Pharmaceutical Science MSci/BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Build the essential knowledge you need for your pharmaceutical science journey. Explore the chemical and biological principles behind how drugs are discovered, developed and used. Learn how drug molecules are structured, how they work in the body and how they're made and delivered. Grasp key ideas like how drugs act, how they move through the body (pharmacokinetics) and how to understand their safety (toxicology).

Compulsory

Investigate the physiology of the human body, beginning with cellular organisation and signalling, all the way through to organ systems, their control and pathophysiology. Learn the process of human embryonic development to understand how distinct physiological systems develop.

Build your knowledge of how the main systems in the human body are developed, structured and organised, such as the nervous, muscular, skeletal, hormonal, heart, lung, reproductive, digestive and kidney systems. Learn how these systems work together to keep the body in balance (homeostasis). This module also covers how cells interact and communicate through cell signalling. You will be introduced to key concepts in how drugs work in the body (pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics), as well as how new medicines are developed.

Compulsory

Learn about the different types of microorganisms with a detailed focus on bacteria and viruses. The structure, growth characteristics, laboratory cultivation and enumeration of bacteria and viruses will be considered. Explore the role of microorganisms in both human health and disease, as well as control strategies for microorganisms, including sterilisation, disinfection, antimicrobial agents and vaccines. This module will also introduce how mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance develop and work.

Learn how the body defends itself against infections through both the innate and adaptive immune response. Understand how lymphocytes develop and how the immune system tells the difference between the body's own cells and foreign cells and molecules, including how it responds to tissue transplants.

Compulsory

Learn the principles of inheritance, human genetics, population genetics and evolution. You will be introduced to the discovery and structure of DNA and study how traits are passed down, including human blood groups and mitochondrial inheritance.

Discover how DNA is used to make RNA and proteins (transcription and translation) and learn how to analyse genetic sequences using bioinformatics tools and analytical software. Explore the ethical issues around access to genetic data and how historical events and research projects have shaped the field.

Compulsory

Learn the lab techniques and drug development processes used in modern pharmacology and pharmaceutical science. Develop practical skills by measuring drug levels, identifying contaminants and studying how drugs behave in the body. Explore how drug discovery has evolved, from early methods to today's advanced technologies, and follow each stage of development, from identifying targets to clinical trials. Look at how drugs are formulated, regulated and manufactured, including GMP and quality control.

Compulsory

Explore how modern medicines are designed, made and tested. Learn how a drug's chemical structure affects its activity and how it's absorbed, processed and delivered in the body. Study different drug delivery systems and discover how formulation impacts safety and effectiveness. Look into drug design, structure-activity relationships and synthesis, while developing your skills in analytical techniques used for quality control. Finally, connect it all by exploring how active ingredients are formulated for real-world use.

Compulsory

Examine how drug molecules are turned into real medicines on a large scale. Learn how formulations are developed, tested and manufactured, and discover the key technologies behind tablets, capsules and injections. Explore cutting-edge topics like vaccine tagging and targeted drug delivery and get hands-on experience with pharmaceutical production methods. Study how medicines are quality-checked, regulated and approved, and understand how global healthcare systems impact how drugs are made and delivered around the world.

Compulsory

Learn the key principles and applications of computational biology, integrating theoretical concepts with practical computational techniques. Gain an interdisciplinary approach to understanding biological processes through bioinformatics, biostatistics, and systems biology. Explore key topics such as enzyme kinetics, metabolic pathways, sequence analysis and molecular modelling, with a strong emphasis on computational tools used in modern biological research and drug discovery.

Compulsory

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement² undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement2 undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Delve into the complexities of modern drug development, combining foundational principles and modern applications. Refine your understanding of advanced laboratory techniques, drug discovery processes and the intricacies of bringing novel therapeutics to market. You will focus on critical analysis of research methodologies, ethical considerations and the evolving landscape of pharmaceutical innovation. Building upon prior knowledge in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and molecular biology, you'll have the opportunity to explore contemporary approaches in drug design, target validation and personalised medicine.

Compulsory

Get a clear understanding of how advanced medicines are developed, made and brought to global markets. Explore techniques like gene therapy, vaccine development and recombinant protein production, while understanding how they are applied in real-world drug manufacturing. Explore the science and logistics behind preclinical and clinical trials, including key ethical and legal issues. By the end, build strong problem-solving skills to help tackle real challenges in global biopharmaceutical development.

Compulsory

Learn how laws and regulations shape the pharmaceutical industry and keep patients safe. Explore the legal and ethical rules that control how medicines are developed, tested, made and sold. Examine key standards like Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and how safety is monitored after drugs are released.

Discover how patents protect new drug ideas and why intellectual property matters. Through real case studies, learn how companies stay compliant by managing risk, training staff, setting policies, auditing and reporting. Look at what happens when companies get it wrong, from fines to product recalls and lost public trust.

Compulsory

This capstone module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an independent research project within your discipline/area of interest. You will engage in all stages of the research process, from project design and ethical approval to data collection, analysis, and presentation. Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and advanced scientific communication skills, culminating in a conference-style poster presentation and defence of findings.

Compulsory

Advance and build upon fundamental chemical and biological principles to explore the complexities of drug development. Discover key concepts including structure-activity relationships, drug target identification, rational drug design and modern synthetic strategies. Investigate pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism and toxicology alongside emerging trends in the field, such as targeted drug delivery.

Compulsory

Build advanced knowledge of how biopharmaceuticals are made, from cell line engineering and genetic modification to large-scale production and quality control. Explore how to optimise and scale up processes, design and run bioreactors and use advanced tools to check the quality and safety of complex biologic drugs. Examine exciting new therapies like gene and cell therapies and the manufacturing and regulation challenges they bring. Learn how automation and data are shaping the future of biopharma production.

Compulsory

This module provides an in-depth exploration of the complex processes governing drug metabolism and the principles of toxicology. Learn about the enzymes involved in drug metabolism, how drugs are broken down and their importance. Study the mechanisms of toxicity at the molecular and cellular level, including risks like cancer or genetic damage. Through real-world examples, see how this knowledge is used in drug development, safety testing and clinical practice.

Compulsory

Dive into the world of natural medicines and their impact on drug discovery. Explore how plants, microbes and marine life provide chemical compounds used in modern medicines. Learn how scientists isolate, study and improve these natural products using advanced lab techniques and tools. Discover how modern methods, like genetic engineering and high-throughput screening help find and develop new drugs from nature.

Compulsory