Course overview

The global healthcare sector needs new pharmacological therapies, including medical devices and drugs, to be developed and marketed worldwide. This requires suitably trained graduates who can apply business management skills within the disease treatment and prevention sector to increase sales, market growth and revenue for pharmaceutical and biotech companies in highly competitive global markets.

Examine the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors and current theories in effective leadership and management.
Explore the implementation of positive and profitable change within organisations and their external environment.
Enhance your understanding of product design, development, evaluation and commercialisation.
Develop a business project to solve a pharmaceutical or biotech problem.
Design a personal action plan to help you continue to develop as a future changemaker and leader within industry.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 11th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

This course has been carefully designed to teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in your field of study, as well as the broader skills that employers expect, both nationally and internationally. This will help you develop as a strong leader with management capabilities.
An integral part of the course is a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)¹. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.
We aim for our graduates to be globally aware critical thinkers. We also want them to have the analytical, evaluation and problem-solving skills to effectively communicate and manage multinational teams in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building features a suite of analytical and biological laboratories.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies:

Chartered Management Institute

The course includes the Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation module¹. This module is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Students who successfully complete the module and meet the CMI learning outcomes Professional Development module will gain a  Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice. Further details can be found on the Professional Development module Professional Development module homepage.

What you'll study

Courses

Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management PGCert

Pharmacology, Biotechnology and Product Discovery - 20 credits

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of contemporary pharmacology and biotechnology principles and their application in product discovery and development on a global platform. You should gain an understanding of current drug discovery, research, and development processes, from the identification of novel targets through to the introduction to and marketing of new products into clinical practice within a local and global market. Throughout this journey the application of the processes involved in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products will be considered, examples include limitations within translational medicine and ethical considerations. The importance of understanding the requirements of a national and global market will be considered and full consideration of the legislation surrounding product development will be evaluated both locally and in the context of the variations in regulatory processes in globally equivalent agencies. You will develop their skills including literature analysis and communication using diverse formats to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Innovation - 10 credits

Within this module, you will critically analyse the key concepts involved in innovation and innovative thinking in global pharmaceutical and biotech organisations. This will focus on innovation in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), big pharma and biotech companies, and the role contract research organisations (CROs) play. You will consider the effects different models of power, control, influence and stakeholder engagement can influence innovation at the different organisational levels of local and global pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors. You will critically evaluate the key contributions SMEs make to pharmaceutical and biotech innovation and the development of new therapeutics at a time when discovery is getting increasingly difficult to come by globally.

Leadership and Management in the Life Sciences - 20 credits

This module offers the opportunity to critically evaluate theoretical principles of leadership and management which can then be applied to your current or future practice within national and international pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The module covers leadership and management, personal effectiveness, resource management, management of people and teamworking, and explores the current literature on leadership and management from a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) to the wider/larger global sector. The module offers you the opportunity to be reflective of your own qualities as an emergent leader and/or manager. Consideration will be made of how you can develop yourself to influence the thinking, attitudes, and behaviours of a diverse team to work towards a common goal synergistically. The overall aim of the module is to develop leaders with the confidence and skills to become a competent and reflective leader within the pharmaceutical and biotech sector.

Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation - 10 credits

This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to manage change using creativity and innovation in different types of organisational scenarios. You will critically assess strategies for change and change management, and explore the leadership skills required to lead such successfully. You will explore for example, the complexity of innovative strategic plans, implementation plans and how to apply analytical techniques, theories, models and creative problem-solving to manage change with confidence. Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop an innovative framework to deliver a change management strategy in a changing organisational context. Finally, the module requires you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint to encourage your continuing professional development.

Compulsory

Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management PGDip

Pharmacology, Biotechnology and Product Discovery - 20 credits

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of contemporary pharmacology and biotechnology principles and their application in product discovery and development on a global platform. You should gain an understanding of current drug discovery, research, and development processes, from the identification of novel targets through to the introduction to and marketing of new products into clinical practice within a local and global market. Throughout this journey the application of the processes involved in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products will be considered, examples include limitations within translational medicine and ethical considerations. The importance of understanding the requirements of a national and global market will be considered and full consideration of the legislation surrounding product development will be evaluated both locally and in the context of the variations in regulatory processes in globally equivalent agencies. You will develop their skills including literature analysis and communication using diverse formats to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Innovation - 10 credits

Within this module, you will critically analyse the key concepts involved in innovation and innovative thinking in global pharmaceutical and biotech organisations. This will focus on innovation in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), big pharma and biotech companies, and the role contract research organisations (CROs) play. You will consider the effects different models of power, control, influence and stakeholder engagement can influence innovation at the different organisational levels of local and global pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors. You will critically evaluate the key contributions SMEs make to pharmaceutical and biotech innovation and the development of new therapeutics at a time when discovery is getting increasingly difficult to come by globally.

