Intended Level of Study
5 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products offers a comprehensive program, with a first-year Master's focused on Health Sciences and seven specialized tracks in the second year. Drawing on the expertise of the University of Montpellier’s School of Pharmacy and leading local research institutions, this program benefits from an exclusive partnership in France with the ANSM, as well as international collaborations with the University of Montreal and Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The Benefits of the Training Program
The Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Products draws on renowned research institutions such as the IBMM, ICGM, IRCM, and CBS, which are active in pharmaceutical development in Montpellier and the Occitanie region. It also benefits from the support of experts from the industrial, academic, and regulatory sectors, both nationally and internationally. This program also offers a work-study track, thereby promoting career readiness.
Objectives
The Master's program in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Sciences aims to train skilled professionals in the development of drugs and healthcare products, particularly in the areas of regulatory affairs, quality, and safety.
The master’s program also prepares students to pursue doctoral studies, particularly in the fields of structural biology, drug design, and aging, with a view to developing new strategies for drug-based interventions or in dermocosmetics.
Expertise and Skills
- Master the integration of international frameworks and procedures into the design and implementation of health projects.
- Explore, design study protocols, research and analyze literature on medications and health products, and develop a literature monitoring system.
- Implement a quality approach in the technical and organizational aspects of pharmaceutical development.
- Conduct applied research and prepare technical and regulatory documentation.
- Evaluate and contribute to the review of technical and regulatory documents.
Organization
Knowledge Assessment
Open on an alternating basis
Contract Type | Apprenticeship Contract, Professional Training Contract |
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Work-study programs are available only in the second year of the Master's program
The Master 2 program is open to work-study students
Internships, supervised projects
Internship Abroad | Possible |
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- In the first year of the Master’s program, students engage in supervised research to gain an introduction to the specific aspects of their chosen track. A 2-month internship is preferred (minimum of one month; a 4- to 5-month internship is possible depending on the track), beginning in April. The first-year Master’s internship, which lasts at least one month, provides an introduction to research and development in the field of health products.
- In the second year of the Master's program:
- A supervised project in collaboration with the professional community.
- An internship lasting at least 5 months enables students to enter the workforce based on a solid foundation of theoretical and methodological knowledge.
Program
The program is structured over two years: a first year (Master 1) and a second year (Master 2) comprising seven specialization tracks. The Master 1 program offers a core curriculum as well as specific course units, enabling students to acquire fundamental knowledge about medications and health products. The specific course units prepare students for their future specialization in the Master 2 program.
Select a program
International Regulatory Environment for Healthcare Companies and Products
Specialized training in international regulatory affairs.
UEs Core Curriculum
15 creditsRegistration and Economics of Health Products
5 creditsAnalytical Techniques for Drug Quality Control
5 credits
Fundamentals of Healthcare Product Engineering
5 creditsCHOOSE 2 UEs
15 creditsChoose 2 or 3 out of 7
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Biopharmaceutics
5 creditsAdvanced Analysis Techniques for Media Development.
5 creditsIntroduction to Aging and Anti-Aging
5 creditsUnderstanding the Company and Maximizing the Value of Patents
5 creditsDrug Design: An Introduction to Drug Design
5 creditsMicroscopy and Spectroscopy for Biology
Development of Aging Models in Industry
5 credits
Long-term internship
15 creditsInternship
10 creditsTER Course: Regulatory Environment
5 credits
Health Product Analysis: Quality Assurance and Quality Control
UEs Core Curriculum
15 creditsRegistration and Economics of Health Products
5 creditsAnalytical Techniques for Drug Quality Control
5 creditsOption 1
Choose one: 1 out of 1
Fundamentals of Healthcare Product Engineering
5 creditsAdvanced Analysis Techniques for Media Development.
5 creditsOption 2
Choose one of the following two options:
Long-term internship
15 creditsInternship
10 creditsTER Program: Health Product Analysis
5 credits
Health Product Development: Quality and Safety
Training on the safety assessment of health products: pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics, from raw materials to finished products.
UEs Core Curriculum
15 creditsMolecular and Therapeutic Pharmacology
5 creditsAnalytical Techniques for Drug Quality Control
5 credits
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Biopharmaceutics
5 creditsAdvanced Analysis Techniques for Media Development.
5 creditsDrug Design: An Introduction to Drug Design
5 creditsLong-term internship
15 creditsInternship
10 creditsTER Program: Health Product Development
5 credits
Structural Biology and Rational Design of Bioactive Molecules
The program, affiliated with the Montpellier Center for Structural Biology, provides students with a thorough understanding of the methods used for the structural analysis of biomolecules and their complexes, as well as for the in vitro analysis of interactions between biomolecules and their ligands.
UEs Core Curriculum
15 creditsStructural Biology
5 creditsTherapeutic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
5 creditsOption 1
Choose one of the following two options:
Microscopy and Spectroscopy for Biology
Drug Design: An Introduction to Drug Design
5 creditsOption 2
Choose one of the following two options:
Long-term internship
15 creditsInternship
10 creditsTER Structural Biology Track
5 credits
Supervised Project: Structural Biology Track
10 creditsInternship in Structural Biology
20 credits
Aging and Anti-Aging Strategies
The Aging and Anti-Aging Strategies track combines concepts and technologies related to aging, senescence, and the aging process with R&D applications in the healthcare and dermocosmetics sectors.
