Pharmaceutical Analysis MSc
Subject and course type
- Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Postgraduate
This MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis provides you with the skills and knowledge to excel in the world of pharmaceutical analysis. From drug formulation, to quality control and regulatory affairs, you'll gain hands-on experience in industry-standard labs. Learn from experts shaping the future of healthcare.
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Become a leader in pharmaceutical analysis and drug safety
Step into a career shaping the future of healthcare.
ÖØ¿ÚζSM's MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis provides the expertise needed to drive advances in drug development, formulation and safety. Whether you aspire to work in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory bodies or research, this course opens doors to a wealth of career opportunities. You’ll work with cutting-edge technologies and gain work experience that will give you a competitive edge in the global pharmaceutical sector.
With a focus on emerging trends in drug safety, pharmaceutical technology, and regulatory frameworks, this course equips you to make a significant impact in the global pharmaceutical industry.
If you aspire to a management role within the pharmaceutical and allied industries, you can adjust your course to support your career goals. The option of the Management Studies pathway combines technical study with a chance to explore the fundamentals of management theory within the commercial and public sectors.
Why choose this course
ÖØ¿ÚζSM’s MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis blends in-depth theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on learning, preparing you for a rewarding career in the pharmaceutical industry. You’ll explore key areas such as analytical techniques, quality control, drug development processes, and regulatory standards.
The course equips you with the skills to analyse and test pharmaceutical products using industry-standard technologies. You will learn how to identify and manage risks, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and apply your knowledge to solve real-world problems. In addition to studying core analytical techniques and their applications, we’ll introduce various pharmaceutical technologies, for example, formulations and topics such as clinical pharmacokinetics.
With access to state-of-the-art labs and industry-relevant case studies, you’ll be fully prepared to tackle the challenges of pharmaceutical analysis. We've invested heavily in the development of new facilities including laboratories for teaching and research to provide students with access to ultra-modern equipment in a wide range of teaching facilities.
At Kingston, we foster close industry links. Many of our staff in the Faculty are research active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.
The course also offers research opportunities that allow you to specialise in areas such as drug safety, formulation science, or analytical techniques. Your research project invites you to apply your knowledge in a practical context. Our emphasis on practical learning and real-world applications means you’ll leave ready to make an impact in pharmaceutical science.
Course content
You will gain key skills in the specialised area of pharmaceutical analysis, including good measurement and scientific practice, evaluation interpretation of data, and other professional and organisational skills. In addition to studying core analytical techniques and their applications, you will be introduced to various pharmaceutical technologies, for example, formulations and topics such as clinical pharmacokinetics.
You may be offered a placement within industry (depending on your results and project availability) where you will carry out your independent research project.
The Management Studies option enables you to explore the fundamentals of management theory within the commercial and public sectors.
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Work placement scheme
Many postgraduate courses at Kingston Universityenable students to take the option of a 12-month work placement as part of their course. Although the University supports students in finding a placement and organises events to meet potential employers, the responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. You may find securing a professional placement difficult as they are highly competitive and challenging, but they are also incredibly rewarding. It is very important to prepare and apply yourself if this is the route you wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route visa.
Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
Modules
Core modules
30 credits
This module introduces the main spectroscopic techniques used in industry such as UV/Vis, FTIR, Mass Spectrometry, NMR, AES, AAS and X -Ray methods. The module later progresses to the more advanced designs and applications such as MS/MS, FTMS, TOF, sector and quadrupole mass analysers, 2D NMR, LCMS, MALDI, Atomic Fluorescence and ICPMS/AES.
30 credits
The module is intended to ensure that students are aware of the processes by which a drug is formulated into a medicine. It examines the effect that formulation decisions have on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines, and on the pharmaceutical industry's business model. It includes the principles of pharmaceutical analysis and the application of pharmaceutical analytical techniques (both routine and non-routine) for the design, process- and quality-control of manufactured pharmaceuticals and process-intermediates. It is designed to enable students to review instrumentation choices when confronted with pharmaceutical issues and to select the appropriate tool(s). It also looks at the emerging quality assurance concepts of process analytical technology and quality by design.
60 credits
This module involves a research- or industry-based in-depth research project. You will develop your ability to critically evaluate your own work as well as the work of others, using analytical and laboratory skills.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
- Prepare a realistic and coherent project proposal, formulate aims and objectives and plan your own time to achieve stated objectives
- Critically evaluate the current literature
- Carry out appropriate experiements in a safe manner (applying COSHH) and generate reliable, data suitably analysed, and apply appropriate statistical test
- Communicate the results of the project in a coherent report and in oral and visual manner
30 credits
This module introduces students to the principles and theory of separation science and its application in the laboratory including solvent extraction, high performance liquid chromatography, gas/liquid chromatography, centrifugation, gel and capillary electrophoresis and hyphenated techniques.
30 credits
The module introduces students to the role of statistics and quality systems in modern analytical science. It demonstrates how a thorough understanding of statistical concepts, the analytical process and the quality systems and quality management paradigms collectively enable the consistent and reliable interpretation of analytical chemical data to support the economic requirements of a business organisation.
Management Studies pathway modules
Core modules
30 credits
This postgraduate module covers the theory and practice of the business and management needs of students from different academic contexts including Science, Engineering, Computing and Health Services who are aspiring team leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs in business within the context of the commercial, public, voluntary, or academic sector. This module explains and puts business concepts into context within a variety of sectors.
