Clinical Pharmacology

Background

This programme integrates basic and clinical sciences and leads to an MSc (Med Sci) degree in Clinical Pharmacology.  The programme is suitable for medical, pharmacy and bioscience graduates whose interests lie in this area.

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, computer assisted learning (CAL) and practical sessions.  Students will also undertake a clinical or laboratory based research project that reflects their interests, previous experience and current departmental interests.

Student evaluation is based on formative and summative written assessments and review of the research project.

The 12-month programme, which is popular with international students, aims to:

• provide the student with the ability to critically integrate pharmacology and biology with clinical application of drugs in medical practice
• develop an appreciation of how to apply clinical pharmacological principles to the optimisation of therapeutics and clinical research
• facilitate the acquisition and integration of a knowledge base in all areas of Clinical Pharmacology
• provide students with the opportunity to work with a team of peers to investigate clinical scenarios using critical understanding of Clinical Pharmacology to suggest appropriate management and/or a critique of previous handling of the case
• develop students' skills in problem solving, experimental design, evaluation and interpretation of experimental data, literature searches, scientific writing, oral presentations, poster presentations and team working
• lay the academic foundations on which some students may build in pursuing research at PhD level in experimental or clinical pharmacology or related areas of bioclinical science, and medical science
• provide science and medicine graduates with appropriate knowledge and new skills to facilitate future careers in pharmacology or clinical pharmacology in academia or the pharmaceutical industry, either in drug development research or allied support functions such as regulatory affairs, medical information or clinical operations.

The programme is one of only two UK postgraduate programmes that cover clinical pharmacology in sufficient detail to allow students to make an informed choice about pursuing clinical pharmacology as a career.