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Postgraduate

MSc in

Pharmacology and Drug Development

Our MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development will provide you with unique and unrivalled opportunities to immerse yourself in the clinical, basic science and industrial aspects of pharmacology – to ultimately push the boundaries of contemporary knowledge in pharmacology and drug development.

Course length 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Start date September 2025
Location Hull campus
Student examining fluorescence microscopy image

About the programme

Pharmacology is the science underpinning the action of drugs on biological systems, and its reach and impact – playing a vital role in medicine, nursing, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Pharmacology therefore touches all our lives. 

Our MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development will provide you with unique and unrivalled opportunities to immerse yourself in the clinical, basic science and industrial aspects of pharmacology. You will gain the skills to play an active role in developing the next generation of drugs – either from first principles in the lab, testing in clinical trials, or taking new products to clinic.

The programme is built around five core modules and two optional modules. These modules will give you the fundamental principles of pharmacology and the clinical relevance of drugs for the major organ systems, whilst demonstrating the drug development process, from initial drug design to understanding the importance of clinical trials. You will finish your year with us by conducting a significant research project in either basic or applied pharmacology to generate novel and cutting-edge research findings. The project, which can be lab or non lab based, will be supported by clinical and industry supervisors in the Centre for Biomedicine, which has a strong record of producing 3/4* publishable work.

You will be based in our Centre for Biomedicine and benefit from their academic, educational and industrial expertise, as well as being taught by scholars from departments such as the Hull Health Trials Unit, and other leading clinical and industrial experts. You will receive high quality tuition into the principles and process of clinical trials, covering a range of crucial topics including study rigour, participant recruitment, data analysis and interpretation and appropriate regulatory and governance issues associated with modern clinical trials.

You will be challenged to think differently and develop skills to become a self-directed learner – allowing you to continually grow your pharmacology knowledge throughout your career.

Through our founding corporate partner Reckitt, a leading global hygiene, health and nutrition company with global brands such as Nurofen and Gaviscon, you will also experience regular contact with an industrial mentor, access to Reckitt’s state-of-the-art Science and Innovation Centre in Hull, and taught sessions delivered by industry employees alongside university colleagues.

Who is this programme for?

MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development is aimed at applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including clinical, pharmaceutical, biomedical, life or basic sciences, to create a unique, stimulating and collaborative environment. If you are a highly motivated, inquisitive student, looking to push the boundaries of contemporary knowledge in pharmacology and drug development, whilst at the same time extending yourself and boosting your career opportunities in a high achieving academic setting, then this programme is for you.

This programme is an ideal option for intercalation. Read on to find out more.

Find out more

MSc Pharmacology and Drug Development webinar

4 December 2024 - 17.30 - 18.30

Discover how our MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development will help prepare you to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation – developing the next generation of clinical drugs. We’ll cover what and where you will study, how to apply and what happens after you graduate. You can also ask any questions you might have throughout.

Register your place
Student working on their laptop in the Allam Medical Building

Course content

Modules

The programme is a 180 credit Master’s programme, with six taught modules (five core and one optional - 20 credits each), and a core research project/dissertation (60 credits).

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

Health Professions Education student doing a presentation

Teaching and assessment

How is the programme assessed?

Assessments take place throughout your programme and include oral presentations, essays, portfolio, practical write ups, poster presentations, and project work. Details of these are included with the module information.

There are two types of assessment:

  • Formative assessments: These are designed to provide you with an opportunity to obtain helpful feedback to enable you to develop your understanding of the both the type of assessment and the topic. They do not contribute to the final award mark.
  • Summative assessments: These assessments count towards the final module mark. They take place during and towards the end of each module. Feedback will be given for these assessments to help you understand the mark obtained but also to help with your academic development.

Teaching and assessment

What support is available?

This MSc is intensive and challenging but ultimately hugely rewarding. In addition to the student support services at the University of Hull, we also have our own dedicated student support team providing a range of pastoral services to all our Hull York Medical School students.

This programme develops you to become a self-directed learner – and therefore a lifelong learner. This may be a new skill to you to learn, but you will not be on your own; you will benefit from small teaching groups and high contact hours during your programme, so you always have someone to help you throughout your learning.

Support and wellbeing
Student talking to a member of the Student Support Team
Tania Bernardes

HULL YORK MEDICAL SCHOOL Stories

I had a great experience on the programme, and left with a huge knowledge about how drugs work within biological systems. I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering applying.
Research Assistant/Technician at Hull York Medical School, University of Hull

Tania Ludmila Pires Bernardes

Intercalation

An ideal option for intercalation

The MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development will help give intercalating medical students a deeper understanding and appreciation of prescribing.

In the medical sector, an intercalating MSc can have a significant impact on your application to deaneries and your potential career prospects. Understanding the science of medicines improves prescribing and can also open up career opportunities including Medical Advisors.

Discover intercalation
pharmacology-students
Medicine students on a hospital ward at Hull Royal Infirmary

entry

Entry requirements

Applicants must have previous training in human or mammalian biology (e.g. graduates from medical, biomedical, or biological undergraduate courses), Chemistry/Pharmacology or other related fields with a minimum 2.2 (Hons) degree or equivalent.

Intercalating medical students must have successfully completed a minimum of three years of an MB BS or comparable medical qualification.

English language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must have one of the following:

  • IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
  • PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
  • CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
  • TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 21 in each component
  • Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
  • LangCert B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum score 33/50)
  • WASSCE: C5

Applicants who do not meet our English Language requirements may be required to complete the University of Hull’s Pre-Sessional English course as a condition of their offer to study on the programme.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fees listed are for 2025 entry. Fees are reviewed on an annual basis and may change for subsequent years.

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (Home) or International (including EU) student. Check your fee status on the University of York website.

UK (Home)

  • Full-time: £13,300
  • Part-time (2 years): £6,650

International (including EU)

  • Full-time: £31,900
  • Part-time (2 years): £15,950*

*The part-time study option is only available to international students who do not require a visa to study in the UK.

Applicants who are self-funded and assessed by the University of Hull as paying the overseas tuition fee rate are required to pay a non-refundable deposit at the point of offer. A place will not be guaranteed until the full deposit has been received. The University reserves the right to stop accepting deposit payments once course places are full and, as a result, may defer an offer to the next available intake. Find out more about the University of Hull Tuition Fee Deposit.

Funding

Dr Nguok Ngie Su

HULL YORK MEDICAL SCHOOL Stories

The MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development will give you an in-depth knowledge of drug development within an academic, clinical and industrial setting. This critical mix of knowledge and interaction with our expert teachers will open exciting opportunities to broaden your career prospects.
Programme Director

Dr Nguok Ngie Su