| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Full-time | 20 months | September | GBP 20000 total | GBP 30000 total |
Accelerated training for the Biopharmaceutical Industry
This unique professional training programme has been designed and developed in collaboration with the multinational Contract Research Organisation, Covance.
The course is 20 months long, covering campus-based taught modules in the first six months, followed by a 12-month guaranteed paid placement in industry where you can expect to earn around £20,000.
During your training you'll gain an integrated understanding of the full biological drug development pathway and the regulatory framework. The focus will be on large molecule drugs: monoclonal antibodies like Herceptin, bio-similars and antibody-drug conjugates; gene therapies and the technologies that underpin the discovery and development pathway.
You'll be taught by leading industrialists and internationally renowned academics working at the forefront of their fields in the areas of science that support drug development. The curriculum is delivered primarily via project work in teams, and is assessed with outputs that are commonplace in industry, including presentations and reports to clients, regulators, investors/sponsors etc.
To prepare you for work in industry, you'll also have access to cutting-edge practical technologies and gain hands-on practical training in protein purification, characterisation, formulation and assessment of binding function. In addition, you'll use cell-based assays to look at drug potency, all performed in a strict regulated environment.
This course will help give you the experience and skills to become highly employable. Many pharmaceutical companies are expanding their biopharmaceutical capability, which is creating demand and opportunities for talented, well-trained people. At the same time, these companies report difficulties in recruiting employees with relevant skill sets and those with broad industrial experience are greatly sought after.
To address this skills gap, the University of Leeds and Covance have formed this partnership to train the next generation of talented scientists for the biopharmaceutical industry.
Course content
This course will provide you with an understanding of biological drug development focusing on each of the major steps of the process:
Course structure
The course is 20 months long, covering the campus-based taught elements in six to seven months, followed by a 12-month guaranteed paid work placement involving a research project where you'll experience at first hand the working environment of this industry.
Work placement: an integral part of your training
An integral part of this course is your first paid job in industry. This is a 12-month guaranteed work and research experience in industry or placement hosted within the university research laboratories developed and co-supervised with industry. Students can expect to earn up to £20,000 over the duration of their placement.
The placements will all include a practical research project where you will gain in-depth practical experience of at least one technical function of the drug development process (discovery, manufacturing, pre-clinical testing, clinical safety and efficacy).
You will commence your project in May, six-months after the start of the programme and will be completed by the following April. Graduation is scheduled immediately thereafter, making you available for employment immediately after your placement.
Find out more about the modules you will study.
These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Year 2
Compulsory modules
For more information on typical modules, read Biopharmaceutical Development MSc in the course catalogue
Learning and teaching
The learning and teaching on the course has been constructed to align with activities performed in industry, preparing you to be work-ready immediately after you finish.
You'll have access to the very best learning resources and academic support during your studies. We've been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2017), demonstrating our commitment to delivering consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students.
This course will challenge you to think creatively, solve problems and develop strong communication and teamwork skills. You'll experience a wide range of teaching methods, including formal lectures, interactive workshops, practical classes and industry site visits.
You'll extensively use of real-life, industry specific case studies to illustrate theoretical and practical concepts and multiple opportunities to work in teams, including the opportunity to lead a team. A wide range of ‘authentic' assessments will be used that students will experience in the workplace including submissions to regulatory authorities, client reports and presentations to industry panel members.
Applying, fees and funding
Entry requirements
Normally a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in a Biological Sciences subject, Bioprocessing or Biochemical Engineering, but relevant experience may be taken into account. In addition, applicants will need to demonstrate leadership potential, which might be evidenced from academic, sporting, volunteering or other professional experience.
How to apply
Documents and information you'll need:
Frequently asked questions about the course.
Application deadline: 31st March 2018.
This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Applicants who require a Tier 4 (general) student visa are not permitted to study our MSc in Biopharmaceutical Development. This programme includes a mandatory work placement that consists of more than 50% of the total length of the course. The UKVI Home Office will not issue a visa if the duration exceeds 50%. Further information can be found here.
We will consider any international applicants that do not require a Tier 4 visa. Please contact our taught postgraduate admissions team directly [email protected]
If you are an International (non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen) applicant who has applied for, or intends to apply for, this course within the Faculty of Biological Sciences you will require an ATAS certificate.
Admissions policy
MSc Biopharmaceutical Development Admissions Policy 2017
Fees
UK/EU: £20,000 (total)
International: £30,000 (total)
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Fees explained
Tuition fee = £20,000.
Students who are self-funding will pay the tuition fee in 4 instalments across the duration of the course (September and February).
If you are receiving a postgraduate student loan (up to £10,280) from Student Finance England you can set up an alternative instalment plan in line with your loan payments. In this case you will pay the tuition fee in 6 instalments across the duration of the course (November, February and May).
Placement salary = £20,000 (approx.) You will start receiving a placement salary of £1,333.00* per month after tax. * Please note National Insurance will also be deducted
There are other general living costs which you will need to budget for. Read more about paying fees and charges.
Other sources of funding
If you are a former student of the University of Leeds you may be eligible for a 10% alumni tuition fee bursary
Professional and Career Development Loans = between £300 and £10,000. Find out more.
You can also search our postgraduate scholarships database
You can also find information on MoneySavingExpertAdditional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
We award a generous range of scholarships and consider all eligible applicants who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and excellent personal and professional skills.
MedImmune are offering one full fee scholarship to students that have been offered a place on this Masters.
To apply for this scholarship offer holders need to send their most up to date CV to [email protected] which will then be forwarded to Medimmune for consideration. The selected student will then undertake their 12-month placement with MedImmune in Cambridge (unpaid).
Deadline TBC
If you are a former student of the University of Leeds you may be eligible for a 10% alumni tuition fee bursary.
Visit our FBS fees and scholarships page to find out more about the range of scholarships we have to offer.
Career opportunities
Your first steps into an industrial career
The course is designed to train talented scientists wishing to pursue a career in drug development in the international biopharmaceutical industry.
You'll be exposed to senior industrialists working as tutors throughout the course and can take this opportunity to obtain career advice. You'll also work in industry full time for 12 months, which is an outstanding opportunity for you to develop a competitive career plan.
With this degree, you'll have the relevant knowledge and experience to fast-track your career as, for example, an analytical scientist, project manager, or coordinator, in areas such as research, quality control, manufacturing, project management, non-clinical, clinical, and market access.
As a student on this course you'll have unique access to an industry-mentor and a personal tutor (academic member of staff) for the duration of your studies. You'll also get support in planning your career through sessions that develop your CVs and applications.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
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