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Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Engineering

  • Application opens early October preceding the year where you intend to apply for

About the program

Programme goals & Learning objectives

Pharmaceutical production processes of the future will (need to) undergo a major transition to be able to manufacture the increasingly complex and more tailor-made/personalized drug products. On the one hand the implementation of novel manufacturing concepts (e.g., switching from batch to continuous manufacturing) is needed and on the other hand a high degree of digitalisation and automation (implementation of “industry 4.0” concepts such as soft sensors and digital twins) is essential. It requires a combination of pharmaceutical and engineering knowledge and skills to develop these pharmaceutical production processes of the future for tomorrow’s drug products and supply needs. 

This combined training of pharmaceutical and engineering skills, unique in Flanders and Belgium, is offered by the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Engineering. As a master in Pharmaceutical Engineering, you will be able to design and develop innovative, flexible, cost-efficient, automated and sustainable processes for the production of future complex and individualized drug products, enabling targeted delivery of the active molecules into the human body.

In addition, the programme explicitly responds to the increasing demand from regulatory authorities (such as the FDA and EMA) for more science‑based, efficient, flexible and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. These developments have led to new skill and job requirements within the pharmaceutical industry, which are directly addressed by the programme.

Graduates are trained to critically evaluate and implement innovation within a strictly regulated industrial environment and to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams, reflecting the professional reality of pharmaceutical engineers.

More information and details on the course components in the Study Guide

Course structure

The Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Engineering is a two-year English-taught programme of 120 credits. It is built around specific learning paths leading to the profile of ‘pharmaceutical engineering’:

  • Pharmaceutical process engineering: the engineering of drug products and their associated processes. You learn to develop and design drug manufacturing processes. 
  • Sustainable and high quality pharmaceutical products: you learn to realize high-quality pharmaceutical products in a sustainable way. 
  • Data-to-decision: experimental design for data collection, data analysis, mechanistic and data-driven modeling, optimization and process control, applied to unit processes as well as process trains for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
  • Research and innovation: problem solving and critical thinking in the context of research tasks and projects to be carried out (e.g. master's dissertation) on topics related to 'pharmaceutical engineering', in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry.

These learning paths allow students to tailor their curriculum according to their interests while maintaining the programme’s strong interdisciplinary character.

 During the first year, the students are required to take up a partially different set of compulsory subjects, depending on the discipline of their preliminary bachelor education (see course programme). The fact that students from different bachelor programs will enter this master programme in pharmaceutical engineering, will only further promote its pharmaceutical-engineering interdisciplinary character. This diversity of academic backgrounds is an explicit added value and prepares students for multidisciplinary collaboration in professional practice.

 The master’s dissertation starts in year 2 and spans it entirely. It is often embedded in ongoing research projects or carried out in close collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry

 Elective courses are foreseen within the programme giving students the opportunity to further explore their field of interest, encourage them to take responsibility and promote self-management.

Curriculum details and lecture schedule: consult the programme guide.

Admission requirements

Degree and competencies

 International students holding a non-Flemish degree need to check the admission requirements and the administrative procedure for admission on the Ghent University Admission pages .  

Students who wish to enrol for the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Engineering can apply for  the programme if they hold the following diploma: an academic diploma (at least 180 credits and/or 3 years of study) of Bachelor (or Master) of Science in pharmaceutical sciences, bio-science engineering, chemistry, bio-industrial sciences and bioscience engineering technology (module biotechnology). International students with similar previous education must be able to demonstrate through their transcripts that they received basic science training in the following fields: (i) Mathematics, and/or basic statistics; (ii) Physics; (iii) Organic chemistry; (iv) Biochemistry; (v) Inorganic chemistry; (vi) Analytical chemistry. Some lab experiences is required too.

Admission can only be granted after an individual application procedure. The Study Programme Committee will make the final decision whether to accept the application or not.

Language requirements

The applicant must be proficient in English*:

  • TOEFL 580 (paper-based)
  • TOEFL 92 (internet-based)
  • TOEFL 237 (computer-based)
  • IELTS: 6.5

 *Language requirements differ from the standard level set in the Ghent University Education and Examination Code for English taught study programmes

Application Procedure

Before completing the online application, we recommend to carefully read the general guidelines (including list of necessary documents you will need to upload). 

Application deadlines may differ depending on whether a student requires a visa; applicants are therefore referred to the Ghent University deadlines.

Study cost

  • Tuition fee
  • Living, insurance & accommodation expenses: min € 1000/month

Organisation of the programme

The Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Engineering is jointly organised by two faculties of Ghent University: the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering.

  • The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FFW) is responsible for all academic matters related to the programme. This includes the curriculum, examinations, academic regulations, study progress, and all programme‑related academic administration.
  • The Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (ITC) is responsible for student onboarding and practical matters, including pre‑arrival and arrival support, as well as practical information related to student life at Ghent University and living in Ghent.

This division of responsibilities ensures that students receive specialised academic guidance as well as dedicated support for their transition to university life and their stay in Ghent.

Frequenty Asked Questions

Questions?

Contact admission@ugent.be