Master of Science in Pharmacotoxicology - L-Universit脿 ta' Malta

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

2 or 3 Years

90 ECTS

Mode of Study

Part-time Evening

This course consists of study-units which will establish foundations in pharmacology and toxicology, and provide the skills to manage and apply this information in the clinical, regulatory and pharmaceutical setting. The taught study-units will cover the fundamentals of the toxicology and pharmacology principles to provide the background for other study units. It will also provide molecular, cellular and pharmacokinetic aspects of Pharmacotoxicology and discuss the application of these principles in the management and treatment of poisoning of various pharmaceutical products. You will also be required to follow compulsory courses in research and statistical methodology. Other study units focus on delivering a sound knowledge of application of Pharmacotoxicology principles in the practical emergency and therapeutic fields. There will also be an overview of the forensic and regulatory aspects of Pharmacotoxicology, risk assessment and management, as well as Pharmacotoxicology in the environmental and occupational fields.

This course consists of study-units which will establish foundations in pharmacology and toxicology, and provide the skills to manage and apply this information in the clinical, regulatory and pharmaceutical setting. The course also covers topics related to risk assessment, regulatory aspects, and management of overdose of prescribed medication, over the counter medication and illicit substances. The taught study units will cover the fundamentals of the toxicology and pharmacology principles which are needed to provide the background for the other study units. It will also provide molecular, cellular and pharmacokinetic aspects of pharmacotoxicology and discuss the application of these principles in the management and treatment of poisoning of various pharmaceutical products. Students will also be required to follow compulsory courses in research and statistical methodology. Other study units focus on delivering a sound knowledge of application of pharmacotoxicological principles in the practical emergency and therapeutic fields. There will also be an overview of the forensic and regulatory aspects of pharmacotoxicology, risk assessment and management, as well as pharmacotoxicology in the environmental and occupational fields. Students will also be required to follow compulsory courses in scientific writing skills in view of the dissertation which forms an integral part of this degree.

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Applicants must be in possession of:

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery or
the degree of Master of Dental Surgery, (or the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery obtained with at least Second Class Honours if awarded prior to July 2018) or
the degree of Master of Pharmacy, (or the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) obtained with at least Second Class Honours if awarded prior to July 2012) or
an Allied Health Sciences degree which includes a pharmacology component, obtained with at least Second Class Honours or
a Bachelor's degree in Medical Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacology, or any other area of study which includes a pharmacology component and is deemed suitable by the Board of Studies, obtained with at least Second Class Honours or Category II.

The maximum number of students that can be admitted to the course is 10 students.

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You can submit your application online. The deadlines for submission of applications vary according to the intake and courses. We encourage all international applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. This is especially important if you require a visa to travel and eventually stay in Malta.

You can compare your national qualifications to the local requirements by visiting our qualifications comparability webpage. Access more information about our admission process and English language requirements.

The University of Malta has student accommodation on campus called Campus Hub. Campus Hub is just a 2-minute walk from the main campus. For more information, visit the .

Our dedicated team at the student recruitment office is here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you start your application to the moment when you receive your decision letter, we're here to assist you. If you have any questions or need further information, don't hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at info@um.edu.mt, and our team will be more than happy to help.

After you receive an offer from us, our International Office will assist you with visas, accommodation and other related issues.


Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

CPH5411	Pharmacotoxicology Seminars, Case Studies and Journal Clubs	10 ECTS


Semester 1

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

CPH5401	Fundamentals of Pharmacotoxicology: Principles, Classification and Toxicokinetics	5 ECTS
CPH5402	Mechanisms of Drug Toxicity: Molecular, Cellular and Pathological	5 ECTS


Semester 2

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

CPH5403	Clinical Toxicology and Management of Poisoning of Commonly Used Pharmaceuticals 1	5 ECTS
CPH5412	Research and Statistical Methods in Pharmacotoxicology	5 ECTS


Semester 1

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

CPH5404	Clinical Toxicology and Management of Poisoning of Commonly Used Pharmaceuticals 2	5 ECTS
CPH5405	Diagnosis and Management of Toxicological Emergencies	5 ECTS
CPH5406	Risk Assessment and Management in the Clinical Pharmacotoxicology Setting	5 ECTS


Semester 2

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

CPH5407	Poisoning, Toxicology and Treatment of Non-pharmacological Agents	5 ECTS
CPH5408	Clinical Management of Poisoning with Drugs of Abuse and in Sports	5 ECTS
CPH5409	Preventive, Forensic and Regulatory Pharmacotoxicology	5 ECTS


Semester 1

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

CPH5410*	Dissertation	30 ECTS
* Work on the dissertation may be undertaken during the final two semesters of the Course; provided that students wishing to complete the Course over two calendar years may be allowed to work on the dissertation during the two summer periods following the taught semesters. Such students will be required to inform the Board of Studies of this decision by not later than the first semester of the second year of the Course.

This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Master of Science in Pharmacotoxicology - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Explain various terms, principles and definitions used in Pharmacotoxicology.
Discuss the basic concepts of health informatics.
Interpret symptoms of poisoning with the identification of commonly used pharmaceuticals.
Plan the appropriate clinical management of overdose of commonly used pharmaceuticals.
Predict patterns of illicit drug abuse in local and international scenarios and in the ergogenic use of drugs in sports.

Non EU Applicants:

Total Tuition Fees: Eur 13,400
Yr 1: Eur 6,700 - Yr 2: Eur 6,700

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This course will allow students from a variety of clinical and scientific backgrounds to obtain new skills which will enable them to move into research and employment in the field of toxicology and related disciplines. This will include:

Advising on the prevention and management of poisoning with common pharmaceutical products, natural toxins, pesticides and industrial chemicals.
Contributing to the manufacturing pharmaceutical sector in Malta, in view of the regulatory requirements for expertise in toxicology and risk assessments in the manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and pharmaceutical formulations
Participating in chemical incident preparedness and response activity at a national level
Exerting active involvement in toxicovigilance and research in clinical toxicology in forensic and toxicology laboratories.
Be employed in the national Pharmacotoxicology professional clinical and regulatory community such as Malta National Poisons Centre and the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority
Contributing to ongoing prevention education, training, and public awareness on the safe use of drugs and other chemical products.

Potential to continue studies at Ph.D. level at University.

Every effort has been made to provide information that is current and accurate. However, as the content is being constantly updated, users are advised to verify the details contained in these web pages with the relevant University office or authority before making decisions based on the published information.