Drug Discovery and Development MSc

Have a positive impact on society by discovering new medicines that will improve lives

The use of pharmaceuticals to treat global and regional health issues, such as obesity, malaria, tuberculosis or cancer, requires the combined effort of multiple areas of science and medicine alongside the commercial sector. Now, more than ever, we need well-trained cross-functional specialists willing to work towards a positive impact on society by finding and developing new medicines to help treat disease.

This programme will offer you exposure to a range of fields spanning the pharmaceutical industry, including pharmacology, biochemistry, chemistry, clinical research, and pharmaceutical commercialisation. As a result, upon graduation, you’ll already be equipped with the skills necessary to work for large pharmaceutical companies, small biotech companies, contract research organisations, government regulatory bodies and many more. Our dedicated Employability and Professional Development Team will also support you with skill-building and opportunities to ensure you’re able to secure a graduate role.

The multidisciplinary aspect of the programme means you will be taught by experts from the School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Chemistry, the Faculty of Medicine and Health, the Business School, as well as experts currently working in the pharma sector. This breadth of topics will provide you with a tailored experience to gain exposure to the aspects you are most interested in, offering you the opportunity to focus on aspects of medicinal chemistry, molecular pharmacology and preclinical/clinical drug development.

Course highlights

• This course is shaped by our world-leading research in areas of chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, structural/molecular biology, pharmacology and biomedical sciences.

• When applying for graduate jobs, you’ll already have valuable experiences to refer to, such as our drug commercialisation project, replicating a real-world industry setting.

• There’s a wide range of modules to choose from meaning you can choose a specialisation pathway based on your experience and interests – either medicinal chemistry, molecular pharmacology or biomedical science, reflecting the different career areas within the pharmaceutical discovery and development pipeline.

• Undertaking a substantive lab-based project will build on your expertise and confidence, while gaining new research skills that will prepare you for the professional lab environment.

• You will be taught by experts from the multidisciplinary Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, meaning you will learn from both medicinal chemists and structural molecular biologists to gain the skills and knowledge to succeed in a multidisciplinary environment.

• Our close links with the pharma industry and the clinical trials unit in the Faculty of Medicine and Health means you will gain valuable real-world insight into drug discovery and clinical drug development.

The modules of this programme cover the entire drug discovery and development pipeline, enabling you to develop an integrated and comprehensive understanding of the process.

Semester 1

After introducing the pharmaceutical business sector, the programme begins by providing a foundations module that is tailored to your particular background in order to ensure you have a solid foundation of any key disciplines missing from your undergraduate experience (e.g. organic chemistry, human physiology, pharmacology, ethics, molecular biology, etc.).

At the start of the first semester, you will also be introduced to the process of discovering and developing small molecule drugs, peptide drugs and biopharmaceuticals, while also beginning to understand the economic factors across the pharmaceutical industry and the intellectual property rights required to bring products to market. The programme will boost your commercial acumen and leadership skills through undertaking a drug commercialisation project replicating a real-world industry setting.

You will then focus on modern small molecule pharmaceutical discovery in more detail, gaining an in-depth understanding of the process and the underpinning science. Depending on your interests, you can then focus on topics in either medicinal chemistry or preclinical drug trials.

Semester 2

In your second semester, you will also get an understanding of the practical issues that arise within clinical trial design, equipping you with the knowledge of how to design a first-in-human study. You will have the opportunity to tailor your degree by choosing optional modules such as pre-clinical trials, advanced topics in chemistry, practical recombinant DNA technology, the use of animal models in preclinical development, and structure-based drug discovery.

Semester 3

In your final semester, you will undertake an interdisciplinary extended research project supervised by a research-active academic. Our breadth of expertise and world-class research facilities will enable you to select research approaches which are most suited to the research problem in hand. The project can be conducted within a wide range of research areas, such as medicinal chemistry, structural molecular biology and drug-related research which is fostered at the University of Leeds.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Modules

Year 1

<p><a href="https://webprod3.leeds.ac.uk/catalogue/dynprogrammes.asp?Y=202223&P=MSC-BSGS%2FDDD">For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Drug Discovery and Development MSc in the course catalogue</a></p>

Learning and teaching

The learning and teaching on this course have been designed in order to reflect the current needs and activities performed in the industry, preparing you to be work-ready after you graduate.

You will be challenged to think about creative solutions to complex problems, enhance your interpretation and data analysis skills, improve your ability to communicate information and defend ideas. You will also develop your understanding of legal, economic and social elements affecting the area of drug discovery and development.

The course will follow a blended learning approach. All tutorials, seminars, debates, discussions, data analysis sessions, laboratory sessions, oral/poster presentations and computer-based learning activities will be delivered face-to-face on campus. However, traditional lectures may be delivered via pre-recorded screencasts that offer you flexible access and the ability to study it at your own pace.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

The type of assessment varies by module, but assessment methods may include in-course essays, oral presentations, business reports, annotated bibliographies, SAQ examinations, problem-based assignments, preclinical and clinical trial designs, computational drug design tasks, laboratory reports, ethics reviews, and the main research project dissertation paper.

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2:1 or equivalent, preferably in a chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, pharmacy or pharmacology subject. Consideration will be given to applicants holding a 2:2 but who have 2:1 level marks in modules relevant to the programme.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Interviews

It is standard procedure to interview applicants, prior to making a decision on their application, for MRes Neuroscience, MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial) and MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine. Interviews do not form part of the standard admissions process for other programmes in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

Fees

• UK: £11,500 (total)
• International: £27,500 (total)

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

The pharmaceutical industry requires expertise across its many multi-disciplinary areas. This programme reflects this diversity by providing several flexible study pathways that you can tailor to your own interests and experience. Therefore, you have the chance to get an understanding of the drug discovery and development pipeline as a whole, and experience working with experts across many discipline, while also having the opportunity to focus on the most appropriate strand to reflect your future career aspirations.

This course can either help you to progress in roles as part of pharmaceutical companies, small biotech companies, contract research organisations, government regulatory bodies, or put you in a strong position to undertake a further research degree.

Our dedicated Employability and Professional Development Officer will support you throughout your time with us, ensuring that you’re aware of events and opportunities, with a goal of helping you into graduate emplyment. In addition, our Masters career development programme will support you to:

• Explore career options and career planning.

• Understand the PhD application process and optimise PhD application.

• Learn how to use LinkedIn and other social media for effective networking and career opportunities.

• Practice interviews for both job and PhD applications.

You’ll also have access to seminars and presentations from industry professionals (including our alumni) at faculty-led career events. We also have regular research seminars presented by leading academics from around the world on their specialist subjects.