Postgraduate Programme Specification
PgCert Biopharmaceutical Engineering
Academic Year 2024/25
A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.
| Programme Title | PgCert Biopharmaceutical Engineering | Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes) |
Postgraduate Certificate | |||||||||||
| Programme Code | CHE-PC-BE | UCAS Code | HECoS Code |
100143 - Chemical engineering - 40 100144 - Pharmaceutical engineering - 40 100417 - Chemistry - 20 |
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ATAS Clearance Required |
No |
Health Check Required |
No |
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Portfolio Required |
-- |
Interview Required |
-- |
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| Mode of Study | Part Time | |||||||||||||
| Type of Programme | Postgraduate | Length of Programme |
Part Time - 1 Academic Year |
Total Credits for Programme | 60 | |||||||||
| Exit Awards available | No | |||||||||||||
Institute Information
Teaching Institution |
Queen's University Belfast |
School/Department |
Chemistry & Chemical Engineering |
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Quality Code Higher Education Credit Framework for England |
Level 7 |
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Subject Benchmark Statements The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies |
Engineering (2019) |
Accreditations (PSRB) |
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No accreditations (PSRB) found. | |
Regulation Information
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Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations |
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Programme Specific Regulations All three modules must be passed to graduate |
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Students with protected characteristics |
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Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations (Please see General Regulations) No |
Educational Aims Of Programme
This course is designed for individuals who wish to gain expertise or more skills in the principles of biopharmaceutical engineering at an industrial level. More specifically it provides detailed understanding of the key processes involved in the identification of a potential candidate for a biopharmaceutical drug and the subsequent implementation of protocols in a bioreactor, following this the associated purification techniques and analysis of such biosynthesised products are examined in detail. The emphasis of the course will be on the principles of biopharmaceutical drug production when applied to an industrial process and as such the training and expertise imparted during this course will aid in the development of highly skilled workers who collectively will work towards meeting the key Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) specifically SDGs 3 & 4. Because this course is a PGDip, there will be no research element instead there will be six core modules which are all compulsory (listed at end of document) as a result the PGDip is worth 120 CATS.
On completion of the programme the student will be able to:
•Apply knowledge to circumstances surrounding the production of biopharmaceutical products on an industrial scale
•Convey key ideas surrounding the development of specific bioreactors for a bioprocess with relation to the gained chemical engineering principles
•Create a set of protocols which would allow for the efficient cultivation of a biopharmaceutical and its subsequent purification
•Relate importance of purity in a biopharmaceutical to the type of separation/ purification techniques required
•Build skills in analysis of an analyte using different spectroscopic techniques to determine purity of a product
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: Cognitive SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Have confidence in building skills in a new area and use literature/textbooks to reinforce understanding |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures; problem classes and seminars. Feedback from formative assessments enables students to build and point students to appropriate literature/ text Methods of Assessment Written assessments and examinations |
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Read, understand, and assimilate new information and subsume acquired knowledge into a concise format |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures; problem classes and seminars; practical classes and associated prereading. Methods of Assessment Written, oral assignments and examinations |
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Critically evaluate ones’ own work and performance in a task or assignment- understand need for further study in areas if required |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures; problem classes and workshops, feedback classes Methods of Assessment Written and oral assignments and presentations |
Learning Outcomes: Transferable SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Demonstrate problem solving skills |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures; problem classes and seminars, Methods of Assessment Written, oral assignments and examinations |
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Demonstrate advanced mathematical skills, mathematical model development and analysis of results |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Activities associated with Module on Tools assessment and Applied technologies Methods of Assessment Written, oral assignments and examinations |
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Provide evidence for time management and personal prioritisation skills |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Written assignments Methods of Assessment Written and oral assignments and presentations |
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Communication skills |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Written assignments and presentations Methods of Assessment Written and oral assignments and presentations |
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Group working skills |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Group work Methods of Assessment Group project reports |
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & UnderstandingOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Provide rationale for making key decisions and put forward ideas which can aid in the design of an efficient process |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Written assignments, private study, literature reading Methods of Assessment Written and oral assignments, presentations |
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Create key search techniques using literature searching websites, reading and summarising key points found in scientific literature |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures; problem classes, seminars and workshops Methods of Assessment Written and oral assignments and presentations |
Learning Outcomes: Subject SpecificOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Develop understanding of the processes behind traditional drug syntheses and why these drugs are sometimes not enough for the treatment of certain illnesses |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures; workshops and seminars Methods of Assessment Written, oral assignments and examinations |
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Generate a deep understanding of the operations, components and characteristics of cell proliferation, cell death and mass balance when applied to a biopharmaceutical process |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops and seminars Methods of Assessment Written, oral assignments and examinations |
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Derive and apply mathematical models for scenarios in a chemical engineering process, apply principles of transfer to aid in rationalisation of designing a process |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops and seminars Methods of Assessment Written and oral assignments |
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Provide rationale for the decisions required in the design of a reactor for a specific purpose, further give characteristics of a bioreactor and apply knowledge of the operation required for controlling a process |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops and seminars Methods of Assessment Written/ oral assignments and presentations/ groupwork |
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Understand and explain the importance of separation technology in an industrial setting, what methods are employed for separation and understand the theory behind chromatography on a preparative and analytical scale. |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops and seminars Methods of Assessment Written, oral assignments and examinations |
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Have a detailed understanding of numerous analytical techniques when applied to a product of the biopharma industry, why these techniques are needed and how they operate. Further an understanding of the analysis and why high-quality analysis is paramount in the quality control of a biopharma product. Recognise and appreciate the need for stringent protocols when it comes to the regulations of biopharmaceutical products when being marketed to the public. |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops and seminars Methods of Assessment Written/ oral assignments and coursework |
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Have a working knowledge of the regulatory affairs when applied to the biopharmaceutical industry, why this is needed and how the appropriate obligations are carried out. |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops and seminars Methods of Assessment Written/ oral assignments and coursework |
Module Information
Stages and Modules
| Module Title | Module Code | Level/ stage | Credits | Availability |
Duration | Pre-requisite | Assessment |
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| S1 | S2 | Core | Option | Coursework % | Practical % | Examination % | ||||||
| Separations, Downstream Processing and Bioanalytical Science | CHE7505 | 1 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 40% | 0% | 60% |
| Bioreactor Design and Bioprocess Control | CHE7504 | 1 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Biopharmaceuticals and Upstream Processing | CHE7502 | 1 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 40% | 0% | 60% |
| Medicinal Chemistry | CHE7501 | 1 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Regulatory Affairs and Quality Systems | CHE7506 | 1 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Chemical Engineering Principles | CHE7503 | 1 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
Notes
Student must choose 3 out of the 6 modules.