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Postgraduate

MSc in

Pharmacology and Education

This MSc is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the clinical, basic science and industrial aspects of pharmacology, alongside developing the skills to deliver exceptional teaching, assessment, course design and educational research – so you can inspire and lead in pharmacology education.

Course length 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Start date September 2024
Location Primarily based at the University of Hull*
MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development

Introduction

Meet us at our next event

Masters Taster Webinar: Why study Pharmacology and Education? 

7 May 2024, 5.30pm to 6.30pm

Pharmacology is the science underpinning the action of drugs on biological systems, and its reach and impact – and it plays a critical role in healthcare. Combined with education it provides a unique opportunity for those interested in becoming pharmacology educators or clinical researchers.

As part of our Masters Taster Webinar series, Dr Laura Sadofsky, Programme Director for the MSc in Pharmacology and Education and Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine will share why pharmacology and education is important, what you can expect from our programme and how it will help you to inspire and lead in pharmacology education.

Whether you are thinking of applying or have already applied, we encourage you to come along and find out more.  

Register for the Masters Taster Webinar

About the programme

Now more than ever, Pharmacology plays a critical role in healthcare. If you are interested in becoming a pharmacology educator or clinical researcher, and passing on your expertise to the next generation of pharmacology students and colleagues, the MSc in Pharmacology and Education, which is the only Master's programme in the UK to combine Pharmacology and Education, provides a unique opportunity.

This programme combines modules from the MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development programme with our Higher Education Academy-accredited MSc in Health Professions Education programme.

Successful applicants come from a wide range of backgrounds, including clinical, pharmaceutical, biomedical, life or basic sciences, which creates a unique, stimulating and collaborative environment.

Our MSc in Pharmacology and Education will provide you with a unique opportunity to advance your pharmacology knowledge alongside developing as an educator. The educational training and teaching opportunities may provide graduates with sufficient experience to successfully apply for Fellowship or Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy depending on experience (providing the post-nominal letters FHEA or AFHEA).

You will learn from experts in their field who are at the forefront of pharmacology, medicine or medical education. This includes external experts, our own clinical trials unit, pharmacology academics and our Health Professions Education Unit.

Tutors on the programme are leading scholars and practising experts in either a clinical, industry, academic or educational background. As well as learning from their expertise, you will be challenged to think differently and develop skills to become a self-directed learner.

The MSc programme is built around core modules that cover the fundamental principles of pharmacology, the clinical relevance of drugs for the major organ systems and the fundamental processes involved in clinical trials. Alongside the pharmacology component, there are core modules covering learning and teaching, assessment, and research methods to train the educators of tomorrow.

You will finish your year with us by conducting a significant research project focussing on generation of novel data to support and improve pharmacology education for both science or medical professions. We will support you to increase your chances of getting your work published. 

Course content

Modules

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

Intercalation

An ideal option for intercalation

The MSc in Pharmacology and Education 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 possibilities such as Medical Advisers.

Intercalating at Hull York
Student examining fluorescence microscopy image
Medicine students on a hospital ward at Hull Royal Infirmary
Pipetting in a flume cupboard

Teaching and assessment

How is the programme assessed?

Assessments take place throughout your programme and include oral presentations, essays, project work, group wikis and abstract and clinical trial protocol reviews. 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
pharmacology-students

About the programme

Career prospects

Through studying this MSc, you will have the opportunity to expand your pharmacology and therapeutics knowledge as well as gaining an insight into the clinical trials process. Alongside this, the course will equip you with practical knowledge to deliver exceptional teaching, assessment and research. This skill set is key for multiple roles within the industrial, medical and academic sectors.

This course will provide you with expertise to help you become a pharmacology educator and will be useful for those wishing to follow an academic or clinical academic career. In addition, this MSc will give you knowledge and experience to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry and can open job opportunities in drug safety, quality, regulation and compliance.

Through studying this Masters, you will also develop the skills to allow you for further your academic career by pursing a PhD.

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Entry

Entry requirements

Applicants must have previous training in human or mammalian biology (e.g. graduates from medical, biomedical, or biological undergraduate courses) and 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

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fees listed are for 2024 entry; fees for subsequent years are subject to confirmation as fees are reviewed on an annual basis and may change.

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: £10,590
  • Part-time (2 years): £5,295

International (including EU)

  • Full-time: £23,900
  • Part-time (2 years): £11,950

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 to secure a place for 2024-entry. 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

There are a number of funding options available to help with costs and support your postgraduate study. To apply for funding, you will need to hold an offer to study at Hull York Medical School.

Applying

How to apply

To apply, please submit an online application on the University of York website.

You don’t need to complete your application all at once; you can start it, save it and finish it later.

The closing date for applications is 30 June 2024.