Master in Pharmaceutical Industry and Biotechnology

This master offers two registration fee grants worth 2,000 € each for the 2013-2014 academic year. More information

Presentation

This master's degree generally aims to train students with regard to the general features of companies devoted to research into medicine and biotechnology products used in the prevention and treatment of human diseases.

Objectives

To acquire knowledge competencies:

To learn of the structure of the healthcare and biotechnology industries and of research centres.
To familiarise students with the processes of research and development (R&D).
To familiarise students with the legal framework for products derived from research, the healthcare and biotechnology industries.
To learn of the peculiarities of the production cycle.

To acquire methodological competencies:

To formulate working hypotheses on the basis of existing literature and previous experiments.
To design and carry out experiments.
To plan and know how to use appropriate experimental and computing tools.
To learn the dynamics of team work.
To learn the basic elements of communication.
To apply the knowledge of information searches to a real situation.
To learn how to apply decision-making skills to specific situations.

To acquire attitudinal competencies:

To establish initial contact with the research world, private industry and the healthcare sector.
To learn the ethical principles of work procedures.
To learn the principles of company and research cultures.

[Curriculum]

Tracks

Pharmaceutical Industry track
This course is comprised of two specific subjects, of 5 credits each, plus a practical two-term module at the end of which students must present their master project. The practical module is carried out on a full time basis in pharmaceutical companies. The specific subjects are New Drugs and Healthcare Products Development (5 credits) and Pharmacognosis and Pharmaceutical Technology (5 credits). In addition, students must take two practical modules (I and II) and present a final master project (40 credits).
Medical Biotechnology track
This programme is comprised of two specific subjects, worth 5 credits each, plus a practical two-term module at the end of which students must present their master project. The practical module is carried out on a full time basis in companies and laboratories involved in the area of medical biotechnology. The specific subjects are Biological Systems and Genetic Engineering (5 credits) and Currently Applicable Biological Processes in Healthcare Fields (5 credits). Students are also required to take two practical modules (I and II) and to present a final master project (40 credits).

Internship

The second and third terms are reserved for the corresponding internship, whereby participants will be devoted exclusively to companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors and contractual research organisations.

Career prospects

The pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology companies in the biomedical field, contractual research organisations, research and development of drugs at public research centres.