Leadership and Management in the Life Sciences - 20 credits

This module offers the opportunity to critically evaluate theoretical principles of leadership and management which can then be applied to your current or future practice within national and international pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The module covers leadership and management, personal effectiveness, resource management, management of people and teamworking, and explores the current literature on leadership and management from a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) to the wider/larger global sector. The module offers you the opportunity to be reflective of yourown qualities as an emergent leader and/or manager. Consideration will be made of how you can develop yourself to influence the thinking, attitudes, and behaviours of a diverse team to work towards a common goal synergistically. The overall aim of the module is to develop leaders with the confidence and skills to become a competent and reflective leader within the pharmaceutical and biotech sector.

Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation - 10 credits

This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to manage change using creativity and innovation in different types of organisational scenarios. You will critically assess strategies for change and change management, and explore the leadership skills required to lead such successfully. You will explore for example, the complexity of innovative strategic plans, implementation plans and how to apply analytical techniques, theories, models and creative problem-solving to manage change with confidence. Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop an innovative framework to deliver a change management strategy in a changing organisational context. Finally, the module requires you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint to encourage your continuing professional development.

Economic and Resource Management for the Life Sciences - 20 credits

This module aims to support the development of the advanced skills and knowledge of financial and resource management systems, policies and processes required to enable the effective management of teams, departments and organisations and how these differ within national and global pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. You will critically examine the different funding models and concepts used in public and private partnerships, big stakeholder funded global pharmaceutical/biotech companies through to SME level and consider how this affects decision-making. You will explore how to build high-performing teams to deliver strategies and operational plans across organisations. You will critically analyse how to ensure effective management and utilisation of human resources within the complex multi-professional environment, to enable to delivery of high-quality outputs.

Product Design, Clinical Trials and Evaluation - 20 credits

This module aims to support you to gain a thorough understanding and critical appraisal of the principles and protocols associated with the design and running of early phase drug/product trials through to clinical trials in humans. Full consideration of the challenges associated with working in line with the different local and global regulations will take place. You should gain an understanding of the different layers of legislation, regulatory process and procedures involved in the reporting of trial findings from early phase drug/product development to clinical trials in humans, with consideration of how trial findings are reported to meet the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) guidance. This will enable you to effectively engage with the complexities and challenges you may encounter within a role in the global drug discovery and testing sectors. This critical understanding will allow you to demonstrate a set of high-level skills and the confidence to deploy them in the workplace and to make informed decisions across a range of global, local and professional settings.

Product Commercialisation and Marketing - 20 credits

This module considers the founding marketing and commercialisation principles within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors and the associated global opportunities and challenges. Consideration will be given to drug/product trademarks, patents and exclusivity periods in pharmaceutical and biotech industries. You should gain foundation knowledge of the principles behind the marketing and commercialisation of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals on a national and global market and the key legislative bodies/agencies you need to work with in this process. You will consider the ways in which pharmaceutical and biotech leaders communicate and market products, how equity, equality and efficiency are incorporated into drug/product design, and how the effectiveness of products is measured.

Compulsory

Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management MSc

Pharmacology, Biotechnology and Product Discovery - 20 credits

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of contemporary pharmacology and biotechnology principles and their application in product discovery and development on a global platform. You should gain an understanding of current drug discovery, research, and development processes, from the identification of novel targets through to the introduction to and marketing of new products into clinical practice within a local and global market. Throughout this journey the application of the processes involved in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products will be considered, examples include limitations within translational medicine and ethical considerations. The importance of understanding the requirements of a national and global market will be considered and full consideration of the legislation surrounding product development will be evaluated both locally and in the context of the variations in regulatory processes in globally equivalent agencies. You will develop their skills including literature analysis and communication using diverse formats to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Innovation - 10 credits

Within this module, you will critically analyse the key concepts involved in innovation and innovative thinking in global pharmaceutical and biotech organisations. This will focus on innovation in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), big pharma and biotech companies, and the role contract research organisations (CROs) play. You will consider the effects different models of power, control, influence and stakeholder engagement can influence innovation at the different organisational levels of local and global pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors. You will critically evaluate the key contributions SMEs make to pharmaceutical and biotech innovation and the development of new therapeutics at a time when discovery is getting increasingly difficult to come by globally.

