Course Title Pharmaceutical Medicine (M.Sc./P.Grad.Dip.)
Qualification MSc./Post.Grad.Dip.
Duration Two years (MSc)/Eighteen months (PG.Dip)
Next Intake

September annually

Closing date 31st July 2022

These established courses have been designed to improve the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in the area of pharmaceutical medicine. It provides comprehensive information to enable students acquire a proper understanding of each topic covered in the course. It looks at each topic from a European and international perspective and therefore is designed to cater for the needs of EU and non-EU students.

The course is aimed at the broad range of health science professionals working in the pharmaceutical healthcare area. The module content is in line with the current syllabus of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom. Trinity is a member of the PharmaTrain Federation. These courses have been accredited by PharmaTrain and Trinity has been designated as a PharmaTrain Centre of Excellence for pharmaceutical medicine training.

  • It provides suitably qualified healthcare professionals with specialist knowledge and skills in all aspects of pharmaceutical medicine
  • It enables graduates to assume positions in, or extend their current role within the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory authority and other relevant areas within the healthcare system
  • Engages teaching and educational support from academic staff members of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity, experts from the National Centres for Pharmacoeconomics and Medicines Information, and experts from national and international regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical organisations.

On successful completion of the MSc in pharmaceutical medicine, students should be able to:

  1. Outline and critically appraise the principal steps in drug discovery
  2. Explain the rationale for the complete development plan (pharmaceutical, pre-clinical and clinical) according to the proposed therapeutic indication
  3. Critically review the issues (including legal, ethical and clinical) involved in the undertaking of clinical research
  4. Appraise and compare the regulation of medicines in the various global markets
  5. Assess and compare the management of drug safety issues pre-and post marketing authorisation
  6. Develop and critically appraise product-related information to ensure adherence to ethical and legal provisions
  7. Explain the principles of health economics and discuss their application in the development and marketing of medicines
  8. Critically review and interpret the literature relating to drug research and usage
  9. Demonstrate competence in the management of all lifecycle activities (regulatory and marketing) of a medicine
  10. Research, design and complete a project in a specific area of pharmaceutical medicine.*
  • * Postgraduate diploma students are excluded from learning outcome 10

 

Assessment will consist of personal assignments (continuous assessment) and written examinations. Continuous assessment assignments must be completed by the students for each module and submitted at designated time points. MSc students will be assigned a research project (in primary research), which should be submitted as a dissertation (with the possibility of an oral examination) by the 31st August of the second year.

The taught part of the course is run over 18 months for a total of 12 modules. Each module typically has 3 days face-to-face teaching which consists of a combination of formal teaching sessions, workshops, and interactive/practical sessions. Pre-module reading lists will be provided and form part of the module teaching. In addition, all registered students will have access to Trinity’s web-based virtual learning environment facility.

The taught part of the course is run over 18 months for a total of 12 modules. Each module typically has 3 days face-to-face teaching which consists of a combination of formal teaching sessions, workshops, and interactive/practical sessions. Pre-module reading lists will be provided and form part of the module teaching. In addition, all registered students will have access to Trinity’s web-based virtual learning environment facility.

Course Timetable 2022 - 2024 

Module

Module Title

Date

1 Introduction - Principles of Discovery of Medicines and Development Planning 19/09/2022 – 21/09/2022
2 & 3

Exploratory and Confirmatory Clinical Development;
Clinical Trials*

14/11/2022 – 18/11/2022
4 Non-Clinical Testing, Pharmaceutical and Early Clinical Development 4/01/2023 – 6/01/2023
5 Project Management in Medicines Development 6/02/2023 – 8/02/2023
6 Special Populations: Clinical Trial Practice and Regulation 6/03/2023 – 8/03/2023
7 & 8

Medicines Regulation and Regulatory Affairs;
Drug Safety & Pharmacovigilance*

5/10/2023 – 6/10/2023
9 & 10

Drug Safety: Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmacovigilance and Risk Management;
Biologicals and Advanced Therapies*

20/11/2023 – 24/11/2023
11 & 12 Health Economics (Pharmacoeconomics) & Healthcare Marketplace; Economics of Healthcare* 15/01/2024 – 19/01/2024

+ Provisional timetable dates
* note – these 2 modules are run in parallel

The course will be held in the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences Building in St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8. Enrolled students will be notified of the exact venue in advance of each module.

Comprehensive course materials will be supplied for each module. In addition, students will be provided with pre-module reading before each of the taught modules. 
Students will be expected to provide their own computer and online access for the modules undertaken by distance learning.

Up-to-date information about course fees can be found at the Academic Registry.

Prospective students for the postgraduate diploma and MSc must hold a primary degree in either medicine or another relevant health or science subject.  Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years’ practical experience in their area of qualification / pharmaceutical industry. 
The closing date for application is the 31st July 2022.

APPLY ONLINE FOR THIS COURSE

Joanne Ramsey
Course Co-ordinator
e: ramseyj@tcd.ie