Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice
Overview
Break into the pharmaceutical industry by getting the competitive edge to succeed in your career through a Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice.
This program will provide you with industry-ready skills to support a career in the medicines and devices development sector. Through the program, you'll develop a depth of understanding of all aspects relating to the pharmaceutical industry in both drug and device development.
You'll gain insight into contemporary industry practice and at the end of the two-year full-time (or part-time equivalent) degree, you'll understand the complete life cycle management of a product and how it eventually gets to market.
You'll undertake more than 1000 hours of supervised experience, in one or more areas related to a product’s life cycle from discovery to post registration surveillance, including discovery, chemical processes, formulation, manufacturing, preclinical, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, pharmacoeconomics, regulatory, medical affairs, marketing and biometrics.
You'll undertake one or two placements in your second year, or opt for one placement and one independent research project. Placement courses are completed on a full-time basis.
Opportunities are provided for multiple interactions with industry professionals throughout the program of studies. Upon graduation, career opportunities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields are facilitated through the unique placement and networking opportunities.
Program highlights
- Benefit from extended placements through our extensive national and global partnership network.
- Learn from award-winning lecturers and internationally renowned researchers.
- Join the highest ranked Australian university for research impact in pharmacy and pharmacology.
- Learn the stages of drug or device development and the lifecycle management process, from understanding how need drives the discovery process, through pre-clinical development to post-registration surveillance.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Work placements
- Online study
- Research experience
- Fieldwork
- Seminars
- Studios
Placements and work experience
Students can undertake up to two placements in year two. Alternatively, students may opt for one placement and one independent research project. Placements and independent research project are completed on a full-time basis. The School of Pharmacy will organise to find and coordinate the placements for students.
Each placement involves in excess extensive hours of supervised experience in the medical technologies and pharmaceutical (MTP) sector. Placements can be in any area related to a product's life cycle, from discovery to post-registration surveillance, including: drug discovery, chemical processes, formulation, manufacturing, pre-clinical, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, pharmacoeconomics, regulatory, medical affairs, marketing and biometrics. During placements, students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to a real-life setting and experience firsthand how interactions between the various areas within industry are crucial to successfully managing the life cycle of the product and ultimately, product registration.
Students may undertake their placements outside the Brisbane metropolitan area, including at overseas sites. In this instance, students are required to self-fund travel, accommodation and daily living expenses.
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Drug Design and Formulation
- Pre-Clinical Drug Development
- Post-registration Life Cycle Management
- Device Development, Drug Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs and Governance
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Preclinical research lead
- Quality control chemist
- Clinical trials coordinator
- Clinical research project manager
- Regulatory affairs manager
- Pharmaceutical production operator
- Medical marketing associate
- Drug and device safety assessor
- Medical affairs/medical science liaison
- Drug safety manager
Average annual salary range
Research Associate
seek.com.au
Average annual salary range
Medical Manager
seek.com.au
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Association of Regulatory and Clinical Research Scientists
- Society for Clinical Research Sites
Events
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Stories
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Careers
How to start a career in the pharmaceutical industry
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Stories
See all storiesCareers
How to start a career in the pharmaceutical industry
UQ people
Meet Rajbir, a Public Health student from Singapore
UQ people
Meet the expert: Changing lives as a nurse practitioner with Aaron Grogan
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- hold an approved bachelor degree in science, engineering, medical science, or equivalent; or the Graduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Industry Practice from this university; and
- satisfy the executive dean that, based on the person's academic record and prior work experience, the person is qualified for admission.
- hold an approved bachelor degree in science, engineering, medical science, or equivalent; or the Graduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Industry Practice from this university; and
- satisfy the executive dean that, based on the person's academic record and prior work experience, the person is qualified for admission.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
TOEFL PB - Overall 570, listening 54, reading 54, writing 59/5.
Pearsons - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Inherent requirements
To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
Whilst the program can be completed on a part-time basis, the placements and independent research project are completed on a full-time basis.
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
Additional application information
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$8,300
2023
$8,300
2023
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $42,992
2023
AUD $42,992
2023
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice is 5703.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice is 5703.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
Express yourself. And your interest.
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