Skip to content

Postgraduate courses

Biology and Biomedical Sciences


Cellular Sciences MSc
This course is designed for Health and Care Professions Council registered biomedical scientists who wish to undertake flexible, part-time study towards a masters qualification in their specialist area of clinical pathology. Consisting of various modules, and designed to complement the Institute of Biomedical Science's (IBMS) professional qualifications, this course forms a coherent and specialist discipline-centred route.

You will expand your knowledge and skills in diagnostic laboratory medicine, learn to apply these skills to clinical diagnosis, laboratory management and research, and develop as a reflective practitioner, within the Modernising Scientific Careers context. You will take specialist modules in cellular sciences, exploring theoretical, applied and professional aspects of clinical histopathology and cytopathology.

The development of this course has been informed by consultation with senior managers, laboratory managers and training staff from the NHS biomedical science profession. There is a significant element of work-related learning, with discipline-specific subjects supported by contributions from practising senior pathology and clinical staff.


Infection Science MSc
This course is designed for Health and Care Professions Council registered biomedical scientists who wish to undertake flexible, part-time study towards a masters qualification in their specialist area of clinical pathology. Consisting of various modules, and designed to complement the Institute of Biomedical Science's (IBMS) professional qualifications, this course forms a coherent and specialist discipline-centred route.

You will expand your knowledge and skills in diagnostic laboratory medicine, learn to apply these skills to clinical diagnosis, laboratory management and research, and develop as a reflective practitioner, within the Modernising Scientific Careers context. You will take specialist modules in infection sciences, exploring theoretical, applied and professional aspects of medical microbiology.

The development of this course has been informed by consultation with senior managers, laboratory managers and training staff from the NHS biomedical science profession. There is a significant element of work-related learning, with discipline-specific subjects supported by contributions from practising senior pathology and clinical staff.

Blood Sciences MSc

This course is designed for Health and Care Professions Council registered biomedical scientists who wish to undertake flexible, part-time study towards a masters qualification in their specialist area of clinical pathology. Consisting of various modules, and designed to complement the Institute of Biomedical Science's (IBMS) professional qualifications, this course forms a coherent and specialist discipline-centred route.

You will expand your knowledge and skills in diagnostic laboratory medicine, learn to apply these skills to clinical diagnosis, laboratory management and research, and develop as a reflective practitioner, within the Modernising Scientific Careers context. You will take specialist modules in blood sciences, exploring theoretical, applied and professional aspects of clinical haematology, transfusion science and biochemistry.

The development of this course has been informed by consultation with senior managers, laboratory managers and training staff from the NHS biomedical science profession. There is a significant element of work-related learning, with discipline-specific subjects supported by contributions from practising senior pathology and clinical staff.

Biomedical Sciences MSc
This course is designed for students who wish to study the biological basis of disease, pathological processes, diagnostic investigation and therapeutic intervention without necessarily wishing to follow a career as a Health Professions Council-registered Biomedical Scientist working within hospital laboratories. The course assumes an undergraduate degree in a related subject such as biological sciences or biochemistry. A distinctive aspect of the course is the inclusion of a number of pharmacology modules, as a useful addition to the knowledge base of biomedical science students.

Chemistry and Pharmaceutical sciences

Industrial Pharmaceutical Studies MSc (PGDip & PGCert options available)
This course offers distance-learning training by which an initial, relevant qualification may be supplemented to satisfy EU requirements for Qualified Person Status (QPS).
Candidates seeking Qualified Person Status must have relevant practical experience additional to this course and must arrange an oral examination with the relevant professional body.

Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences MSc
This full-time one-year course is designed for graduates in chemistry, pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and other related sciences who are contemplating a career in the pharmaceutical industry (research and development, production and regulatory affairs), academic and other research institutions, NHS or with government agencies such as drug licensing authorities. This programme provides a good background in basic pharmaceutical sciences followed by advanced training in drug discovery, drug product design, drug delivery, pharmacology, microbiology and regulatory processes.

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Clinical Pharmacy Practice MSc
The Clinical Pharmacy Practice course is designed to meet the needs of practitioners providing pharmaceutical care in the hospital environment. This linked with hospital pharmacy is further endorsed in the postgraduate certificate in Applied Therapeutics, an unconventional programme embracing the in-service, hospital tutor based cascade training scheme adopted by South Thames Hospitals.

General Pharmacy Practice
This course is aimed at primary care pharmacists and is designed to instil attitudes of life-long learning in trainees in order to underpin continuing professional and career development. It is operated in conjunction with the Joint Programme Board which is a collaborative venture between a number of universities in the south-east of England and NHS partners.

Overseas Pharmacists' Assessment Programme (OSPAP)
As students on this PGDip course, you would already have a pharmacy degree so the modules focus upon new developments in the areas of pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice. IN addition, you will study pharmacy law and ethics and the provision of health care in the UK.

Pharmacology MSc
This course is designed to provide masters level training in pharmacology to science graduates, and especially to overseas non-pharmacology graduates, with the University of Brighton having excellent support systems for international students. Students to develop a comprehensive knowledge base in pharmacology and the design and execution of practical approaches to the investigation of the mechanisms by which drugs act to prevent or treat disease. The ultimate aim of this course is to prepare students for a career in the drug research and related industries or in academia.

Research opportunities


Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Science MRes
The MRes in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences provides a foundation for careers in research in industry, the public sector or the academic world.
The MRes provides a well-rounded, lab-based research training, plus the necessary transferable skills to prepare graduates for employment in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. It also forms a basis for further academic study.

Bioscience MRes
Bioscience is the collective term for the interrelated disciplines that deal with the structure, function and behaviour of living organisms and systems. The functioning of living systems is dependent on a complex hierarchy of interactions operating at many different levels of organisation from molecules to populations. The focus of study may vary from molecular and cellular biology, to whole organism biology and to ecology the biosphere and the environment. All branches of the biosciences share a common empirical scientific method, ie, they involve the experimental collection and interpretation of data and are philosophically linked via an acceptance of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Chemistry MRes

The new MRes Chemistry programme offers you the opportunity to combine an in-depth knowledge of traditional chemistry with specialist and transferable skills, with a particular focus on research. You will gain the knowledge and skills that will equip you for research and careers contributing to areas as diverse as archaeology and interplanetary exploration. This course is for students who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in order to pursue a career in chemistry research, or professional employment.

Ecology MRes
This degree provides students with the opportunity to develop expertise in both ecological theory and research. Based in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and working with academic staff from the University’s biogeography and ecology group, students have the opportunity to obtain experience in a wide range of modern research techniques relating to ecology. Drawing on the expertise of members within the research group, students are able to undertake a significant piece of ecological research on a wide range of biological taxa including; invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. With an emphasis placed on undertaking novel ecological research, this degree offers an excellent preparation for both further academic study and industry based careers.