MSc Drug Discovery

Entry standards

First degree equivalent to Lower Second or higher in chemistry or a related discipline. Alternative qualifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Selection is based upon a candidate’s application, references and an informal interview.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

MSc Drug Discovery - structure and modules

Module Titles

Modules:

• Medicinal and Natural Product Chemistry
• Advanced Medicinal Chemistry
• Computer Modelling of Drugs and Biomolecules
• Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry
• Advanced Spectroscopy
• Analytical Techniques in Drug Discovery
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Advanced Transferable Skills and Professional Development (compulsory)

Module Overview 

Modules include:

Medicinal and Natural Product Chemistry

This module will introduce you to the chemistry of medicinally important molecules. On successful completion of this module you will have an understanding of the history of drug discovery and modern methods of drug discovery, design and development. You will also be competent in recognising important classes of natural products and aspects of biosynthesis.

Advanced Medicinal Chemistry

This module will give you sufficient knowledge of medicinal chemistry to be able to contribute to drug discovery, design and development in your future career. As well as an advanced understanding of classes of therapeutics and recent developments in medicinal chemistry, you will be able to critically appreciate and present current topics in the area. 

Computer Modelling of Drugs and Biomolecules

This module will discuss the theory and practice of modelling as applied to pharmaceuticals and proteins. You will be given the opportunity to carry out and comment on the results of a simulation, and gain an understanding of the applications of model building in chemistry. The module also aims to introduce the concept of a relational database. You will develop a critical understanding of the science of chemoinformatics whilst studying the use of databases to store and retrieve structural and chemical data.

Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry

You will develop an understanding of advanced methods of organic synthesis and be able to suggest methods of synthesis of target compounds using reactions and concepts acquired in earlier years.

Advanced Spectroscopy

This module will cover the methods used to characterise organic compounds at research level. These include IR, UV-Vis, Raman and advanced NMR spectroscopy. On successful completion of this module, you will have the necessary skills in spectrum analysis to assign structures to molecules.

Analytical Techniques in Drug Discovery

This module will provide you with knowledge of the advanced chromatographic and mass spectrometric (MS) techniques that are widely used in chemistry at research level. You will develop your analytical skills and learn about the range of problems to be encountered in analysis and be able to select appropriate techniques. 

Pharmacology and Toxicology

During this module you will study a basic overview of the principles of pharmacology and toxicology, with an emphasis on therapeutically useful drugs. The module will enable you to understand how the various systems in the body work and are controlled, and how drugs can modify these systems. You will also gain a basic knowledge of the major regulatory processes involved in drug development.

Advanced Transferable Skills and Professional Development

This module introduces the students to scientific report writing, giving oral presentations, using online databases of scientific publications and maintaining a reference database, advanced data analysis, scientific ethics, project management, and the importance of maintaining a professional development portfolio. This module is compulsory for all postgraduate students on taught Masters programmes in the Department of Chemistry.

Programme Structure and Modules

MSc Drug Discovery - entry standards

Entry standards

First degree equivalent to Lower Second or higher in chemistry or a related discipline. Alternative qualifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Selection is based upon a candidate’s application, references and an informal interview.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Planned intake

15

Start date

October

Programme director

• Dr Daniel Whelligan

MSc Drug Discovery - fees and funding

Fees

Drug Discovery (full time): 

UK/EU - £6,400 
Oveseas - £16,748

www.surrey.ac.uk/pgfees/2012

Funding

There are no scholarships available for this programme. Students may arrange their own sponsorship.

MSc Drug Discovery - professional context

Industry Relevance 

“A large number of drug discovery research programmes within pharmaceutical companies and academic laboratories are based on natural products and/or structurally related analogues. These products are considered to exhibit a huge potential in the development of future drugs.” 

‘Interfacing Chemical Biology, Natural Products and Drug Discovery’. International Conference on Medicinal Chemistry – 44e Rencontres Internationales de Chimie Thérapeutique, Angers, France, 2–4 July 2008. 

