UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme
and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and
demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and Location
of Delivery
University of Central Lancashire
3. University School/Centre
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
4. External Accreditation
NA
5. Title of Final Award
M.Sc. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Full Time
7. UCAS Code
NA
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
9. Other external influences
NA
10. Date of production/revision of this
form
April 2011
11. Aims of the Programme
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To provide a strong educational platform from which students may launch their careers within
pharmaceutical biotechnology and associated disciplines.
To enable students to develop an appreciation and understanding of the relationship of all
biotechnology disciplines and apply this knowledge specifically to the pharmaceutical research
and manufacture.
To facilitate students to expand their knowledge of traditional biotechnology and the rapidly
expanding field of molecular biotechnology.
To develop research skills necessary for the competent execution of scientific research.
To involve the learner in a stimulating educational environment in which students are encouraged
to achieve personal growth in terms of a wide range of skills including communication, numeracy,
IT, independence, interpersonal and group working skills.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
A1. Discuss the multidisciplinary nature of biotechnology and apply specific knowledge to
pharmaceutical research and development.
A2. Evaluate current developments in pharmaceutical biotechnology and their applications through
appraisal of both philosophical and ethical issues.
A3. Apply knowledge/theory to new situations e.g. the formulation of hypotheses and experimental
design.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures; tutorials; laboratory sessions; presentations; reading; problem based learning exercises;
case studies; debates; discussions and reflection.
Assessment methods
Essays; data analysis; group and individual presentations; examinations; research reports; posters
B. Subject-specific skills
B1. Appraise and apply concepts, principles and theories relevant to biotechnological aspects of
both pharmacy research and manufacture.
B2. Discuss the necessary safety and governance issues relevant to the conduct of pharmaceutical
biotechnology based laboratory investigations.
B3. Manipulate, interpret and report conclusions on a range of data and problems encountered within
pharmaceutical biotechnology.
B4. Use appropriate laboratory equipment to enable a scientific, practical based research project to
be undertaken.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures,; tutorials; laboratory sessions; data interpretation exercises; presentations; reading; problem
based learning exercises; case studies; debates; discussions and reflection.
Assessment methods
Essays; data analysis; group and individual presentations, posters; examinations; research reports;
C. Thinking Skills
C1. Use and integrate discipline specific theories, concepts and principles.
C2. Analyse a range of data and information derived either experimentally or from within scientific
literature / data banks and evaluate it critically supported by logical and structured argument.
C3. Collect and integrate several lines of evidence to develop and test theories, hypotheses and
concepts.
C4. Apply knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems
C5. Explain the moral and ethical issues raised by the process of biotechnological investigation
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures; problem based learning exercises; debates, presentations; research project; discussion and
reflection.
Assessment methods
Essays; presentations; posters; examinations; reports of various types e.g. summaries, data analysis;
research project report.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
D1.
D2.
D3.
D4.
Communicate through a range of media adopting an appropriate scientific style.
Display advanced interpersonal and teamwork skills.
Use IT effectively for information retrieval, communication and presentation.
Collate and analyse information relevant to a particular problem/proposal and generate a
satisfactory report and conclusion.
D5. Apply advanced skills in self-management and professional development.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Coursework is required to be word processed; workshops developing IT skills in the use of
appropriate IT sources, including the World Wide Web, the use of databases and suitable IT analytical
packages; workshops on the library and literature searching; presentations; practical work
incorporating numeracy and statistics; teamwork through tutorials, case studies and problem based
learning exercises and problem solving activities. Completion of a reflective portfolio.
Assessment methods
Essays; written reports (including the research project); presentations; data analysis; posters;
reflective portfolio
13. Programme Structures*
14. Awards and Credits*
Level
Module
Code
Module Title
Credit
rating
Level 7
BL4200 g
Research Methods for Clinical
Science
20
Biomedical Ethics
10
BL4207/
Bl4223
Research Project/
Group Research Project
60
BL4208
Biomolecular Technology
20
BL4215
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
40
BL4214
Clinical Analysis
20
BL4203
Masters Degree Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology with Distinction
Requires 180 credits at Level 6 or
above with a minimum of 170 at
level 7 with both APM and
research project component
falling in the range 70 - 100%
Masters Degree Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology with Merit
Requires 180 credits at Level 6 or
above with a minimum of 170 at
level 7 with both APM and
research project component being
in the range 60-69.99%
Masters Degree Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology
Requires 180 credits at Level 6 or
above with a minimum of 170 at
level 7
Postgraduate Diploma
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
with Distinction
Requires 180 credits at Level 6 or
above with a minimum of 170 at
level 7 with an APM falling in the
range 70-100%
Postgraduate Diploma
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Requires 120 credits at Level 6 or
above with a minimum of 110 at
level 7
Postgraduate Certificate
Requires 60 credits at Level 6 or
above with a minimum of 50 at
level 7
Level 6
BL3007
Quality Management &
Clinical Governance
15. Personal Development Planning
10
The School actively supports University policy in the implementation of PDP across both
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. At the postgraduate level within this taught Masters
programme, students will be initially introduced to PDP during induction week when they will receive a
range of tutorials/workshops explaining the central processes of self management, independent
learning and reflective practice. Following induction, they are expected to actively engage with
elements of PDP in order to pass key pieces of coursework (e.g. the portfolio in BL4200, the project
report in BL4207/BL4223). Career planning is supported through the University Careers Unit and
seminars given by external practitioners.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications,
together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be
expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have
been made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for
the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
Students must hold one of the following:
1.
A 1st or 2nd class honours degree of a UK university or its equivalent in a relevant Biological
discipline, for example Biochemistry, Physiology, Biomedical Science.
2.
A qualification or experience deemed to be equivalent to the above.
Those applicants seeking entry with appropriate experiences will be required to demonstrate the
suitability of this experience both on application and at interview.
International students should have an English language qualification, IELTS at 6.5 (no individual
mark lower than 6.0), TOEFL at 600 (paper) and 250 (CBE) with a TWE of 4.
Admission with Advanced Standing: students may be able to claim exemption from individual
modules where they can demonstrate an appropriate level of prior qualification or experience. This
will not normally be more than two modules. Applications for accreditation of prior learning, whether
experiential or certified, will be considered on an individual basis and applicants should initially make
arrangements to discuss their case with the Course Leader at the time of application
17. Key sources of information about the programme
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School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences website
Course fact sheet (online)
APPENDIX 21 - CDG
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
Core (C),
Compulsory
Module
(COMP) or
Knowledge and
Subject-specific
Level Code
Module Title
Option (O)
understanding
Skills
Thinking Skills
A1
Research Methods for
BL4200 Clinical Science
LEVEL 7
BL4203
Biomedical Ethics
BL4208
Biomolecular Technology
Pharmaceutical
BL4215 Biotechnology
BL4214
Clinical Analysis
BL4207 Research Project
LEVEL 6
BL4223 Group Research Project
Note:
Quality Management &
BL3007 Clinical Governance
COMP
COMP
A2
A3
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B1
B2
B3
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B4
C1
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C3
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C4
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Other skills relevant to
employability and
personal development
C5
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D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
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Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
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