Master of Drug Discovery and Development–MDDD 180 points Qualification regulations

1. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the MDDD degree shall have:

(i) completed a degree of a tertiary education institution in New Zealand or equivalent in Chemistry or a relevant life-science subject, such as Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, normally with a B+ average grade or better in relevant courses; and

(ii) been accepted by the relevant head of school as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

(b) Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the Associate Dean, Academic (Postgraduate) for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.

2. The course of study for the MDDD shall consist of:

Part 1: (i) DRGD 401; one of DRGD 402, CHEM 421

(ii) A further 60 points from BIOL 430–440, BMSC 400–441, BTEC 435–441, CHEM 400–441, CLNR 401–405, DRGD 402–403, MBIO 434–440

(iii) DRGD 580

Part 2: DRGD 561 or 590.

3. With the programme director’s permission, a candidate may replace Part 1(iii) and Part 2 of the MDDD with DRGD 595.

4. A candidate for the MDDD degree shall normally be enrolled for at least three trimesters and shall complete the degree within two years of first enrolling. The associate dean may extend the maximum period in special cases.

5. A candidate who has completed the PGDipDDD or PGCertDDD and is accepted into the MDDD may transfer the courses passed to the MDDD, but must abandon the earlier qualification upon being awarded the degree.

6. A candidate may, with the permission of the programme director, replace optional courses with substitute courses chosen from those offered for postgraduate Honours or Master’s degrees. (See section 5.5 of the General Programmes of Study Regulations for the general provisions concerning the substitution of courses.)

7. The MDDD may be endorsed with one of the following specialisations where the candidate has included courses as listed below and the head of school is satisfied that their work in DRGD 561, DRGD 590, or 595 is focused in the relevant area:

Chemical Biology (CHMB): DRGD 401, CHEM 421; 15 further points from BMSC 405, BMSC 430–433, CHEM 424–425

Drug Development (DDEV): DRGD 401, DRGD 402 and 403

Drug Discovery (DDIS): DRGD 401; one of DRGD 402 or CHEM 421; 15 further points from DRGD 402, CHEM 421, BMSC 432, BTEC 435, MBIO 401

8. The MDDD may be awarded with Distinction or Merit as described in the Assessment Handbook.