University of Bradford

What you'll study

This MSc combines taught modules and practical laboratory training to build competence in toxicology, safety pharmacology and drug safety assessment. Core topics typically include mechanistic toxicology, safety pharmacology of organ systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, central nervous system), ADME and pharmacokinetics, in vitro and in vivo models for toxicology, dose–response and risk assessment, and principles of regulatory toxicology and safety testing.

• Mechanisms of toxicity: cellular and molecular pathways, biomarkers and mode-of-action analysis
• Safety pharmacology: techniques and endpoints for cardiovascular, respiratory and CNS safety assessment
• ADME and pharmacokinetics for toxicologists: absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and modelling
• In vitro and in vivo toxicology methods: cell-based assays, primary cell systems, animal models and replacement/3Rs approaches
• Study design, statistics and data interpretation: dose selection, GLP principles and toxicological reporting
• Regulatory frameworks and risk assessment: international guidelines, dossier preparation and regulatory submissions
• Research project/dissertation: an extended laboratory- or literature-based investigation under academic supervision

Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, laboratory practicals and one-to-one supervision for the research project. Assessment normally combines written assignments, practical reports, presentations and the final dissertation.

Entry requirements

• A UK degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject such as biomedical science, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacy, chemistry or a closely related discipline. Applicants with a lower-class honours degree plus relevant laboratory experience may be considered.
• Applicants from industry with substantial professional experience in laboratory-based roles or drug development may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• International applicants will normally need to demonstrate English language proficiency; the university publishes acceptable qualifications and minimum scores for English tests.
• Applicants are usually asked to provide academic transcripts, a personal statement outlining interests and experience in toxicology/safety pharmacology, and references. Meeting specific module prerequisites (such as prior laboratory training) can strengthen an application.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to careers across pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, regulatory agencies and contract research organisations. Typical roles include:

• Safety pharmacologist or toxicologist in pharmaceutical R&D
• Preclinical safety scientist in CROs
• Regulatory affairs specialist focused on safety submissions and compliance
• Environmental or industrial toxicologist assessing chemical safety and risk
• Clinical trials safety monitoring and pharmacovigilance roles
• Progression to doctoral research (PhD) in toxicology, pharmacology or related biomedical science

The programme emphasises practical skills, report writing and interpretation of regulatory guidance, making graduates attractive to employers who need staff capable of designing studies, interpreting safety data and preparing regulatory documentation.

Why study at University of Bradford

The University of Bradford offers taught programmes with strong practical laboratory training and applied research links. The School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences provides multidisciplinary expertise across pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical research, and the campus supports specialist laboratories and equipment used for preclinical safety assessment.

Students benefit from staff with academic and industry experience, collaborations with local and national pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners, and opportunities to develop skills in GLP-aware laboratory practice, experimental design and regulatory interpretation. The programme is designed to equip graduates with the technical and professional skills employers in safety assessment and regulatory science require.