2026/27 Taught Postgraduate Programme Catalogue

MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial Placement) (part-time) for students entering from September 2026 onwards

Programme overview

Programme code: MSC-BIDV426P
UCAS code
Duration: 48 Months
Method of Attendance: Part Time
Programme manager: Dr Dimitra Mitsa
Contact address: D.Mitsa@leeds.ac.uk
Notes: The programme will: Provide a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the industrial pathway of biological drug discovery, development and exploitation. Training will focus on the development of specialist technical skills and theoretical knowledge required to work in the biologics industry and apply this training in a regulatory environment. On completion of the programme, students will be prepared to take up a range of biologics medicine development roles in a biotechnology, contract manufacturing, contract research organisation or pharmaceutical company globally and enhance the value they add to that organisation with immediate effect. Part-time students will be taught alongside the full-time students and therefore no new teaching will be introduced. The full-time modules are currently timetabled to facilitate attendance over a day/series of days and therefore should fit with the work commitments of those taking the programme and in employment. All lectures/seminars are lecture-captured and therefore occasional non-attendance could be accommodated through students listening to recorded lectures. We have also previously used facilities such as webinars/video conference for remote attendance and this could be considered on an ad hoc basis if required. Assessment type and schedule will follow that of the full-time variant. The exception to the above is the part-time variants of two modules: BIOL5326M: Practical Skills in a Regulatory Environment, Part-Time (30 credits) (Semester 1 & 2) BIOL5347M: Research Project (Industry), Part-Time (60 credits) - This will be carried out in industry within the student's work organisation.
Total credits: 180
School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme: Faculty of Biological Sciences
Examination board through which the programme will be considered: The Masters Bioscience Exam Board
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups: Subject benchmark statements for biological sciences Masters programmes do not exist. However, students will be expected to demonstrate the characteristics embodied in the QAA Qualifications Frameworks level descriptors for Masters degrees (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf).

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme in 2022/2023 or before. For students entering the programme from September 2023 or after, you can find the details of your programme: MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial Placement) (part-time) (For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

The programme consists of 180 credits of compulsory modules to be completed over a maximum of 4 years.

The maximum duration of the research project is two years and cannot commence earlier than Year 2. The research project will be mentored and supervised by an employer (industrialist) working within the biopharmaceutical sector, and co-mentored by an academic staff member from the university.

The part-time version of the programme aims to provide maximum flexibility to industry professionals, so modules (other than the Research Project) can be taken in any order throughout the 4-year duration of the programme, however, we recommend to attempt the Introduction to Pharmaceuticals: Science & Commerce as one of the first modules, and the Intergrated Development Plan as one of the last modules.

Year 1

for students entering from September 2026 onwards

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students are recommended to study 45 credits in year 1 from the list below

Code	Title	Credits	Semester
BIOL5124M	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science and Commerce	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5181M	Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5208M	Integrated Drug Development Plan	15	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL5326M	Practical Skills for a Regulatory Environment (PT)	30	1 Sep to 31 Mar
BIOL5384M	Biopharmaceutical drug discovery and non-clinical testing	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
OGDS5202M	Clinical Trials	15	1 Jan to 28 Feb (adv year), 1 Jan to 31 Mar

Year 2

for students entering from September 2026 onwards

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students can undertake the Research Project from year 2 onwards. Students will be required to study the modules from the following list that they did not take the previous year.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester
BIOL5124M	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science and Commerce	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5181M	Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5208M	Integrated Drug Development Plan	15	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL5326M	Practical Skills for a Regulatory Environment (PT)	30	1 Sep to 31 Mar
BIOL5347M	Industrial Placement & Research Project (PT)	60	1 Sep to 31 Aug (24mth)
BIOL5384M	Biopharmaceutical drug discovery and non-clinical testing	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
OGDS5202M	Clinical Trials	15	1 Jan to 28 Feb (adv year), 1 Jan to 31 Mar

Year 3

for students entering from September 2026 onwards

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study modules from the following list that they have not taken in previous years.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester
BIOL5124M	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science and Commerce	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5181M	Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5208M	Integrated Drug Development Plan	15	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL5326M	Practical Skills for a Regulatory Environment (PT)	30	1 Sep to 31 Mar
BIOL5347M	Industrial Placement & Research Project (PT)	60	1 Sep to 31 Aug (24mth)
BIOL5384M	Biopharmaceutical drug discovery and non-clinical testing	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
OGDS5202M	Clinical Trials	15	1 Jan to 28 Feb (adv year), 1 Jan to 31 Mar

Year 4

for students entering from September 2026 onwards

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study modules from the following list that they have not taken in previous years.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester
BIOL5124M	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science and Commerce	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5181M	Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals	15	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BIOL5208M	Integrated Drug Development Plan	15	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL5326M	Practical Skills for a Regulatory Environment (PT)	30	1 Sep to 31 Mar
BIOL5347M	Industrial Placement & Research Project (PT)	60	1 Sep to 31 Aug (24mth)
BIOL5384M	Biopharmaceutical drug discovery and non-clinical testing	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
OGDS5202M	Clinical Trials	15	1 Jan to 28 Feb (adv year), 1 Jan to 31 Mar

Last updated: 09/06/2026 15:33:51

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team