You will investigate business topics ranging from finance, accounting, budgeting, and marketing, to organisational management by developing the leadership skills to meet business challenges and to cope with their complexity.
30 credits
This module introduces the main spectroscopic techniques used in industry such as UV/Vis, FTIR, Mass Spectrometry, NMR, AES, AAS and X -Ray methods. The module later progresses to the more advanced designs and applications such as MS/MS, FTMS, TOF, sector and quadrupole mass analysers, 2D NMR, LCMS, MALDI, Atomic Fluorescence and ICPMS/AES.
30 credits
The module is intended to ensure that students are aware of the processes by which a drug is formulated into a medicine. It examines the effect that formulation decisions have on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines, and on the pharmaceutical industry's business model. It includes the principles of pharmaceutical analysis and the application of pharmaceutical analytical techniques (both routine and non-routine) for the design, process- and quality-control of manufactured pharmaceuticals and process-intermediates. It is designed to enable students to review instrumentation choices when confronted with pharmaceutical issues and to select the appropriate tool(s). It also looks at the emerging quality assurance concepts of process analytical technology and quality by design.
60 credits
This module involves a research- or industry-based in-depth research project. You will develop your ability to critically evaluate your own work as well as the work of others, using analytical and laboratory skills.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
- Prepare a realistic and coherent project proposal, formulate aims and objectives and plan your own time to achieve stated objectives
- Critically evaluate the current literature
- Carry out appropriate experiements in a safe manner (applying COSHH) and generate reliable, data suitably analysed, and apply appropriate statistical test
- Communicate the results of the project in a coherent report and in oral and visual manner
30 credits
This module introduces students to the principles and theory of separation science and its application in the laboratory including solvent extraction, high performance liquid chromatography, gas/liquid chromatography, centrifugation, gel and capillary electrophoresis and hyphenated techniques.
Career opportunities
Whether you aim to work in research, production or regulatory roles, the MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis will open doors to diverse, rewarding career paths.
In addition to studying core analytical techniques and their applications, you’ll have the option to follow the Management Studies pathway. This approach is tailored specifically to enhance your career opportunities after graduation.
Graduates have gone on to work in a variety of industries, including in the public sector. Graduates work in areas such as quality control, ensuring products meet required standards, or in medicinal chemistry or drug discovery. Other relevant roles include teaching, PhD research, sales and marketing, and in managerial positions.
Our links with industry provide a practical base for our courses. They also help us to ensure your studies remain up-to-date and relevant to the working environment.
If you choose to study this course, you will benefit from real-world experience. You can either undertake an industry placement, or complete a collaborative research project with other laboratories. Past students have taken placements in the pharmaceutical industry, forensic labs, analytical consultancies, hospital labs and research labs; or
MSc students at Kingston also benefit from the latest views from visiting speakers and industry visits from global researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
Teaching and assessment
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
As a student at ÖØ¿ÚζSM, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Pharmaceutical Analysis pathway: 32% scheduled learning and teaching
- Pharmaceutical Analysis with Management Studies pathway: 32% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical work (e.g. laboratory reports) and coursework (e.g. assignments, case studies, oral presentations, poster presentations or research project). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, although it depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose.
Types of assessment
- Core pathway: Coursework 50%, Exams 32%, Practical 18%
Management pathway: Coursework 54%, Exams 24%, Practical 22%
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
ÂYou will be part of an intimate cohort of 20–40 students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice as well as the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes; you may therefore be taught alongside postgraduates from other courses.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| MSc full time | £11,400 |
| MSc part time | £6,270 |
| International | |
| MSc full time | £18,200 |
| MSc part time | £10,010 |
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| MSc full time | £10,900 |
| MSc part time | £5,995 |
| International | |
| MSc full time | £17,500 |
| MSc part time | £9,625 |
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Pharmaceutical Analysis MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
Through the generous support of Professor Sharat and Mrs Lilian Gangolli, we are able to offer a fully-funded (100% of fees) scholarship for taught MSc courses in the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry. The scholarship aims to encourage academic excellence and allow talented young graduates to continue to higher levels of learning and research.
Find out more, by visiting the Gangolli Scholarship page.
The Inspire the Future Scholarship offers a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. 20 scholarships are available for progressing Kingston Universitygraduates.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Inspire the Future Scholarship page.
International postgraduate students could receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in their first year of study.
For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, visit the International Scholarship page.
If you are a Kingston University2024/25 undergraduate progressing to a 2025/26 postgraduate degree (taught or research), you could get a 15% reduction in tuition fees.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Postgraduate Progression Scholarship page.
Kingston Universityoffers a 10% discount on full and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni.
For more information on how to apply for this discount, visit our alumni discount page.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston Universitywill pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Specific courses may require uniforms, specialty clothing, or specific equipment like lab coats and safety shoes.
If you choose to do a placement year, travel costs will vary depending on your location. These costs could be up to £2,000.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
If the postgraduate admissions tutor requires further information or wishes to invite you to further assessment by interview they will contact you directly. You will then hear whether your application has been successful.
If you do not clearly meet the standard entry requirements and the admission tutor wishes to see a portfolio from you, you will be sent an email asking you to upload your portfolio to your Kingston UniversityOSIS account. Further details on how to do this will be provided at the time.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
I chose this course because it is very competitive and full of challenges. I believe it is one of the best courses in pharmaceutical analysis in the UK. The staff reputation is another reason that encouraged me to choose the course. The teaching was great. I really enjoyed the lectures, and the staff were more than magnificent.
