Based in Dublin, Ireland, Hibernia College is an international, third-level, online college offering accredited, niche-focused educational programmes designed to address the growing demand for flexible lifelong learning, unrestricted by location or time. Through strategic collaborations and partnerships with global leaders in technology and curriculum design, Hibernia College has placed itself at the forefront of innovative online education for professionals wishing to pursue formal qualifications while continuing to work. The College is accredited by Ireland’s Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and adheres to the quality assurance policy developed by HETAC. All qualifications are recognised internationally.

Hibernia College works in collaboration with faculty from leading universities world-wide to produce the highest quality academic programming. The College has developed a range of accredited programmes in the areas of education, life sciences and management. The College also offers a range of shorter inservice executive programmes in areas such as education and law.

Online Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Medicine Introduction
To advance in today’s changing world, every professional needs to develop strong leadership skills. Effective leadership requires not only a full understanding of the working environment, but sufficient skills to manage this environment effectively.

This is of particular importance in the pharmaceutical industry, where technology and business practices grow more sophisticated by the day, and companies rely on the expertise of their staff and the excellence of their business conduct to maintain a competitive edge.

Hibernia College has developed a flexible web-based Masters programme in the form of a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Medicine - Online. The two-year programme provides an overview of all key disciplines essential for pharmaceutical industry leaders and provides students with the skills and knowledge required to be effective and productive leaders in today’s challenging pharmaceutical environment.

Course scope and content
This online course provides a systematic understanding of the drug development process from initial discovery of a new chemical entity through research and development phases and on to the regulatory approval process and commercialisation of the product. The programme will enable students to design and manage clinical research projects, critically evaluate research results and lead multidisciplinary teams in drug development, marketing, medical information and post-marketing surveillance. Students will also gain valuable business and management expertise required for senior positions in the pharmaceutical industry.

This course consists of 10 discrete modules covering the key disciplines required by leaders in the pharmaceutical industry:

1. Leadership and Authority
2. Discovery of New Medicines
3. Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Development
4. Clinical Trials, Statistics and Data Management
5. Safety and Risk Management
6. Regulatory Affairs and Knowledge Management
7. Business and Pharmaceutical Ethics
8. Health Economics, Business Administration and Medical Affairs
9. Information Technology and e-Medicine
10. Research Project - aimed at addressing mission critical issues within each student's individual area of employment.

Accreditation and recognition
The programme is accredited by the Higher Education Training and Awards Council (HETAC, www.hetac.ie). HETAC is the Irish government agency responsible for accrediting third-level education in Ireland. HETAC awards qualifications at all levels of higher education and training up to PhD level and these qualifications are recognised and respected internationally.

The core curriculum also incorporates the recommendations of the Council for Education in Pharmaceutical Medicine of the International Federation of Associations of Pharmaceutical Physicians (IFAPP, www.ifapp.org) and has been approved for IFAPP accreditation.

Entry requirements
The programme is designed for employees in the pharmaceutical industry with either a medical degree, an honours primary degree in a bioscience or equivalent, working in areas including medical affairs, regulatory affairs, clinical monitoring, data management, drug safety and clinical project management.

Applications from candidates who do not have the minimum entry requirements will be considered on the basis of their experience in the industry, other qualifications and an interview, subject to HETAC regulations.

Further information
For further information, including details of Hibernia College’s scholarship programme, visit http://mpm.hiberniacollege.net/, email academicaffairs@hiberniacollege.net or call +353 1 661 0168.