1st STUDY YEAR 60 ECTS
1st year fall semester:
MPHARM-028, Master’s portfolio and thesis seminar, 5 ECTS (continues throughout the studies)
MPHARM-002 Drug development and use, 25 ECTS:
- MPHARM-002A Discovery and preclinical evaluation of drug candidates, 11 ECTS
- MPHARM-002B Pharmaceutical product development and rational use of medicines, 11 ECTS
- MPHARM-002C Statistical methods and reasoning in drug development and pharmaceutical health services research, 3 ECTS
Pharmaceutical research competencies 5 ECTS (module):
- MPHARM-027 Research orientation, 2 ECTS
- MPHARM-021 Research career in Pharmacy, 2 ECTS
- MPHARM-004 Research ethics, 1 ECTS
After the compulsory studies of the first semester, each student continues their studies according to a personal study plan and chooses a study track. The three study tracks are designed to assist in tailoring the optional study elements according to the specific interests of the student.
Study tracks: 1) Drug discovery, design and pharmacology, 2) Drug delivery and development and 3) Medication safety and pharmaceutical regulation.
1st year spring semester:
Compulsory methodology studies (according to the chosen study track), 10 ECTS:
- MPHARM-008 Quantitative methods for pharmaceutical research, 5 ECTS (compulsory for track 2)
- MPHARM-009 Introduction to research methods in drug discovery and development – theory, 5 ECTS (compulsory for track 1)
- MPHARM-010 Introduction to Medication Safety and Effectiveness Research Methods, 10 ECTS (5 ECTS compulsory for track 3)
- optional methodology course, as agreed with the track leader
MPHARM-026 Literature review 5 ECTS
Optional studies as agreed with the track leader (list of possible courses provided in the 2nd year curriculum)
2nd STUDY YEAR 60 ECTS
2nd study year Fall semester + Spring semester
MPHARM-006 Master´s thesis 30 ECTS (incl. 5 months research work and seminars)
Topic-specific advanced studies 30–35 ECTS. Examples of applicable courses (chosen according to the study track and upon availability):
Advanced courses organized by the degree programme:
- MPHARM-011 Physical Pharmacy, 5 ECTS (recommended for study track 2.)
- MPHARM-012 Internship, 5–10 ECTS
- MPHARM-013 Research seminars in medication safety and effectiveness, 5 ECTS
- MPHARM-014 Literature Review in medication safety and effectiveness, 5–10 ECTS
- MPHARM-015 Introduction to pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance, 5 ECTS
- MPHARM-018 Selected chapters of Biochemistry, 3 ECTS
- MPHARM-020 Global Health Challenge, 4 ECTS
- MPHARM-022 Book exam for Pharmacology, 5 ECTS
- MPHARM-023 Essentials in Toxicology, 3-5 ECTS
- MPHARM-024 Cell culture, 1 ECTS
- MPHARM-030 Course with changing theme, 1–10 ECTS
- MPHARM-031 Course with changing theme, 1–10 ECTS
Advanced courses organized by the Master's programme in Pharmacy:
- PROV-004 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Methods, 5 ECTS
- PROV-009 Analytical methods in pharmaceutical sciences, 5 ECTS
- PROV-012 Drug metabolism and transport, 5 ECTS
- PROV-204 Biological Drugs II, 5 ECTS
- PROV-209 Introduction to Nanosciences, 5 ECTS
- PROV-211 Molecular modelling, 5 ECTS (also organized as KEM342 Molecular modelling by the Master's Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences)
- PROV-214 Clinical trials and clinical pharmacology, 3 ECTS
- PROV-302 Advanced Pharmacokinetics I, 5 ECTS
- PROV-305 Advanced pharmacokinetics II, 5 ECTS
- PROV-407 Advanced immunobiology, 5 ECTS
- PROV-409 Recombinant DNA technology in therapeutic protein engineering - lecture course, 1 ECTS
- PROV-410 Recombinant DNA technology in therapeutic protein engineering - exercise and wetlab course, 5 ECTS
- PROV-501 General methods in pharmacology, in vivo -methods, 5 ECTS
- PROV-502 Neuropharmacology, 5 ECTS
- PROV-601 Organic chemistry in molecular biosciences and pharmacy B, 5 ECTS
- PROV-602 Medicinal chemistry, 5 ECTS
- PROV-605: Computational Methods in Drug Discovery (CMDD), 5 ECTS
- PROV-607 Microfluidics and nanotechnology for pharmaceutical applications, 5 ECTS
- PROV-705 Controlled release drug delivery, 5 ECTS
- PROV-708 Solid state analysis of pharmaceutics, 5 ECTS
- PROV-709 Introduction to spectroscopy, 5 ECTS
- PROV-902A Pharmaceutical development, part I, 5 ECTS
- PROV-902B Pharmaceutical development, part II, 5 ECTS
- PROV-910 Marketing authorization of drug products and pharmacovigilance, 5 ECTS
- PROV-911 GMP/GDP course in industrial pharmacy, 5 ECTS
- PROV-912 Pharmaceutical business and marketing, 5 ECTS
Courses organized by other faculties:
- NEU-603 Laboratory animal science, 2-5 ECTS
- NEU-561 Principles of bioscience omics, 5-10 ECTS
- TMED-601 HealthTech Linkage, 10 ECTS
- TMED-106 Novel applications for precision medicine, 2 ECTS
- TMED-023 Epidemiology - Basic concepts and practical analyses, 5 ECTS
Also other applicable optional courses may be included (agreed with the track leader).
Transferable skills (each student chooses 5–10 ECTS according to their own interest, examples):
- MPHARM-016 Group mentoring for career planning, 1 ECTS
- SUST-002-PHARM Sustainable Health, 2 ECTS
- MPHARM-019 Pre-SPARK Health Concept Discovery Program, 5 ECTS
and for example:
- NEU-415 Creative scientific thinking, 5 ECTS
- NEU-416 Creative scientific project, 2-5 ECTS
- TMED-901 Career development, 3, ECTS
- TMED-602 BioMed Business, 3 ECTS
- SUST-001 Sustainability course, 3 ECTS
- VIIKF-008 Demanding participation in administrative bodies and student organisations, 1–5 ECTS
- VIIKF-002 Tutoring (Pharmacy), 5 ECTS
- VIIKF-102 Working as a teaching assistant, 1–10 ECTS
The study module may also include eg. language and scientific writing courses.
According to the student’s personal interests, it is possible to include credits from other faculties and degree programmes within University of Helsinki into their personal study plan.
The degree may also contain an International competence module for students who do an international exchange.