PhD Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: The University of Manchester

Course description

The School is dedicated to improving the design, development and use of medicines. This is being advanced within three core strategic groups:

• Drug design and action
• Drug delivery and pharmacokinetics
• Drug usage and pharmacy practice

PhD study within the School is a challenging, yet rewarding, experience. Flexibility is allowed within the parameters of the study to allow the research to evolve and instigate findings not envisaged at the outset of the work. This is complimented by a dedicated PhD training structure, which provides critical skills training, personal development and progression milestones.

The PhD project will either be outlined by the academic supervisor offering the study or by an applicant seeking to work within a particular research area with a focused plan of research in mind. The supervisory team will assist the PhD applicant throughout the study, ensuring academic objectives are met and suitable training is provided in core skills fundamental to the research.

Transferable skills training is provided by a dedicated Graduate Training Programme offered by the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, which provides training in research methodology, critical writing skills, intellectual property, research ethics etc.

PhD project opportunities are available across the entire spectrum of research within the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, with projects available in areas as diverse as drug delivery across the blood brain barrier through to employment practices in the UK pharmaceutical industry.

Career opportunities

Graduates typically pursue careers in the following areas:

• Pharmaceutical industry (particularly in formulation and pharmacokinetics)
• Health services (in shaping the Pharmacy profession, running clinical trials, forming health policy)
• Academic research (many graduates take postdoctoral positions at prestigious research institutions across Europe, North America and elsewhere)

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

An honours degree (minimum 2:1), or the overseas equivalent, in an appropriate subject. Consideration will also be given for a suitable Masters degree. Depending on the specific research project, appropriate subjects could be Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Biology, Engineering, Mathematics, Pharmacy, Medicine, Social Science or Economics.

English language:

Students whose first language is not English require IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 575 paper based or 230 computer based.