“Using the antimalarial natural product artemisinin for inspiration, an international public–private partnership has designed a synthetic ozonide compound with potent antimalarial properties. The structurally simple, orally available drug candidate could be a cheaper and more effective alternative to current malaria drugs, its developers say.”
Amanda Yarnell, Chemical and Engineering News, 23 August 2004, 82, 4.

Professional recognition

The qualification can be used to support an application for CCHEM grade membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

MSc Drug Discovery - teaching

Teaching

Teaching is by a combination of formal lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes. All computing training will be in ‘hands-on’ workshops where your learning can be guided by using the software and technology in real time.  

You will join one of the research groups in the Faculty for your research project and gain the experience of working alongside PhD students and experienced postdoctoral fellows, as well as working with an academic acknowledged as an expert in their field.  

The programme will be assessed by a variety of methods. For the lecture-based modules, there will be formal examinations combined with assessed coursework, each contributing to the final mark in a ratio relevant to the subject. The research project will be assessed by dissertation and viva voce examination which includes an external examiner.

MSc Drug Discovery - learning

Dissertation and Projects

Research Project and Dissertation 

The aim of the project is to provide you with laboratory-based practical training in chemical research within the format of a project with a definite research goal. 

The projects will be allocated to the various research laboratories as appropriate, and MSc students will work alongside those on the MRes as well as the PhD. 

On successful completion of this module you should have: 

• Carried out of a piece of laboratory work appropriate to the amount of time expected (approximately 600 hours of time) 
• Acquired materials or data that can be critically analysed and discussed in a dissertation and at viva 
• Acquired a range of general laboratory skills (within the remit of the project) and demonstrable ability (for example, verifiable by the quality of results) to apply these competently 
• Demonstrated the ability to work safely within the laboratory 
• Prepared a dissertation that is clear, well structured, written in good English and reports scientific findings to a standard expected by journals in the field 
• Composed a review of the important background literature that is succinct and pertinent to the project
• Shown evidence of some critical analysis of the background literature 
• Reported all relevant results obtained, but in a style that is clear and succinct 
• Interpreted and critically analysed specific results sensibly (within the Level M context) 
• Shown some ability to combine individual results into an overall pattern, and to make further critical analysis and interpretation of the totality of results 
• Made an attempt to relate the project findings to existing knowledge and to use each to evaluate the other 
• Indicated some appreciation of the wider implications of the research 

Other advantages and benefits from this new programme include: 

• Discovering how to locate and analyse new drugs 
• Gaining knowledge essential for working in the pharmaceutical industry 
• Enhancing your knowledge of modern drug discovery 
• Learning state-of-the-art computer modelling and database searching, including three-dimensional graphics 
• Gaining a working knowledge of pharmacology and toxicology 
• Enhancing your career prospects 
• Benefiting from experienced and sympathetic teachers 
• Benefiting from an integrated environment that combines traditional chemistry with modern biology
• Industry relevance

MSc Drug Discovery - graduate profile

MSc Drug Discovery - more

Top-rated Research 

The Chemical Research and Chemistry programmes are run within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the cross-faculty Surrey Materials Institute (SMI). 

Staff in the Department of Chemistry have expertise which includes all aspects of chemistry: organic, inorganic, physical, physical organic, materials, polymers, thermochemistry, analytical, computational, medicinal and bioorganic. There is also the expertise of the wider Faculty, which spans the biological sciences, and the Materials Institute, with which some Chemistry academics are linked. 

You will receive a thorough education in advanced aspects of chemistry, but also undertake independent research via a project, guided by a dedicated and experienced supervisor. Projects are available across the range of topics in chemistry, and may extend into areas of biology or materials science. Past MSc/MRes students have continued to further (PhD) education and to posts in research in industry.

MSc Drug Discovery - apply

• MSc Drug Discovery - Full-time - starting Sep 2012