MSc Drug Design

This one-year, campus-based MSc offers a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of modern-day drug design. Taught by UCL’s research scientists, clinicians, and industry experts, it will give you an invaluable understanding of the drug design process. Graduates progress onto PhDs or medical studentships or go into sought-after employment in this highly specialist field.

Drug design is an integral part of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The UCL Division of Medicine and Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research are experts in training the next generation of drug discovery biologists and chemists in the field, particularly in drug discovery projects.

On this full-time MSc, you will develop the essential skills needed in this sought-after field, while exploring robust research methods and the most up-to-date drug design techniques.

The course covers all aspects of drug discovery, including genomics, bioinformatics, structural biology, cheminformatics, molecular modelling and fragment-based drug design, drug target selection, intellectual property and marketing. 

You will also deepen your knowledge and expertise of new therapies and research areas, such as antibodies, siRNA, stem cells and high throughput screening. Alongside this, you will develop your skills in translational research and apply these to your own research project for a minimum of three months.

The programme will equip you with the skills needed to establish a career in drug design/discovery and related industries, including biotech, pharma, national research laboratories and NHS agencies.