Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree 180 credits, including 90 credits in chemistry, biology or pharmacy or similar. Proof of skills in English to a level corresponding to English B in Swedish secondary school.

Aims

The Master programme in Pharmaceutical Modelling is given at an advanced level. The education is a suitable path for students with a Bachelor degree in pharmacybiomedicine or engineering. The purpose of the programme is to provide advanced knowledge and skills in predictive modelling in drug discovery, development and usage. Various aspects of model-based research and theit implementation in drug discovery, development and usage are discussed. A special focus is on the practical application of modelling techniques, and on the communication of modelling results outsida and within the own discipline. The programme should give competences and skills that are required for a career within pharmaceutical industry, biotech companies, work at government agencies or PhD studies.

Learning outcomes

For the level of Master in Pharmaceutical Science, the student must demonstrate:

- Knowledge and understanding within the field, including a broad knowledge in the general field, significantly enhanced knowledge in specific areas, and enhanced understanding of current research and development,

- comprehensive practical and theoretical skills in modelling techniques suitable for drug discovery, development and usage

- the capability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge, and to analyse, value and assess complex processes, questions and situations, also based on partial information

- the capability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate problems; to plan and, using suitable methods, perform qualified tasks within specified timeframes; and to evaluate such work, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge,

- the capability to critically discuss the suitability of different methods and their limitations,

- the capability to succinctly present and discuss own results and conclusions, as well as the knowledge and the arguments behind these, orally as well as in writing and within and outside the own discipline,

- the skills necessary for participation in research and development work, or for independent work in other qualified activities,

- the capability to, within the areas of model-based drug discovery, development and usage make assessments that take relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects into account, and to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development,

- an understanding of the possibilities and limitations of science, its role in society and the responsibility of humans for its use,

- the capability to identify the need for further knowledge and to take responsibility for his/her own knowledge development.

Layout of the programme

It is a full-time programme taught over four semesters. The first semester is primarily intended to provide an overview of the area and to provide the students with the tools needed for the following courses and future professional life. Semesters two and three provide in-depth knowledge of the various tools and modelling techniques. Semester three ends with the opportunity for students to choose courses and thus immerse themselves in a desired direction. The fourth semester is given in the form of a project of 30 credits.

The courses of the programme:

Semester 1

Drug Discovery and Development 7.5 credits

Biopharmaceutics 7.5 credits

Introduction to programming in Python and R for bioscientists 7.5 credits

Preclinical and clinical data analysis in predictive drug discovery/development 7.5 credits

Semester 2

Pharmaceutical Bioinformatics 7.5 credits

Computational Medicinal Chemistry 7.5 credits

Advanced Molecular Modelling Applied to Drug Discovery 7.5 credits

Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics 7.5 credits

Semester 3

Health Economic Evaluations 7.5 credits

Models for Biological Systems 7.5 credits

Elective course (preparation for Master's thesis) 7.5 credits

Elective course (preparation for Master's thesis) 7.5 credits

Semester 4

Degree project 30 credits

Instruction

Instruction is composed of lectures, group exercises, laboratory work, seminars and your own project work. Instruction is directly linked to current research, and the programme teachers are active researchers with substantial specialist knowledge.

Through guest lecturers and our close contacts with the pharmaceutical industry, you will meet people with experience from research and development work outside the university. The contact network with tutors and company representatives provides the programme’s students with the opportunity to form relationships with future employers during the course.

The language of all instruction is English. Compulsory sections are: course introductions and sections that are specified as compulsory in the respective course syllabi.

Degree

A Master of Pharmaceutical Science with a major in Drug Discovery and Development is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 credits including an independent degree project of at least 30 higher education credits.