MSc PG Dip PG Cert Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

An honours degree (2:2 minimum) in a relevant subject such as in a bioscience or science including pharmacy, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemical engineering, chemistry, microbiology or molecular biology (or equivalent)
Alternatively, a portfolio of professional and/or academic qualifications of equivalent standing to an honours degree

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it. To find out more, please visit dmu.ac.uk/international|

The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology course delivers up-to-date subject matter on multiple protein expression systems, (bacteria, baker’s yeast, insect, mammalian and plant cells) for production of diverse biopharmaceuticals, encompassing a range of platform technologies.

It focuses on the role of proteins as therapeutic agents and as tools for the identification of such agents. It provides insight into how a researcher may select and use appropriate protein expression systems for the large-scale to mass production of a protein, that would ultimately lead to its complete characterisation before it is applied to man.

You will also focus on the business and intellectual property aspects that are interwoven with biotechnological innovation and entrepreneurship to enable career progression. Here too, there is the option to conduct independent research in the third semester which will culminate in a written dissertation. 180 credits must be completed to achieve the full master’s. Modules include:

• Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Toxicology (15 credits)
  discusses the underlying principles that allow for the selection of a biopharmaceutical in the treatment of a disease.

• Microbial Fermentation/ Downstream Processing, Drug Development (15 credits) looks at the role of microbial fermentation drug development as well as issues of scale-up, bulk production, downstream processing, bio-safety and toxicology.

• Gene Cloning, Expression and Analysis (30 credits)
  provides practical skills and theoretical considerations covering cell culture, gene isolation and protein expression.

• Bioinformatics I and II (15 credits)
  provides an understanding of research tools and methodologies used in molecular investigations as well as the basic theory and employment of bioinformatics.

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation (15 credits)
  aims to provide a guide to the key theories about enterprise and innovation, looking at their relationship to small businesses and to consider the methods that are taken to promote and finance them.

• Research Methods (15 credits)
  with elective depending on type of research chosen for the third semester.

• Research Dissertation (60 credits)
  is a 22 week research project with elective research in business, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical biotechnology or molecular toxicology topics.