Course details

Summary

The Master of Science (MSc) is a two-year degree which encompasses both coursework and research. The first year involves mainly coursework and preliminary research preparation. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to existing fields of research, or to begin to develop new areas.

Pharmacology is about the effects of chemicals on living organisms. In practice it deals mainly with the effects of drugs on animals, especially human beings. It is concerned with how drugs produce their effects, the sources, properties, distribution, elimination and uses of drugs and other chemicals. Drug effects may be useful, as in medicine (clinical pharmacology), or harmful (toxicology).

Papers and Thesis

PHAL 495 Master's Thesis Preparation

PHAL 421 General Pharmacology and Toxicology

Three of:

PHAL 423 Neuropharmacology

PHAL 426 Clinical Pharmacology

PHAL 427 Advanced Topic

PHAL 428 Current Research Literature in Toxicology

PHAL 430 Advanced Topic in Pharmacology and Toxicology

PHAL 431 Special Project

Thesis: PHAL 5

Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

Every applicant must either: be a graduate with an average grade of at least B for the appropriate 300-level papers, or have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

An applicant seeking admission to the thesis-only option of the programme on the basis of the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science or equivalent must have achieved a grade of at least B+ for the research report, thesis preparation, or dissertation requirement of the qualification concerned.

English Language Requirements

IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.