Programme Director Jeremy Whitty answers key questions about the online MSc in Global Medicines Development at King’s College London, covering what you'll learn, who it's for, and how it supports career growth.
Discover the benefits of studying Global Medicines Development online with King’s College London, ranked 11th worldwide for Life Sciences & Medicine (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).
Turning a promising scientific discovery—whether a novel chemical entity, a complex biologic, or an advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP)—into a safe and effective treatment is a complex process. New medicinal products must navigate a series of scientific, regulatory, and commercial milestones before they can reach the patients who need them.
As this process becomes more demanding, so too does the need for professionals who understand the entire development process.
The King’s online Global Medicines Development MSc is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to meet this demand and lead the next wave of medical innovation. King’s’ Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research is a registered PharmaTrain Centre of Excellence, so you can be confident you're receiving a top-quality education.
In this Q&A, Programme Director Jeremy Whitty explores key aspects of the MSc, including who it's for, what you'll study, and the career opportunities it can lead to. Read on to discover what makes this programme unique and why King’s could be the right choice for you.
Jeremy: This master's is delivered fully online over two years. It has been structured to allow working professionals to study as much as possible at a flexible pace.
The curriculum covers the full spectrum of medicines development, from early discovery to market access. We have dedicated modules on all the key aspects of the healthcare marketplace, which now includes many different markets. We tackle ethics, non-clinical development, clinical trials, regulation, and safety monitoring. We also address advanced therapy medicinal products, including cell and gene therapies, as well as commercialisation.
Each module is designed to support academic development and professional application. We encourage students to draw on their own work environments as part of their learning.
Jeremy: The life science sector is evolving quickly, with increasing complexity around regulation, innovation, and access. This programme responds directly to those changes, offering learners a solid grounding in core scientific, business and strategic functions within the field.
For those working in medicines development or transitioning into the industry, the master’s provides the structure, depth, and flexibility needed to build essential skills. It also helps them develop the confidence and credibility required to succeed in the field.
Jeremy: Students can explore many areas, from drug discovery, clinical operations, regulatory affairs and safety to medical affairs, market access, and advanced therapies.
In fact, students will do a capstone project at the end of the programme, developing a business strategy for an advanced therapy.
Each module includes teamwork exercises. It encourages critical reflection on what you are learning, why it’s important and how you might apply that learning at work. These are important transferable skills that will benefit graduates, wherever their career takes them.
Jeremy: The programme attracts professionals from around the world and across the life science sector. Their backgrounds range from clinical development, regulatory affairs and medical affairs to those in commercial roles. We also have healthcare practitioners, researchers, and policy-makers joining the MSc.
Some come with scientific backgrounds, while others may have experience in patient advocacy, commercialisation or health economics. The more diverse the student body, the better, as this brings more experiences and perspectives to learn from.
That said, what unites everyone is a commitment to making medicines safer, more effective and more accessible. The online format gives people the chance to study without putting their careers on hold. It’s also the perfect way to learn from one another in a rich and respectful environment.
Jeremy: Assessments are typically case studies using real-world challenges and individual assignments based on the teamwork students engage with during each module.
This allows students to explore and find solutions to challenges they are likely to experience during their careers. And they have a broad remit to focus on a therapeutic area of their choice during the final project.
Jeremy: Our students often use their learning to apply for promotions, move into specialist roles, or transition across sectors.
The programme builds their strategic thinking, scientific acumen and their understanding of the wider life science landscape.
The master's is not just about gaining new knowledge. It’s about gaining key competencies in medicines development and building the confidence to apply those skills across many disciplines.
Jeremy: The range of perspectives is genuinely inspiring. Online students bring maturity, insight, and a strong sense of purpose to their studies.
Many are already making significant contributions to the development of innovative medicinal products. We invariably have students who could teach large parts of the curriculum. They come to the programme to exchange ideas with peers from around the world.
It’s a privilege to support their progress and to see everyone’s thinking develop over time.
Jeremy: For me, it’s the balance between academic learning and real-world application. We’re not teaching in a vacuum. Everything we cover is grounded in current debates and practice. We also look ahead to the future and consider where the life sciences industry will be in 10 years' time.
I find it especially rewarding to see how students apply what they’ve learned straight away, often feeding their coursework into projects at work.
Jeremy: If you’re thinking of applying, take some time to reflect on what you want to gain from a postgraduate programme. Think about how it fits into your long-term goals.
If you decide to apply, come with an open mind. Be prepared to engage with new ways of thinking.
This is a master's that rewards curiosity, discipline, and collaboration. If you’re ready to challenge yourself and make a meaningful contribution to global medicines development, you’ll be in good company here at King’s College London.
Thank you to Jeremy for sharing your insights with us!
Discover how the Global Medicines Development MSc can empower you with the expertise and leadership skills to drive innovation and impact in the global life science industry: