Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharmaceutical sciences occupies the territory between chemistry, biology and clinical medicine, concerned with how drugs are discovered, developed, formulated, tested and manufactured. It is a discipline that spans the full pipeline of medicines development, from identifying molecular targets and synthesising candidate compounds through to formulation, quality control, regulatory affairs and the delivery of treatments to patients. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most innovative and economically significant sectors in the world, and it offers graduates both intellectual challenge and wide career possibilities.

At Queen's University Belfast this three-year full-time programme equips you with cutting-edge skills and knowledge across the dynamic pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. You will gain hands-on experience with industry-leading technologies, working across areas including drug discovery and development, formulation science, manufacturing processes, precision medicine, and drug and product testing. The programme has strong links with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, giving you access to real industry contexts and professional networks.

You will develop both the scientific depth and the practical laboratory skills that employers in the sector are looking for.

Belfast has a well-established pharmaceutical and medical devices sector, and the university's connections to industry reflect that local as well as global context.

Graduates move into roles in pharmaceutical research and development, drug formulation, clinical trials, quality assurance and quality control, regulatory affairs and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Many work for pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations, the NHS and regulatory agencies. Further study in pharmacy, pharmacology, clinical research or regulatory science is a common pathway, and the degree also provides a foundation for postgraduate research.