Drug Chemistry MSc

Overview

Why study at Newcastle? 

• Work on a broad pipeline of design and advanced methodology through to evaluation of performance - with the opportunity to design, develop and test your own molecules.
• Engage with specialists throughout your study, with readily accessible expertise available in everything from synthetic organic chemistry to computational methodology. 
• Study in a popular and vibrant student city with great links to the rest of the UK and beyond, as well as good employer networks. 

With a strong emphasis on advanced problem solving, you will work alongside experts in medicinal chemistry to develop effective compounds addressing crucial real-world need.  

Whether you focus on a medical, agricultural, or social challenge, your project will present novel ideas in your chosen area, connected to unexplored biological targets.  

From identification of your target, in silico molecular structure optimisation, to the synthesis and biological evaluation of lead compounds, you’ll study and gain hands-on experience of the complete end-to-end drug chemistry process. 

This rigorous approach and associated breadth of applied knowledge will give you a competitive advantage within industry, or further academia, equipping you to be a future leader.  

Research-lead study  

At Newcastle, you will be supported in your work by our multi-disciplinary team of leading academics. Our culture is one of openness and approachability, giving you exposure to their research and expertise in drug development.  

Our strengths include the following specialist topics: 

• computational based drug design
• modern approaches to chemotherapy 
• the development of new drug discovery techniques 

Through your course you will have the opportunity to discover the work of the Newcastle University Centres of Research Excellence. 

The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences contributes notably to the Centre for Cancer, the Centre for Energy and the Centre for Industrial Biotechnology.  

• Read about Rubraca®, the ovarian cancer treatment developed by scientists at Newcastle University  
   

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there was an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

What you'll learn

You will have the opportunity to design and develop molecules, and then test and evaluate their efficacy.

You'll gain knowledge in the critical aspects of the drug discovery process, including: 

• drug design
• metabolism 
• toxicology 
• synthetic organic chemistry 
• computational medicinal chemistry 
• applied bioinformatics 
• biopharmaceuticals 
• chemical biology 

Complex decision making

Throughout the course, you will be challenged to consider industrial relevance, sustainability, and techno-economic analysis. Consideration of practical as well as chemical reasons for decision making will be a crucial skill for your future employability.  

Making an impact 

Your project will focus on an area of ingrained, current, real-world need. It will address a biological challenge in an area where we as a society are lacking effective compounds.  

This could be developing new drugs against new targets, conferring advantageous properties on existing drugs, or increasing the precision and therapeutic indexes of current drugs.  

Depending on your interests, you could focus on areas such as:  

• liver fibrosis  
• HIV 
• dementia care  
• neurodegenerative diseases  
• hospital superbugs  
• biodegradable and environmentally friendly agricultural agents 
   
   

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

The module information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Drug Chemistry MSc modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Modern Methods in Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery	20
Drug Metabolism and Toxicology	10
Theory and Practice of Chemotherapy	20
Proteins as Drug Targets: structure, function, and molecular modelling	10
Synthetic Methodology for Drugs	20
Research Dissertation Project in Chemistry	80
Research Skills and Development	20

Additional compulsory module information

If you've graduated from Chemistry UG courses at Newcastle University you'll take the following modules replacing Drug Metabolism and Toxicology and Theory and Practice of Chemotherapy:

• Biopharmaceuticals as Therapeutics (10 credits) 
• Recent Advances in Chemistry Research (20 credits) 

If you have a very strong background in Organic Chemistry, you may be able to replace Synthetic Methodology for Drugs with more specialist modules (after consultation with the Degree Programme Director).

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

This course will develop your skills with advanced problem solving, analysis of data and a rigorous approach to the end-to-end chemical process. 

As you progress through the year, you experience a mixture of lectures, workshops, seminars and laboratory work. This will encompass both the theory and practice you will need for your future career. 

Semester one offers dry labs using specialist software alongside lectures, seminars and independent study. 

During semester two, you will receive your introduction to lab work. Full immersion into your lab project comes during semester three.  

You will work collaboratively within the lab to address and solve crucial problems. Your own independent project will focus on your selected protein target.  

You will present and discuss your work on a regular basis, to a mixed audience. This key skill is regularly cited as crucial by employers and has been recognised by the course’s external examiner as a particular strength of the learning experience at Newcastle. Also recognised has been our sector-leading project design, and engagement with AI across the course.

Our team of leading academic experts are on-hand throughout to support and guide you through your studies.  
 

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Computer assessment
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Lab exercise
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral presentation
• PC examination
• Performance
• Practical lab report
• Problem-solving exercises
• Report
• Reflective log
• Research proposal
• Thesis
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Student Support

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• academic staff
• personal tutors and research supervisors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives
• peers

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

 

Your development

Employability skills

Presentation skills, team working, and finessing the ability to express your ideas clearly are embedded throughout the course.

Whilst these skills may feel familiar, they are key to your development as a drug chemist.  As your ability to express your work increases, this aids your confidence in the science behind your work.   

Your future

Skills and experience  

As a drug chemistry graduate from Newcastle, you will have skills and experience across the end-to-end drug development process. You’ll also gain highly developed problem solving and critical thinking skills. This will ensure you are well equipped for a career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, or future academic study and research.  

Advice and guidance  

Your personal tutor will be on hand discuss your careers ambitions and employability. They will also offer support with your CV, application forms and interviews.  

Networking and building connections  

Careers fairs take place during the academic year. These offer you the opportunity to meet with employers in your sectors of interest.  

Guest speakers feature on some of our modules, and we also hold weekly extra-curricular seminars with external speakers. Visting academics from the UK and overseas offer the chance to gain a wider understanding and appreciation of the subject area. 

Employability  

Students from Newcastle’s Drug Chemistry MSc course are equipped with a breadth and depth of scientific knowledge that helps them to stand out in the jobs market.  

Our graduates have gone on to work at a wide variety of globally recognised pharmaceutical and specialist biotech companies, as well as consumer-health multinationals and service providers that enable drug R&D and manufacturing.  

These include Roche, MSD (Merck, Sharp & Dohm), Fujifilm Biotechnologies, Certara UK, Bachem, Oxford Biomedica, and Arcinova amongst others. 

While some of our graduates choose to progress into further academia, students who have recently completed their study at Newcastle have gone onto roles including Synthetic Chemist, Operations Chemist, Peptide Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Product Testing Analyst, Drug Analyst, Biotechnologist, Research Scientist, and Researcher. 

92% of Newcastle’s Drug Chemistry MSc graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey data 2017-2023).

 

Our Careers Service

Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.

You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.

We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.

Visit our Careers Service website

Facilities

As a student at Newcastle you will have access to our outstanding range of facilities, including: 

• laboratories and equipment (flow chemistry, microwave systems, diverse spectroscopy techniques and microscopy) for the synthesis and characterisation of novel molecules and materials 
• extensive computational resources for data analysis, molecular modelling, machine learning approaches and the ethical use of AI in research and assessment 

Specialist research support facilities which include: 

• mass spectrometry (LC-MS, GC-MS, HRMS) 
• multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (300 to 700 MHz systems) 
• X-ray diffraction (powder and single crystal) as part of the national service 
• mechanical, glassblowing and electronic workshops 

Chemistry facilities 

The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences has an outstanding range of facilities to support research and teaching, including: 

• modern research laboratories and analytical services 
• synthesis and characterisation of novel materials lab 
• computational resources for performing molecular modelling 
• NMR facilities include 300-700 MHz spectrometers 
  glass-blowing, mechanical and electrical/electronic workshops 

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding and scholarships

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

How to apply

Open days and events

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We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events