Pharmaceutical Sciences MSci (Hons) - 2026/7
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
MSci (Hons) Pharmaceutical Sciences
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Ord | Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| DipHE | Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| CertHE | Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | UCJ31001 | 480 credits and 240 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Other internal and / or external reference points
N/A
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences - Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Programme Leader
ZARMPI Panagiota (Chst Chm Eng)
Date of production/revision of spec
14/08/2026
Educational aims of the programme
- Transform individuals to confident pharmaceutical scientists with broad but also deep, subject-specific expertise, capable of applying knowledge independently in professional or research environments.
- Foster practical, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities, emphasising applications to real-world pharmaceutical challenges.
- Promote integration, synthesis, and personalisation of scientific knowledge, allowing learning pathways to be tailored to individual interests and career aspirations.
- Encourage evidence-based decision making and research literacy by critically interrogating primary literature, regulatory guidelines, and emerging technologies, and designing appropriate investigative or analytical approaches, including in areas beyond established knowledge.
- Prepare graduates for potential careers in the pharmaceutical industry, contract research organizations (CROs), regulatory agencies, and academia, as well as a wide range of related professions requiring critical and analytical skills.
- Enhance transferable, digital, and professional capabilities, to operate effectively in global, interdisciplinary, and evolving pharmaceutical environments.
- Develop a new generation of highly skilled pharmaceutical scientists that can apply subject-specific knowledge in employment setup with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
- Provide resources and support for the development of digital capabilities, employability and transferable skills.
- Develop individuals with a high-level of understanding of how scientific principles, technological innovation, and data-driven decision-making converge to shape the design, development, evaluation, and regulation of modern medicines across the pharmaceutical lifecycle.
- Foster the ability to design, plan, execute, and manage independent, original research projects, demonstrating innovation, methodological rigour, and intellectual autonomy.
- Prepare graduates for leadership roles across pharmaceutical science sectors with the capacity to contribute to innovation, strategy, and problem-solving in complex professional settings.
- Stimulate the development of advanced experimental and investigative skills, project planning, including, as appropriate, evaluation of ethics, hazards and environmental effects and appreciation of costs.
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Demonstrate foundational knowledge of core chemical principles, including analytical chemistry, organic structure and physical processes. | K | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Apply basic mathematical and statistical techniques to solve problems and analyse data in chemistry, pharmaceutical science and related disciplines. | CP | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Explain key concepts in pharmaceutics and physiology, including the molecular and physiological basis of human body function. | KC | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Perform and interpret fundamental laboratory and analytical techniques safely and accurately, with an understanding of data reliability and limitations. | CP | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Develop essential transferable skills within a scientific context. | T | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Integrate and apply advanced knowledge of organic chemistry, to explain mechanisms relevant to drug design and synthesis | KC | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Analyse and interpret complex chemical and pharmaceutical data using advanced spectroscopic, analytical, and computational techniques, demonstrating increased independence and critical evaluation | CP | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Evaluate the relationships between drug formulation, biopharmaceutics, and pharmacological response, linking physicochemical properties to drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes. | KC | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Design and carry out more complex experimental and technical procedures in pharmaceutical and chemical contexts, demonstrating improved accuracy, problem-solving, and awareness of methodological limitations. | CP | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Demonstrate enhanced transferable skills through effective scientific communication, collaborative project work, and the use of digital and modelling tools to support problem-solving in pharmaceutical sciences. | T | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Critically evaluate and apply advanced concepts in medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and formulation design to solve complex problems in drug discovery and development | KC | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Apply advanced analytical and modelling techniques to predict and rationalise drug behaviour and performance. | CP | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Evaluate regulatory frameworks and quality requirements governing the development, manufacture, and approval of medicines. | KC | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Design, execute, and manage an independent research project, demonstrating the ability to generate, analyse, and interpret original data using appropriate experimental and computational methods. | CPT | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Communicate complex scientific and research findings effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences, demonstrating professional, ethical, and collaborative practice. | CT | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Identify and comprehensively appraise typical practical problems in processing in the current pharmaceutical/formulation sector. | KCT | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Understand the main analytical techniques used in product development and analytical control, their applications, advantages and limitations. | KT | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Statistically evaluate, validate and appraise the integrity and quality of obtained data and the effectiveness of analytical methods. | KPT | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Design, plan, and conduct independent research at an advanced level, demonstrating originality in selecting appropriate methodologies for pharmaceutical investigation and problem-solving. | CPT | MSci (Hons) | |
| Apply and critically appraise modern pharmaceutical technologies and digital tools to develop, optimise, and evaluate drug delivery systems and analytical processes. | KCP | MSci (Hons), CertHE, DipHE, Ord, BSc (Hons) | |
| Apply and critically appraise modern pharmaceutical technologies and digital tools to develop, optimise, and evaluate drug delivery systems and analytical processes. | CT | MSci (Hons) |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Integrated Master's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over four academic years, consisting of 480 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5, 6 and 7). Modules are either 15 credits or multiples of 15 credits.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Honours) (360 credits)
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHE3053 | TOPICS IN COMPUTER MODELLING | Optional | 15 | 1 |
| CHE3062 | MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY | Optional | 15 | 2 |
| CHE3066 | METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATIONS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY | Optional | 15 | 2 |
Module Selection for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Students must select four optional modules out of a choice of six optional modules.
As part of the approval process the following new modules have been developed and will be added to the programme once available:
BSc Research Project
Pharmacokinetic Modelling
Rational Formulation Design
Advances in Pharmaceutics
Advanced Pharmacology
Year 4 - FHEQ Level 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM046 | MODERN PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGIES | Compulsory | 30 | 1 |
| CHEM048 | PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS AND QA/QC | Optional | 30 | 2 |
| CHEM043 | DRUG DISCOVERY AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY | Optional | 30 | 2 |
Module Selection for Year 4 - FHEQ Level 7
Students must select one option module out of a choice of two optional modules in Semester 2
As part of the approval process the following new modules have been developed and will be added to the programme once available:
MSci Research Project
Digital Formulation Design
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | N | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Other information
To complete the MSci students need to have achieved an average mark of 50% at Level 4 and an average mark of 55% at Level 5. Students who do not meet these criteria will be transferred to the BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The school of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This programme is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:
Digital capabilities: Modern pharmaceutical science relies on digital tools for data analysis, modelling, and instrumentation. You will develop skills in interpreting complex datasets, applying statistical and computational software, using laboratory instruments, and presenting findings through reports and presentations. Engagement with platforms such as Teams and virtual learning environments builds confidence in digital collaboration and industry-relevant technologies.
Employability: The pharmaceutical industry requires a mix of technical, analytical, and professional skills. You will gain laboratory experience in drug formulation, analysis, and quality control, alongside understanding safety and regulatory principles. You will develop teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and scientific writing skills. Employability is enhanced through CV development, interview preparation, project work, group activities, and a Professional Training Year.
Global and cultural capabilities: Pharmaceutical science operates within a global, highly regulated context. You will develop awareness of international regulatory systems and scientific practice. Through multidisciplinary teamwork, you will collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds, building cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively in international scientific environments.
Resourcefulness and Resilience: You will learn to manage uncertainty and challenges in scientific work. You will build resilience by overcoming experimental setbacks, interpreting unexpected data, and adapting approaches when necessary. You will develop the ability to work within constraints, make evidence-based decisions, and strengthen independence and confidence in your scientific practice.
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.