Course summary
The Pharmacology and Toxicology MSc will provide you with an advanced understanding of the development of therapeutics, for applications in many communicable, and non-communicable diseases. This course is still subject to approval, meaning course content may change. The programme’s mission is around making medicines better. Through optimisation of current treatments, understanding variability in patient responses from both an efficacy and safety perspective, and formulation of advanced therapeutics such as nanomedicines and cellular therapies, and making better medicines by developing the next generation of therapeutics. All of this is underpinned by a robust understanding of the processes that govern the biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of these new, and improved, therapeutics. The course is led by internationally recognised experts in the field of pharmacology, toxicology, and biocompatibility from both non-clinical and clinical departments. In practice, you will be provided with in-depth teaching on the processes underlying these areas, as well as the clinical and regulatory processes aligned to them. You will utilise real-world case studies of therapeutics under development by experts involved in these research areas prior to you joining one of these teams for the implementation of your final research project. You will gain in-depth scientific knowledge and will receive training for research that can be applied to academic, commercial and healthcare settings. In addition, you will learn digital, programming and informatic skills that are of increasing importance for research and many employers. Who is this course for? This master’s is for graduates from a biomedical sciences background who want to pursue a career in pharmacology and toxicology. What you'll learn
- Advanced research skills in pharmacology and toxicology, including digital fluency through informatics and programming skills
- Experimental medicine and clinical pharmacology
- Early phase clinical trial periods, encompassing phase I and II of the drug development pipeline
- Core and novel aspects of toxicology in the context of the development of new medicines
- Key advances in novel drug delivery systems
- The emergence of advanced therapeutics, enabled by significant progress in biomedical science and technology.
Assessment method
How you'll learn You will experience a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, data-handling and computation skills development and e-learning. The taught components of the course are delivered by experts in their respective fields and are closely aligned to research within the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, ensuring that all teaching is research-led. Additionally, through the final research project, you will apply the knowledge and skills you have learned in the program by working within the laboratories of these research teams, at the cutting edge of R&D in Pharmacology. This is particularly suited for those wishing to go onto a research career, supported by PhD research. How you're assessed Assessment of knowledge and understanding, practical skills and transferrable skills is through a blended mix of coursework that may include practical and project reports, essays, completion of workbooks, talks, data handling sessions and posters. All modules will provide you with feedback on your learning progress and allow for adjustment of your learning. Electronic resources available on the University virtual learning environment support learning and teaching. Liverpool Hallmarks We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Entry requirements
Postgraduate entry requirements: Normally, at least a 2.1 Honours degree in a Biological Sciences subject or equivalent. Candidates must have a scientific background acceptable to the Programme Director. International qualifications: Select your country or region on our website to view specific entry requirements. If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s degree at Liverpool, a pre-master’s, delivered by our partner, University of Liverpool International College, can help you gain a place. Although there’s no direct pre-master’s route to this MSc, completing a pre-master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses which may interest you.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £11900 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £11900 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £11900 | Whole course |
| Wales | £11900 | Whole course |
| Channel Islands | £11900 | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £11900 | Whole course |
| EU | £24750 | Whole course |
| International | £24750 | Whole course |
Additional fee information
For up to date fees visit: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/courses/2023/pharmacology-and-toxicology-msc#fees-and-funding
Provider information
University of Liverpool
The Foundation Building
765 Brownlow Hill
Liverpool
L69 7ZX