Search everything:

PgDip Pharmacovigilance

Why choose Herts?

Industry Accreditation: Delivered in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Information and Pharmacovigilance Association [PIPA], who contribute to the curriculum and teaching to ensure the up-to-date content is relevant to needs of industry.

Teaching Excellence: A programme committee of expert speakers provide students with latest thinking in Pharmacovigilance and access to networking opportunities. Students have the benefit of working with two supervisors for their project dissertation: an academic supervisor and a work-based supervisor to advise them. Many of our academic supervisors hold or held senior industry level roles

Strong Industry Connections: Benefit from networking opportunities with our external industry speakers (including Roche and Novartis), industry research supervisors and other students working world-wide.

Flexible Blended Learning: This part-time postgraduate programme in Pharmacovigilance is designed for full-time employed professionals within drug safety. This course is flexible blended with online and face-to-face teaching.

International Recognition: The programme has international recognition as an established provider of Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety education with academic accreditation, focusing on European Union and United Kingdom Pharmacovigilance Regulations and Guidelines, yet providing a rounded global context.

Professional Accreditations

This course is accredited by the PIPA (Pharmaceutical Information and Pharmacovigilance Association).

About the course

The PgDip Pharmacovigilance is a course developed by the School of Life and Medical Sciences at the University and the Pharmaceutical Information and Pharmacovigilance Association (PIPA). On this course, you will study relevant techniques used in pharmacovigilance including the basis of adverse drug reactions, regulations and guidelines (UK, EU and major worldwide regions), handling safety issues including Labelling and Risk Management Systems and processes (both pre and post-marketing). 

Why choose this course?

  • 92% overall satisfaction for Medicine and Dentistry in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES, 2024)
  • Expertise of the staff, who are experienced professionals and have real-world expertise in pharmacovigilance from the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities
  • Flexibility of study, based on intensive three-day taught courses with independent
  • Pre and post-coursework activities
  • Practical research projects based on real-world situations
  • Opportunities for sharing experiences and networking 
  • There is the flexibility to extend your studies to the MSc in Pharmacovigilance during your studies, in you complete a research project (60 credits).

What will I study?

Taught modules normally consist of approximately 24 hours of class contact. In addition, about 120 hours will be needed to complete the pre and post-course activities. The actual amount of time spent will depend upon your existing knowledge and ability. All modules are free-standing. Satisfactory completion of four modules is compulsory for the PgCert; all eight modules are required for the PgDip and MSc. Coursework will contribute significantly to assessment and may comprise some or all of the following: summaries of pre-course reading, written reports of class discussions, essays, performances in seminars, poster presentations, problem solving or data interpretation exercises, short projects and case studies. Unseen written examinations will feature in some courses; they may be used to examine understanding of pre-course reading material. Attendance at the taught component and satisfactory completion of both coursework and examinations (where present), with a minimum mark of 50% in each element, is normally required to pass each module.

  • Level 7
    ModuleCreditsCompulsory/optional
    Pharmacovigilance Regulations and Guidelines15 CreditsOptional
    Drug Safety in Clinical Trials15 CreditsOptional
    Adverse Drug Reactions by Major Body Systems II15 CreditsOptional
    Management of Pharmacovigilance Data15 CreditsOptional
    Principles of Pharmacovigilance15 CreditsOptional
    Adverse Drug Reactions by Major Body Systems I15 CreditsOptional
    Pharmacoepidemiology15 CreditsOptional
    Labelling and Risk Management15 CreditsOptional
    Pharmacovigilance Regulations and Guidelines15 CreditsOptional
    Drug Safety in Clinical Trials15 CreditsOptional
    Project, Pharmacovigilance60 CreditsOptional
    Principles of Pharmacovigilance15 CreditsOptional
    Pharmacoepidemiology15 CreditsOptional
    Risk Management and Labelling15 CreditsOptional
  • Further course information

    Course fact sheets
    MSc Pharmacovigilance Download
    MSc Pharmacovigilance Download
    Programme specifications
    MSc Pharmacovigilance Download
    MSc Pharmacovigilance Download
    Additional information

    Sandwich placement or study abroad year

    n/a

    Applications open to international and EU students

    No

    Student experience

    At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

    Find out about how we support our students

    You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.