Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSc)
About the programme
The two-years MSc programme spans the entire spectrum of Analytical BioSciences, Biopharmaceutics, Drug Delivery Technology, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Educational methods
- Colloquium
- Individual paper
- Lab work
- Literature study
- Presentations
- Lectures
- Working group
Overview of the Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences programme
The master’s programme offers three major research specialisations corresponding to the disciplines of the Research Clusters of the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR):
- BioTherapeutics: You are focusing on the development of new therapeutic approaches to treat immune-based disorders and state-of-the-art therapies using novel biologicals.
- Drug Discovery and Safety: In this specialisation you focus on targeting hallmarks of cancer. We offer education into advanced systems microscopy technologies and clinically relevant model systems for target and drug screening in combination with cheminformatics for development of novel and safe drug leads.
- System Biomedicine and Pharmacology: You will combine cutting-edge experimental training in the field of systems biology, and quantitative pharmacology education in the area of computational modelling of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships.
The remaining four BPS tracks consist of a research component in combination with another specialisation:
- Industrial Pharmacy (in Dutch, max. 2 selected participants): This specialisation trains you in quality control and safety in the production of medicinal products, and prepares students for a career in Quality Assurance and Quality Control in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industry.
- Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and Business Studies: Combine training in BPS research with education in business and entrepreneurship.
- Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and Science Communication and Society: combine research with programmes in different aspects of science communication, such as journalism.
- Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and Education (taught partly in Dutch): prepare yourself for a career in teaching.
The research specialisations are considered to be default specialisations of the master BPS. Students following the research specialisations continue their research training in the second year. Student’s opting for a non-research specialisation are admitted after the successful completion of their first year of the master’s programme.
The programme of all specialisations consists of an introduction course, one research project, at least one BPS lecture series, and the course Advanced academic skills and career orientation. The general outline of year one of the master BPS is indicated below:
- Introduction Course Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (6 EC)
prepares you for Research Project 1 - Research project 1 (47 EC)
a nine-month research project within a division of the LACDR - Lecture series 1 in BPS (4 EC)
select one of the lecture series listed in the e-prospectus of the master BPS - Course Advanced academic skills and career orientation (3 EC)
The programme of all three specialisations consists of an introduction course, two research projects, at least one BPS lecture series, the course Advanced academic skills and career orientation, and optional courses. The general outline of the research-oriented specialisations is indicated below:
- Introduction Course Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (6 EC)
prepares you for Research Project 1 - Research project 1 (47 EC)
a nine-month research project within a division of the LACDR - Research project 2 (36 EC) -> 35EC
a six-month research project at an academic institute or a pharmaceutical company - Literature study plus thesis (7 EC):
five consecutive weeks at one of the divisions of the LACDR - Lecture series 1 in BPS (4 EC)
select one of the lecture series listed in the e-prospectus of the master BPS - Course Advanced academic skills and career orientation (3 EC)
- Optional courses or traineeships (18 EC)
Find out more about the specialisations:
The non-research specialisations combine at least one year of Biopharmaceutical Sciences (see 'Overview curriculum general part'; 60-62 EC) with training to prepare you for specific science-related careers (58-60 EC).
Find out more about the practical-oriented specialisations: