MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics
Belfast, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 27,600 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee
Key Summary
About: Queen's University Belfast's MSc Industrial Pharmaceutics trains graduates for roles across the medicine development pipeline. The School of Pharmacy combines teaching and research, offering strong facilities and international links. Research covers drug delivery and biomaterials, infection and antimicrobial resistance, nanomedicine and biotherapeutics, pharmaceutical materials science and formulation. The course covers formulation, validation, manufacture, quality and safety for medicines and targets pharmaceutical industry worth $1.2 trillion.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work in pharmaceutical industry (R&D, production, regulatory), academia (research, teaching), government agencies (drug licensing), healthcare, and scientific research, and related areas like formulation science, process development, quality assurance and regulatory affairs.
Queen's University Belfast has developed a dynamic new MSc programme for students seeking careers in the global pharmaceutical industry. The new MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutics will prepare graduates with the expertise and skills required for employment in an industry estimated to be worth $1.2 trillion. Industrial pharmaceutics plays a vital role in the development, validation and manufacture of new medicines, ensuring their safety and quality, and MSc graduates will be able to avail of employment opportunities at all stages of the medicine development pipeline.
The School of Pharmacy at Queen's has an excellent global reputation and is highly ranked for both teaching and research. Active areas of research within the School include Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance, Nanomedicine and Biotherapeutics, and Pharmaceutical Materials Science and Formulation.
Industrial Pharmaceutics Highlights
World-Class Facilities
- The School of Pharmacy at Queen's is acknowledged as a leading centre for Pharmacy teaching and research in the UK, consistently featuring at or near the top of league tables for the subject.
Student Experience
- The School has strong international links as well as a great community spirit.
Course Structure
Students will join a community of nearly 4,000 postgraduate students, having access to a dedicated hub for postgraduate students (The Graduate School), that provides state-of-the-art
facilities for study, and high-quality training within a diverse interdisciplinary research-intensive Russell Group university.
Characterisation Methods for Pharmaceuticals
This module introduces students to a wide range of techniques used in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical products, including physiochemical characterisation, in vitro and in vivo testing. It will equip students with modern product development and manufacturing solutions relating to current industry.
Formulation of Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Products
This module develops concepts from basic science, leading up to advanced pharmaceutical formulations and biopharmaceutical products. Module content will encompass the process of developing pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals in a variety of dosage forms, and routes of administration.
Leadership and Project Management
The fundamentals of project management and entrepreneurship are the main module topics, including how to apply the principles of project management to a pharmaceutical project. In addition, students will undertake a Chartered Management Institute Level 7 Certificate
(equivalent to a Master's degree) in Strategic Management and Leadership within the Queen's Graduate School.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Emerging Technologies
This module incorporates the key scientific and advanced engineering concepts in pharmaceutical manufacturing, ranging from batch to continuous manufacturing, and considering both standard methods and new and emerging technologies (e.g. 3D printing & bioprinting, Microfluidics, and BioMEMS). Students will also consider the associated challenges that are posed to industry, and appropriate problem-solving
approaches.
Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs
This module provides an understanding of the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical industry as companies strive to develop new products. It also equips the students with modern product development and manufacturing solutions that conform to industry best practice and modern
Quality by Design (QbD) principles.
Research Project
The practical and theoretical aspects covered in the course will help the students develop the skills needed for an individual research project within different areas of the Pharmaceutical Industry. Students will be able to undertake their research project within an area of expertise within the School, or alternatively, undertake a work-based project which will increase
awareness of the commercial applications of the programme.
Research Skills and Methods
This module will equip students with the key skills and knowledge to pursue academic research at the postgraduate and professional level with state-of-the-art methods and data management requirements from the Industry. You will cover key skills and knowledge: Evaluation of scientific literature, Data analysis, Experimental design, Statistical analysis, Good Laboratory Practice, and Personal effectiveness.
- 19th in the world in Pharmacy and Pharmacology (QS World Rankings by Subject 2026)
- 2 in the UK for Pharmacology and Pharmacy (Complete University Guide 2027)
- 1st in the UK for Pharmacy (NSS 2025)
- 2nd in the world for Citations per Paper in Pharmacy and Pharmacology (QS World Rankings by Subject 2026)
- 5 in the UK for Pharmacology and Pharmacy (Research Ranking) (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
- 1 in the UK for Graduate Prospects (outcomes) Pharmacology and Pharmacy (Complete University Guide 2027)
- 1st in the UK for career prospects for Pharmacy and Pharmacology (Guardian University Guide 2026)
- Queen’s University Belfast is ranked 174th in the QS World University Rankings 2027
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Master's courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment, and application information are available on the UK government website.
Professional Opportunities
Graduates from this course will be able to pursue a career in a range of areas, such as:
- Pharmaceutical Industry (e.g. R&D, production, regulatory)
- Academia (research and teaching)
- Government agencies, such as drug licensing authorities
- Healthcare
- Scientific Research