- Level
- Master Degree
- Duration
- 1 year master’s degree
- Field
- Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory Science
- Institution
- Public University
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A one year master degree following a medicine from target to market, covering medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, preclinical and clinical development, regulatory pathways and a laboratory or research project.
Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development has no 2026 start listed, so October 2027 is the earliest entry, and it expects a pharmacy, chemistry or biosciences first degree rather than general science.
Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development is delivered on the Sunderland campus and awarded by the University of Sunderland, and completing Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development supports an application under the UK Graduate Route, which gives 18 months of post study work permission for applications made from January 2027. The university is a licensed student sponsor with a track record of compliance, so the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies for Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development is issued directly. Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development is a taught programme, and UK rules in force since January 2024 do not allow students on taught programmes to bring a spouse or children as dependants. Apply Study Visa confirms the visa position for Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development in writing before you pay a deposit.
Candidates for Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development present a bachelor degree, including a three year Indian bachelor degree from a recognised university with 60 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and tuition for Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development is recorded at GBP 16,500 a year with no application fee. The Global Leaders Scholarship cuts Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development tuition by an automatic GBP 4,500 for eligible applicants, shown on the conditional offer letter. The listed windows are October 2027 and October 2028. Apply Study Visa manages the Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development application, deposit and UK student visa as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: A bachelor degree. The university recognises internationally accredited qualifications and assesses them against UK comparability guidance, so a three year Indian bachelor degree from a recognised university is accepted. Individual courses may set a higher percentage or require a related subject.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or PTE Academic 59 overall with no component below 59. TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test are not accepted.
- Application and deposit: No application fee. A non refundable tuition deposit of GBP 3,500 is required before the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies can be issued.
- Scholarship: An automatic GBP 4,500 Global Leaders Scholarship tuition reduction applies to eligible postgraduate applicants, and is shown on the conditional offer letter.
- Work permit: Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development leads to a University of Sunderland degree at a licensed student sponsor, so it supports a Graduate Route application, granted at 18 months for applications made from January 2027. Dependants cannot accompany students on taught programmes under UK rules in force since January 2024.
- Student visa: Apply Study Visa completes the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies stage and the UK student visa submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree marksheets & final certificate
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
- Updated CV / resume
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Research Scientist: pharmaceutical discovery teams
- Clinical Trials Coordinator: contract research organisations
- Regulatory Affairs Associate: submissions and licensing
- Medical Science Liaison: after industry experience
- Formulation Scientist: development laboratories
- Doctoral Study: pharmaceutical sciences research
Reality check: pharmaceutical research employment in the UK is concentrated in a few clusters and hiring is cyclical, so graduates should be prepared to relocate and to compete with doctoral candidates.
About University of Sunderland
- Type
- University
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.5
- World rank
- #17803
- Established
- 1901
- Reference No.
- 10007159