Leadership and Management in the Life Sciences - 20 credits

This module offers the opportunity to critically evaluate theoretical principles of leadership and management which can then be applied to your current or future practice within national and international pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The module covers leadership and management, personal effectiveness, resource management, management of people and teamworking, and explores the current literature on leadership and management from a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) to the wider/larger global sector. The module offers you the opportunity to be reflective of your own qualities as an emergent leader and/or manager. Consideration will be made of how you can develop yourself to influence the thinking, attitudes, and behaviours of a diverse team to work towards a common goal synergistically. The overall aim of the module is to develop leaders with the confidence and skills to become a competent and reflective leader within the pharmaceutical and biotech sector.

Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation - 10 credits

This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to manage change using creativity and innovation in different types of organisational scenarios. You will critically assess strategies for change and change management, and explore the leadership skills required to lead such successfully. You will explore for example, the complexity of innovative strategic plans, implementation plans and how to apply analytical techniques, theories, models and creative problem-solving to manage change with confidence. Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop an innovative framework to deliver a change management strategy in a changing organisational context. Finally, the module requires you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint to encourage your continuing professional development.

Economic and Resource Management for the Life Sciences - 20 credits

This module aims to support the development of the advanced skills and knowledge of financial and resource management systems, policies and processes required to enable the effective management of teams, departments and organisations and how these differ within national and global pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. You will critically examine the different funding models and concepts used in public and private partnerships, big stakeholder funded global pharmaceutical/biotech companies through to SME level and consider how this affects decision-making. You will explore how to build high-performing teams to deliver strategies and operational plans across organisations. You will critically analyse how to ensure effective management and utilisation of human resources within the complex multi-professional environment, to enable to delivery of high-quality outputs.

Product Design, Clinical Trials and Evaluation - 20 credits

This module aims to support you to gain a thorough understanding and critical appraisal of the principles and protocols associated with the design and running of early phase drug/product trials through to clinical trials in humans. Full consideration of the challenges associated with working in line with the different local and global regulations will take place. You should gain an understanding of the different layers of legislation, regulatory process and procedures involved in the reporting of trial findings from early phase drug/product development to clinical trials in humans, with consideration of how trial findings are reported to meet the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) guidance. This will enable you to effectively engage with the complexities and challenges you may encounter within a role in the global drug discovery and testing sectors. This critical understanding will allow you to demonstrate a set of high-level skills and the confidence to deploy them in the workplace and to make informed decisions across a range of global, local and professional settings.

Product Commercialisation and Marketing - 20 credits

This module considers the founding marketing and commercialisation principles within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors and the associated global opportunities and challenges. Consideration will be given to drug/product trademarks, patents and exclusivity periods in pharmaceutical and biotech industries. You should gain foundation knowledge of the principles behind the marketing and commercialisation of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals on a national and global market and the key legislative bodies/agencies you need to work with in this process. You will consider the ways in which pharmaceutical and biotech leaders communicate and market products, how equity, equality and efficiency are incorporated into drug/product design, and how the effectiveness of products is measured.

Professional Development Portfolio - 20 credits

The Professional Development Portfolio functions are to showcase achievement across the course with evidence of study output, enable you to critically reflect on individual learning and development as you progress with your studies, and to develop a professional development plan for your future career plans. Alongside the presentation of material, you will maintain a journal or blog, enabling you to critically reflect on your study journey. Over the progression of the course, this will provide you with valuable information to link theory and practice, integrating learning and experience. Crucially, it provides a link between all the taught modules, following key course themes and presenting a complete overview of Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management for the individual.

