Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs (Pharma, Postgraduate Diploma, L9, 60 ECTS)

The aim of this module is to facilitate an in-depth understanding of quality and quality management, from the various definitions of quality, through to the practical application of systems and processes to manage quality. Learners will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able audit all, or part of, organisation’s formal Quality Management systems against defined criteria such as ISO 13485, ISO 9001 or 21 CFR Part 820. Learners will develop skills to become leaders and innovators in the application of Quality principles and techniques and develop as quality management professionals for senior roles in the service and manufacturing industry.

Provide learners with an understanding of EU regulatory systems in the pharmaceutical field. The programme will cover the role of regulatory affairs, classification, regulatory structure, recent and forecasted changes, and the impact of various submission pathways as they apply to Pharmaceutical in the EU market. This module will explore theory, regulations, tools and techniques used in these companies. As well as giving learners competence in the appropriate legal, compliance and operational standards in industry. This module will enhance a learner’s career in regulatory affairs by developing increasing levels of competence and professionalism by obtaining a formal qualification in the pharmaceutical regulation industry.

Learners will gain an in-depth understanding of the application of Risk Management within organisational Quality Management Systems. Learners will acquire the ability to objectively evaluate evidence generated by systems and processes against clearly defined criteria and determine the effectiveness of these systems and processes. There will also be a focus on managing external audits by second and third parties (customers and regulators/notified bodies). Learners will develop skills to become leaders and innovators in the application of Quality principles and techniques and develop as quality management professionals for senior roles in the service and manufacturing industry.

Understanding of the utilisation of standards, FDA and other jurisdictions’ guidance documents and technical writing. The module will cover the role of regulatory affairs, classification, regulatory structure, recent and forecasted changes, and the impact of various submission pathways as they apply to Pharmaceutical in the world market.

The aim of this modules is to provide the learner with a knowledge of process engineering management in a manufacturing environment. A learner will be able to evaluate process types, designs, layouts, process analysis, forecasting of product, capacity planning while ascertaining a knowledge of current technologies and automation used in the manufacturing.

Provide the learner with an overview of process and product validation in manufacturing environments. The focus will be on Process validation with emphases on the tools and techniques that are used in the operations and manufacturing environment; to ensuring that operations are efficient in terms of using as few resources as needed, compliance with regulatory requirements and be effective in terms of meeting customer requirements.

An overview of software validation in a manufacturing or software environment. The focus will be on software validation in a manufacturing or software environment. To evaluate software validation approaches, models, development, implementation, testing and maintenance of validated software. The importance and application of validation management, reporting and risk management in a manufacturing/software environment will be defined and evaluated.

There are multiple roles a graduate from the programme can seek in disciplines such as Quality Engineering, Management, Auditing, Compliance, Legal and Regulatory affairs.

Furthermore, there are multiple roles a graduate from the programme can seek in areas such as Regulatory Engineer, Process Engineer, Validation Engineer, Quality Engineers, Regulatory Affairs Management, Process Engineering Management, Validation Management, Quality Management, Quality Management Systems, Quality Assurance, Compliance and Auditing Management, Risk Management.

International Opportunities:

The content of the modules will be seen to reflect a globalised environment .This is demonstrated by the regulatory affairs module stream which focuses on EU, US and worldwide regulatory affair bodies.

This is further demonstrated through the quality management module stream as learners Learners may apply externally to sit the internationally recognised ISO9001:2015 Lead Auditor Exam, which equips learners to be lead auditors world-wide. Thus, will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able audit all, or part of, organisation’s formal Quality Management systems against defined criteria such as international standards ISO 13485, ISO 9001 or 21 CFR Part 820.

On completing the Postgraduate Diploma, students can transfer onto the Masters in Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs to complete one 30 credit dissertation module.

All Springboard and HCI Pillar 1 funded programmes will commence on Thursday 5th September at 7pm with a one-hour online ‘Welcome Introductory Session’. The link to join this Welcome Session will be emailed to all registered students. Additional Delivery Schedules will be circulated to registered students in due course. 

Lectures will be delivered 100% online via Moodle/MSTeams. Lectures will be recorded and available to watch back.

This programme will run online from September 2024 to December 2025

8 hours per week

Number of Weeks: 12 per semester
Number of Days / Evenings per week: 3
Number of Hours per week: 8
Delivery Day / Evening: see below

Semester 1: September ’24 – December ’24 – Tue & Thu 7pm – 10pm / Fri 1pm – 2pm & 3pm – 4pm

Semester 2: January ’25 – April ’25 – Mon & Tue 7pm – 10pm / Fri 1pm – 2pm & 4pm – 5pm

Semester 3: September ’25 – December ’25 – Mon & Thu 7pm – 10pm / Fri 3 – 4pm & elective (either 4pm – 5pm or 5pm – 6pm)

The proposed delivery schedule is subject to change.

Each 5 credits will normally equate to approximately 100 Total Learning Hours. Total Learning Hours includes the time you spend in class (lectures, tutorials, practical elements) and the time you spend completing work outside of college. The balance between these two varies by discipline, and by level of study. You should bear in mind that the workload will increase at particular times e.g. when assignments are due.

Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs – Pharmaceutical. (Level 9, 60 ECTS)

Application Deadline: 11 August 2024. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis, prioritizing unemployed and returning applicants. Course will be closed once the maximum number of applicants is reached. Courses run subject to viable numbers.