Studying at the University of Vienna
Ian Ehm

Drug Discovery and Development (master's programme)

Developing, testing and advancing new active substances: the English-taught master's programme in Drug Discovery and Development enables you to work on pre-clinical research topics, combining pharmacy, biology, chemistry and nutritional sciences, and applying modern methods in the laboratory and on the computer.

  • The degree programme in a nutshell

    Overview
    Programme Code

    066 606

    Duration

    4 semesters

    Extent

    120 ECTS 

    Before admission

    Selection procedure

    Degree

    Master of Science (MSc)

    Contents

    Curriculum for the master's programme in Drug Discovery and Development (PDF, only available in German) 

    Cost

    Tuition fee/Student's Union fee (per Semester)

    A selection procedure is conducted in the master's programme in Drug Discovery and Development. Find a short overview at “The selection procedure” → 

  • The selection procedure

    Overview
    Application period

    Deadline for the academic year 2027/28 is to be announced. 

    Available places

    40

    Allocation of places

    Allocation by selection committee 

    Language

    English (admission requirement)

    Requirements

    Read all details about the requirements for admission to and the selection procedure for this master's programme in the Master Access Guide (MAG). 

    To the Master Access Guide (MAG)

    Please note: the selection procedure takes place only once per academic year! Only those who successfully participate in it and meet all admission requirements can start their studies. 

What is it about?

You will tackle current research questions in drug discovery – employing robust methodologies and a hypothesis-driven approach. You will identify and validate targets, develop and optimise assays, and utilise ligand- and structure-based drug design. You will characterise bioactive natural products, plan hit-to-lead strategies, and evaluate candidates in vitro and in silico. You will characterise ADME properties, take preclinical toxicology into account and understand the fundamentals of drug targeting and technology transfer. You will apply advanced, modern methods – such as medicinal chemistry, pharmacoinformatics, biophysical measurement techniques, fragment-based approaches, nucleic acid-based drugs or preformulation techniques. 

Ian Ehm

Insight into the course content

How is my degree programme structured? You can see a list of the course contents here:

Facts and figures

  • 77 students
    in total
    There were 19 graduates in the past academic year.
    Info about the calculation
    Data updated November 2025
  • 4.6 semester
    average study duration
    Info about the calculation
    Data updated November 2025
  • No data
    level of difficulty of the degree programme
    This is how graduates rate their degree programmes. You can find the results in the Graduation Survey.
    Data updated 2025
  • € 4,399
    average gross monthly income 3 years after graduation
    What career paths are available after graduation? Answers in the Graduate Tracking.
    Data updated 2025

What can you expect after your studies?

Continue studying or start your career straight away? After completing your masters programme, all paths are open to you. Whether you decide to pursue a doctoral/PhD degree or take the plunge into the world of work, the possibilities are endless. The following overview shows you what options you have and where you can find the right support.

Ian Ehm

Career profiles

  • Which careers are possible after this degree?

    Upon completion of this degree programme, you will be able to work as a highly qualified specialist in the following fields:

    • Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
    • Preclinical development
    • Medicinal chemistry and pharmacoinformatics
    • University and non-university research
    • Research administration and science management
    Ian Ehm

What else should you know?