MSc Natural Product Drug Discovery

Course Overview

On our one-year Master’s programme in Natural Product Drug Discovery, you'll gain the key skills, and discover the latest cutting-edge methods, in natural product discovery. Natural products are an incredibly important source of biologically active compounds for both human healthcare and agriculture, and recent technological advances mean that their application can now be fully explored.

This Master’s course in Natural Product Drug Discovery will equip you with theoretical and practical knowledge in the science of natural product discovery, from microorganisms to plants and animals. Your studies will include nutraceuticals and herbal extracts, antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance and the major human diseases. You'll learn from academic and industrial experts who are currently active in natural product research and drug discovery.

Your learning will combine lectures, seminars and laboratory practicals, as well as an independent research project and self-guided study. Our expert team is based across the Norwich Research Park, including the School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and the John Innes Centre. Guest speakers from the pharmaceutical and biotech sector will also present sessions covering topics such as the industrial applications of natural product research.

We place an emphasis on translational research and the drug discovery process, taking natural products from bench to bedside. And you’ll gain a thorough cross-disciplinary grounding with a unique mix of organic chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry and microbiology. This would be ideal preparation for a research-based career, while you may also consider careers in research design, R&D sections of medical industry, scientific writing or research management.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Typical International Entry Requirements

Degree classification

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent

Degree Subject

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related subject.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS:  6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in Listening and Reading with 6.0 in Writing and Speaking)

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

Employability

On this course, you'll gain key research skills and exposure to the latest cutting-edge methods in natural product discovery. This includes how to biologically profile natural products, and how to investigate them as therapeutic agents.

The interdisciplinary nature of the course will prepare you for more advanced studies in the area of your choice. Previous graduates have successfully found positions in industry, research institutes or continued their studies through a PhD.

Examples of careers that you could enter include:

• R&D positions in industry
• Scientific writing
• Research management

Discover more on our Careers webpages.