Sept 2025 Entry
1 year (Full-time)
2 years (Part-time)
31
What's New
The biopharmaceutical industry is at the forefront of medical innovation, as it develops transformative therapies that address unmet medical needs. This industry is undergoing rapid evolution, and thus there is a high demand for professionals who are well versed in the complexities of biopharmaceutical development and commercialisation. This programme aims to bridge a current educational gap in biopharmaceutical education by providing a comprehensive curriculum that covers a combination of scientific, business, regulatory, and ethical aspects of the biopharmaceutical industrial landscape.
Specifically, the programme aims to achieve the following:
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Provide students with a deep understanding of biopharmaceutical science through coursework and/or internships.
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Educate students on the entire lifecycle of biopharmaceutical products, from R&D to commercialisation.
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Develop students’ critical thinking skills to allow them to innovate within the biopharmaceutical sector.
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Foster a holistic perspective by integrating science, regulation, business, and ethics.
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Produce well-prepared graduates who are suited to diverse roles within the biopharmaceutical industry.
Upon successful completion of the programme, students will have the following.
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Scientific proficiency: Students will have a deep understanding of the science underpinning biopharmaceuticals and state-of-the-art therapies, such as protein engineering and cell and gene therapies.
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Commercial insight: Students will be equipped with key insights into the business side of biopharmaceuticals, such as patenting, pricing, and market entry.
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Regulatory knowledge: Students will have mastered the regulatory aspects of biopharmaceuticals, such as intellectual property strategy, clinical trials, drug approvals, and ethics.
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Interdisciplinary collaboration skills: Students will have developed and refined their collaborative skills and learnt to work with teams from various disciplines on biopharmaceutical projects.
The Master of Science in Biopharmaceutical Development and Commercialisation programme will equip graduates with multidisciplinary skills that will allow them to pursue diverse roles across various levels within biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Graduates will be prepared to take on everything from entry-level positions, such as research associate and clinical trial coordinator, to mid-level roles involving project management, marketing, and regulatory affairs. For students seeking greater responsibility, the programme will also prepare them for senior specialist roles overseeing areas such as research and development, partnering, manufacturing, and quality assurance. As graduates gain experience, they can eventually qualify for higher-level management or executive positions within areas such as business development, operations, and product development. Beyond private industry, graduates may have opportunities to work for regulatory bodies, research institutions, or non-profit organisations focused on medical innovation. Equipped with science, business and regulatory expertise, graduates will be well-positioned to forge careers spanning the many functions and levels that drive progress in this vitally important and rapidly advancing sector.
Core Subjects (3 credits for each subject)
- Advanced Therapeutic Products
- Ethics and Management in Life Sciences
- Intellectual Property Strategy for Biotech Entrepreneurship
- Investment Financing and Risk Management in Biobusiness
- Modern Approaches in Biopharmaceutical Development
- Pharmacology and Toxicology in Biotherapeutics
- Regulatory Science for Biotech Products
- Technology Platforms in Drug Discovery
Core Subjects for Real-world Experience (three options for a total of 6 credits)
|
Subject |
Credit |
Offering Semester |
|
Entrepreneurship - From Lab to Launch |
3 |
2 |
|
Industrial Practicum |
3 |
3 |
OR
| Subject | Credit | Offering Semester |
| Industrial Attachment | 6 | 2-3 |
OR
| Subject | Credit | Offering Semester |
| Entrepreneurship - From Lab to Launch | 3 | 2 |
| Capstone Project | 3 | 3 |
Academic Integrity and Ethics (AIE) Requirement Subject (1 credit)
- Academic Integrity and Ethics in Science
31
Dr Wong Tsun-ting, Clarence
BSc, PhD
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A Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in biological/life sciences, chemistry, biomedical sciences/engineering, health science, or a related discipline.
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Preference will be given to applicants having at least 1 year of relevant work experience.
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If the applicant is not a native speaker of English, and his/her Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, he/she is expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details.
For further programme information, please contact us via email: msc.bdc@polyu.edu.hk
6 for local students
12 for non-local students
HK$7,050 per credit for local and non-local students. Tuition fee will not be charged for the 1-credit AIE subject.
Scholarships
Two one-off entry scholarships of HK$10,000 each will be granted to applicants who are admitted during the Early Round Application period (by 19 November 2024) and obtained a Bachelor’s degree with Second Class (Division I) Honours or above (or equivalent). Another two one-off entry scholarships of HK$10,000 each will be granted to applicants with excellent academic achievements. The recipients are not allowed to concurrently hold more than one Entry Scholarship awarded by the Department.
PolyU reserves the right to change or withdraw the scholarship at any time. In case of any dispute / disagreement, PolyU’s decision is final.
