Why study this course?
Our vocationally oriented degree course combines biology and chemistry to examine drug design, targets and delivery. You’ll learn how drugs affect the human body through theoretical teaching, lab work and optional work placements, and will be taught by a number of research-active staff who have close links with the industry.
More about this course
If you’ve ever wondered how new medicines are invented, this could be the course for you. You’ll follow the entire process of rational drug design, from identifying biological targets that link to diseases to optimising lead compounds that recognise these targets.
You’ll also learn about the parameters that affect the delivery of drugs to specific sites in the body, in order to gain a better understanding of how drugs can be administered to deliver maximum results with minimum side effects.
In your first year, you’ll gain a solid grounding in the fundamentals of chemistry and related biological subjects. As the course progresses, you’ll cover these topics at a greater depth, as well as having the opportunity to specialise in subjects that interest you.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
Cell Biology (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits)
Fundamental Chemical Concepts (core, 15 credits)
Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits)
General Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
Introduction to Laboratory Skills (core, 15 credits)
Introduction to Organic Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
Key Principles in Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
Laboratory Techniques with Data Handling (core, 15 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Organic Ring Systems (core, 15 credits)
Organic Unsaturated Molecules (core, 15 credits)
Principles of Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Delivery (core, 15 credits)
Principles of Pharmacodynamics (core, 15 credits)
Quantitative Analysis (core, 15 credits)
Spectroscopic Methods (core, 15 credits)
Coordination and solution chemistry of d and f block complexes (option, 15 credits)
Human Immunity (option, 15 credits)
Metabolism (option, 15 credits)
Microbiology (option, 15 credits)
Molecular Biology (option, 15 credits)
Solid State and Organometallic Chemistry (option, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Formulation and Quality Assurance of Solutions, Suspensions and Emulsions (core, 15 credits)
Formulations and Quality Assurance of Solids and Semi-solids (core, 15 credits)
Medicinal Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
Research Project (core, 30 credits)
Advanced Organic Chemistry (alternative core, 15 credits)
Natural Products (alternative core, 15 credits)
Advanced Bioanalytical Science (option, 15 credits)
Advanced Inorganic Techniques (option, 15 credits)
Neuropharmacology (option, 15 credits)
Sandwich Placement (option, 30 credits)
Systems Pharmacology (option, 15 credits)
Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (option, 15 credits)
Work Placement (for Life Sciences) (option, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
On completing this course, you’ll be equipped to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Previous graduates have gone on to work at companies like BMS Healthcare, the National Health Service (NHS) and Quintiles.
You’ll also develop the numerical and analytical skills valued by employers in many other industries, such as commerce, financial services and marketing.
This course is also excellent preparation for further research or postgraduate study.