UEs Core Curriculum
15 creditsRegistration and Economics of Health Products
5 creditsAnalytical Techniques for Drug Quality Control
5 credits
Fundamentals of Healthcare Product Engineering
5 creditsIntroduction to Aging and Anti-Aging
5 creditsDevelopment of Aging Models in Industry
5 creditsLong-term internship
15 creditsInternship
10 creditsTER: Aging Process and Anti-Aging Strategies
5 credits
Common Core Curriculum
Specific UEs
Dermocosmetic Approach
3 creditsMarketing & Cosmetics Regulations
3 creditsCellular and Molecular Applications in Aging
3.5 creditsAnti-Aging Strategies: Pharmacological Approaches
3.5 creditsAging: Cellular and Molecular Bases of Senescence
3.5 creditsObservation and Screening Models in Pharmaceutical R&D
3.5 credits
Innovation in Health Chemistry and Therapeutic Targeting
In close collaboration with internationally recognized research institutes (IBMM, IRCM, IRMB, etc.), this program enables students to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for a career at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and health. This program will provide students with cutting-edge expertise in chemistry applied to the development of innovative therapies.
UEs Core Curriculum
15 creditsTherapeutic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
5 creditsOption 1
Choose one of the following two options:
Structural Biology
5 creditsAnalytical Techniques for Drug Quality Control
5 credits
Drug Design: An Introduction to Drug Design
5 creditsPharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Biopharmaceutics
5 creditsCHOOSE 2 UEs
15 creditsChoose 2 or 3 out of 7
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Biopharmaceutics
5 creditsAdvanced Analysis Techniques for Media Development.
5 creditsIntroduction to Aging and Anti-Aging
5 creditsUnderstanding the Company and Maximizing the Value of Patents
5 creditsDrug Design: An Introduction to Drug Design
5 creditsMicroscopy and Spectroscopy for Biology
Development of Aging Models in Industry
5 credits
Long-term internship
15 creditsInternship
10 creditsTER: Innovation Track in Health Chemistry
5 credits
Specific UEs
Drug Design: Case Studies
2 creditsTargeted therapies
2 creditsModeling Molecule-Therapeutic Target Interactions 1
2 creditsImmunotargeting
2 creditsModeling Molecule-Therapeutic Target Interactions 2
2 creditsTherapeutic Peptides § Peptidomimetics
Chemobiology (67% ENSCM)
2 creditsStructure-Based Drug Design
2 creditsNanotechnologies for Health (Pharmacy Program)
2 creditsTissue Engineering and Cell Therapy
2 credits
Common Core Curriculum
International Regulations for Digital Medical Devices
The International Regulation of Digital Medical Devices (RIDMN) track is a program focused on the regulatory framework governing digital medical devices throughout their “lifecycle.” Combining theory, practice, and interaction with industry experts, this program trains specialists capable of meeting the growing needs for innovation and regulation in a rapidly expanding sector.
UEs Core Curriculum
15 creditsRegistration and Economics of Health Products
5 creditsAnalytical Techniques for Drug Quality Control
5 credits
Fundamentals of Healthcare Product Engineering
5 creditsOption 2
Internship
10 creditsTER Course: Regulatory Environment
5 credits
Admission
Admission Requirements
The Master 1 program is open to students entering the program directly from a third-year science degree (L3) that provides a solid foundation in life sciences, biology, or chemistry (including physical and chemical sciences), provided their academic background aligns with the desired track and they have a suitable career plan.
Registration Procedures
Target Audience
For the M1: A bachelor’s degree (L3) or a Bachelor’s degree (BUT) in Life Sciences, Biology, or Chemistry for students who graduated in an EU country. M1, M2, or Pharmacy for non-EU students.
For the M2: holders of a Master 1 degree in pharmaceutical sciences or health products; students in the DFASP2 or DFASM3 programs; or residents in pharmacy or medicine.
And then
Continuing Education
Since the Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences is supported by all the research institutions involved in the field of healthcare products, students have the option of continuing their education in the highly specialized setting of a high-level university doctoral program or earning another master’s degree to acquire dual expertise.
Transition Programs and Reorientation
Possible pathways from the end of the first year of the master’s program to the second year of master’s programs in the same field of study in Biology, Health, and Health Engineering.
Employment Placement
All careers in the field of pharmaceuticals and health products, depending on the specific training offered by the seven tracks. Graduates of the Master’s in Pharmaceutical Science work in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, in biological and medical engineering companies, in hospitals and clinics, as well as in national health agencies (ANSM, ANSES, etc.).
- Regulatory Affairs Managers.
- Compliance Officers.
- Application Engineers, Design and Research Engineer.
- Assistants and managers in applied research.
- Research and Development Project Managers.
- Research assistants, R&D assistants, product managers.
- Committed to medical information.
- Public research scientist.
- Engineers and technical managers, etc.
- Assistant, Quality Assurance Manager, or Quality Control Manager