Business Case Project - 40 credits

This module is the culmination of the course and enables you to bring together your learning into one project. Demonstrating your ability to work as part of a dynamic and collaborative team, you will work together to reach the successful completion of a business case project. This will involve bringing together the learning across the course including for example: key aspects of business and project management, phases of product development and proof of concept, financing etc. You will gain support through supervision with an allocated tutor, offering guidance on the focus of your pharmaceutical / biotech management project and on all stages in the development and design of the proposed business case. Peer-to-peer mentoring will be a key feature of the module. The project will take the form of a business case proposal / project, focusing on an identified issue/project relating to your chosen field. The proposal will demonstrate an analysis of an important pharmaceutical/biotech management problem or issue affecting product development/clinical trials, stakeholder bids, etc. Within your group, you will appraise the evidence for different options, undertake a quality impact assessment and propose realistic and viable proposals demonstrating initiative or innovation and an overall extensive knowledge of the subject area. The aim of the business case project will be to transform the delivery of a pharmaceutical or biotech product that benefits the industry sector, product users and/or employees.

Compulsory

How you'll learn

Our teaching and learning aims are to be active, applied, social and inclusive, relevant to real-world scenarios and to take a global approach to discussing challenges and potential solutions within the wider pharmaceutical and biotech fields. Most modules will be taught using a combination of lectures, interactive workshops and seminars. The lecture components will be used where they give the greatest benefit to students while workshops and seminars allow you to work in smaller groups on problem-solving tasks.

The course is structured in such a way that students can take a part-time or full-time pathway, and can also opt to undertake a PGCert, PGDip, and/or MSc.

Teaching contact hours

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week (if full-time). Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 30 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules (for full-time there is 600 hours total study time per 13-week semester, 3 semesters per 12 months).

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

Online tests
Coursework
Presentations
Reports
Portfolios
Projects
Group work
Individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

The pharmaceutical and biotech industries are part of a globally relevant and pioneering area for which there is an ever-growing need for candidates suitable for employment. These areas include not only the development of new products, in response to global medical issues, but also in the increasingly vital application of a business management and marketing mindset. Within our Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management MSc we endeavour to provide a transformative multi-discipline suite of courses encompassing the application of the knowledge of leadership and business management within pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, in both national and international markets.
Steven Foster, Associate Head of School for Quality and Accreditation, School of Life Sciences, 2023

2 laboratory assistants working in a lab

Entry requirements

Applicants must normally be an honours graduate of a chemical, biological or medical-related discipline with a minimum of a 2:2 degree classification, obtained from a recognised university/HE institution.
Hold an equivalent qualification acceptable to the School of Life Sciences in an area related to the named award.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

For Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management PgC/PgD/MSc (HLST299):

Applicants must normally be an Honours graduate of a chemical, biological or medical-related discipline with a minimum of a 2.2 degree classification, obtained from a recognised university/HE institution.
Hold an equivalent qualification acceptable to the School of Life Sciences in an area related to the named award.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Typical entry requirements

An honour's degree in a life sciences, pharmacology or clinical sciences undergraduate course; with a minimum of a lower second class (2:2) classification.

We would normally be looking for study of the following subjects in the final year of an undergraduate degree programme: physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology or pharmacology.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

The multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building is a first-class environment focused on providing facilities for training students in simulated environments relevant to their future employment. These facilities include industry-standard laboratories and equipment for biomedical, forensic, analytical, sport and exercise sciences and a simulated patient journey through the health and social care system with fully equipped ambulance, operating theatre, hospital wards, therapy suites and community houses⁴.

SuperLab

Our state-of-the-art SuperLab can hold up to 250 students at one time and has equipment that allows you to gain skills and experience with techniques and equipment that you will encounter in your graduate careers including biosafety hoods, flow cytometers and DNA sequencers.

Students in Analytical Chemistry female student using a petri dish

Analytical Chemistry suite

This is where you can apply your practical and theoretical knowledge to real-life working scenarios. We use a new generation chromatography technique to analyse products ranging from pharmaceutical agents, to cosmetics, drinks and toxins.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion, our graduates should have an in-depth understanding of business leadership and management relevant to global markets within a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, biotech, and healthcare as well as Non-Government Organisations.

Graduates of the Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management course should be equipped with the fundamental knowledge and theory that underpins drug discovery and development with a global business management perspective. The Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management graduate will apply their knowledge and skills in both in the management of drug discovery and development processes and/or promoting sales of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals nationally and globally. The MSc culminates in a group research project where students will create a business case project in their selected field of Global Pharmaceutical and Biotech Management. This will result in a real-world collaborative experience which can be referred to in future job applications.

Where our graduates work

It is anticipated that graduates of these courses will find employment in a wide range of careers, particularly related to the global pharmaceutical and biotech industries, academia, government and international policy development.