Study pharmacy in London
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The pharmaceutical industry is a global business. In London's universities, researchers are developing tomorrow's treatments today.
London is an international centre of medical excellence and its institutions are at the forefront of treatment and research of global importance. The UK accounts for 60 percent of European Union clinical trials, many of which take place in London's university hospitals.
However, the road to developing new drugs is not an easy one. There is no guarantee a new medicine will be a commercial success.
Professor Anthony Smith, dean of the School of Pharmacy, University of London, sees the proximity and collaboration between research teams in universities, hospitals and medical schools as a major contributor to London's success.
“If you couple the high quality of graduates London produces with the close relationship we have with hospitals, it provides a unique mutually beneficial relationship between stimuli and support for innovation, scientific advances and product development,” says Professor Smith.
“This is particularly important given the current developments in pharmacy, which are creating a greater clinical focus. A lot of learning will now be carried out in a clinical workplace.”
Within the School's MPharm degree, students gain experience of hospital pharmacy. They meet patients on the wards and interview them about their medicines.
London Metropolitan University offers a Pharmaceutical Science MSc, a course also available at Kingston University in partnership with St George's, University of London. Students on this course will study the preparation, supply and monitoring of medicines for the treatment and prevention of disease.
A laboratory skills module develops a student's practical skills and they have the option to undertake a work placement to gain vital hands-on experience.
Students studying in London have access to a wealth of work placements and employment opportunities. The city is home to over 130 biotechnology companies, five internationally renowned medical schools, and over 50 clinical research centres.
King's College London's MSc in Drug Discovery Skills is run in conjunction with the pharmaceutical industry and is one of a few programmes supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council.
All students undertake an industry based research project and over 70 percent of graduates find work in the pharmaceutical industry.
Alan Choi, who completed his MSc at King's, is now a drug safety associate for Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Ltd. “I chose King's because it has a good relationship with lots of pharmaceutical industries and because it is a research-led university, which offers excellent opportunities if you want to carry on doing research in the pharmaceutical sector. I was awarded a bursary for my MSc degree, and was given the chance to do a six-month placement at Pfizer,” says Alan.
“Since King's is also based in London, I learnt a lot about different cultures from different people. Studying in London was one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my life.”
Posted: Tuesday 9 February 2010