University College London (UCL)
Drug Design MRes
London, United Kingdom
Master degree
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
The Drug Design MRes is a postgraduate program that focuses on the science behind creating new medicines. It covers key areas like understanding how drugs interact with the body, designing molecules to target specific diseases, and using modern technology to discover new treatments. Students will explore practical skills through laboratory work, computer modeling, and research projects, helping them gain a deep understanding of the drug development process from start to finish.
The course combines core scientific principles with applied research, enabling students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. You'll learn how to evaluate existing drugs, identify new therapeutic targets, and utilize cutting-edge tools like molecular modeling and bioinformatics. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in pharmaceutical research, biomedical sciences, or further study. Throughout, students are encouraged to think creatively and stay updated with advances in drug discovery technology, ensuring they are well-equipped for the evolving landscape of medicine development.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials and problem classes, critical journal clubs and a research project.
Each of the taught modules is assessed on a 50/50 split of unseen written examinations and coursework, such as written essays, practicals and laboratory work.
The research project is assessed by dissertation, oral presentation and an interdisciplinary three-minute video project.
Your weekly schedule will be made up of 6-8 contact hours over two days at the university campus and 20 hours of independent learning during terms one and two. The contact hours could be lectures, practicals, or skill-based learning. The lab project (wet or computational) is full time, five days a week, during the research period.
Modules
Full-time
In this one-year programme, you will complete five taught modules and a dissertation/report.
During terms one and two, you will take five elective modules from the eight compulsory taught modules on UCL's MSc Drug Design.
On your five MSc modules, you will learn the essential concepts, theory and practices of drug design and discovery. You will also develop transferable skills through individual and group activities, such as oral and poster presentation, literature review, essay writing, attending conferences and scientific talks.
Your research project can be wet laboratory or computer/informatics-based and lasts for six months.
Compulsory modules
- MRes Drug Design Research Project
Optional modules
- Practical Laboratory Research Skills
- Bioinformatics and Structural Biology as Applied to Drug Design
- The Biology of Drug Discovery Programmes 1
- Cheminformatics and Modelling for Drug Design
- Biological Molecules as Therapies
- The Biology of Drug Discovery Programmes 2: Latest Advances
- Fragment-Based Drug Design
- Choosing a Drug Target 1: Scientific and Technical Aspects
- Choosing a Drug Target 2: Intellectual Property, Clinical Need and Commercial Aspects
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MRes in Drug Design.
What this course will give you
This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.
- A research-focused programme that will deepen your knowledge of the latest drug design methodologies and industrial practices.
- Access to research groups in the areas of medicine, pharmaceutical research, cell cycle, neurobiology, mitochondrial function, stem cells and cancer.
- The chance to be part of a medicinal chemistry group that conducts research where chemistry and biology intersect, using the latest techniques and developing new ones for studying biological systems.
- Opportunities to conduct translational research that has a globally-significant impact on drug discovery.
- The chance to learn from industry and academic collaborations focused on developing biological tools and therapeutic agents.
The foundation of your career
This MRes will give you advanced knowledge of drug design and a research-focused skillset that will enhance your employment prospects in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (2018-2022), 82% of Drug Design MRes graduates progressed onto work (54%) or further study (27%), with a majority of those in work taking highly skilled roles.
Employability
Drug design is integral to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, which are currently spreading their research and development to the East, notably China and India. As a graduate of this programme, you will be well placed to explore roles in these areas and benefit from global opportunities.
According to the HESA survey, MRes Drug Design graduates have gone on to work for clinical trial and laboratory service companies such as hVIVO, clinical research consultants such as the ProPharma Group, intellectual property litigation / patenting LLPs, and AI/computing firms such as Yitu Technology. Their roles include biological scientists, legal professionals, programmers and software development professionals, and quality assurance and regulatory professionals.
Networking
On this programme, there are many opportunities to network through our cross-disciplinary departments and research centres. In addition, you have chances to speak to our many external and expert speakers from industry after lectures. We encourage students to broaden their networks by attending special career workshops. Each year, students are also encouraged to join online seminars/workshops organised by industrial sectors to expand their skills.