About the programme

The studies provide you with strong knowledge on one or more of the following topics that cover the chemistry of drug development from slightly different perspectives: bioanalytical chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and radiopharmaceutical chemistry. In addition, you will master the state-of-the-art methods needed for the full identification of drug molecules and for their quantitation from different types of tissues and metabolite mixtures. Our approach gives you strong hands-on knowledge of medicinal chemistry since practical laboratory work forms the soul of our programme.

Our approach to the Chemistry of Drug Development track is a unique combination of research areas that are closely related but require different types of expertise. All options are represented by well-established, top-of-the-line research groups: Bioorganic group, Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry group, Bioanalytical Chemistry together with Detection Technology group and Natural Chemistry research group.

The Master’s Degree Programme of Exact Sciences has six tracks. Other tracks in the Master’s Degree Programme of Exact Sciences are Astronomy and Space Physics, Materials Chemistry, Materials Physics, Theoretical Physics and Mathematics and Statistics.

Programme Structure

The specialisation track Chemistry of Drug Development is a two-year programme of 120 ECTS credits. The curriculum includes:

• Core Courses (20 ECTS) and laboratory project (20 ECTS)
• Thematic specialisation in either Bioanalytical Chemistry, Bio-organic Chemistry or Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry (20 ECTS)
• Master’s thesis and related courses (40 ECTS)
• Other studies include mandatory language studies and selectable studies in different thematic areas and special themes (20 ECTS)

You will make a personal study plan which will help you select the courses that best suit your personal interests and background.

Career Prospects

Chemistry of Drug Development track has close connections to the pharma industry at the Turku region and international collaborative networks. These provide the students with opportunities to do the Master’s Laboratory Project in their facilities or in collaboration. They may offer internships and job opportunities for graduates as well.

You will be equipped with skills that provide you with multiple career options. You will be able to join the industry in Finland or abroad, or to enter the public sector, for example, in various authoritative duties.

The studies in Chemistry of Drug Development provide excellent possibilities for a career in life sciences.

For example, you can:

• continue as a postgraduate student to pursue a career as a scientist
• work in the industry as a researcher or quality manager
• work in a core facility management taking care of e.g. the mass spectrometers
• work in science administration nationally or internationally
• work in hospital research laboratories
• be a product manager or a project coordinator

Career in Research

The Master of Science degree completed in this programme will also qualify you for PhD studies in Turku, elsewhere in Finland, or universities worldwide.

In Turku, you can apply for a position in the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS). The Graduate School includes doctoral programmes that cover all disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.

Together with the doctoral programmes, the Graduate School provides systematic and high-quality doctoral training. UTUGS aims to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional careers in research and other positions of expertise.

Several doctoral programmes at the University of Turku are available for graduates:

• Drug Research
• Technology
• Molecular Medicine
• Clinical Research
• Exact Science