postgraduate capabilities in scientific investigation, including experimental design, data interpretation, critical analysis of literature and effective communication of research findings, all of which support independent research work at an advanced level. Principles of Product Analysis and Validation focuses on the evaluation of pharmaceutical products, teaching students how to assess safety, quality and effectiveness through systematic testing and validation processes aligned with industry and regulatory expectations. A major specialist component is Pharmacokinetics, which examines how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolised and eliminated in the body, providing critical insight into dosage optimisation, therapeutic effectiveness and safety in clinical use. This module is central to understanding how medicines behave in real biological systems and how their effects can be predicted and controlled. Drug Dosage Form Design complements this by focusing on how medicines are formulated into suitable delivery systems such as tablets, injections or controlled-release formulations, ensuring optimal drug performance and patient compliance. Together, these modules create a structured progression from fundamental pharmaceutical science to advanced applied knowledge, equipping students with the analytical, technical and practical skills needed for careers in pharmaceutical research, clinical development, regulatory science or further academic study. The programme ensures graduates are well prepared to address real-world challenges in drug development and therapeutic optimisation.