Biopharmaceutical Science with Integrated Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

This is a four-year version of BSc (Hons) Biopharmaceutical Science with an Integrated Foundation Year. Immerse yourself in the challenging field of drug discovery and development. Study the development of new drugs, the discovery of diagnostic markers of disease and the assurance of safety, quality and efficacy of manufactured drugs.

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Overview

Biopharmaceutical science is the study of how biological molecules can be designed, manufactured and used as medicines. The course puts you at the forefront of recent trends in pharmaceutical research, in which increasing numbers of drugs are coming from large biopharmaceutical molecules.

On graduation, you can look forward to a wide range of career opportunities in a large and growing industry. Over a quarter of all industrial research in the UK is performed by pharmaceutical companies.

Why us?

Industry standard equipment and training in the use of advanced analytical equipment allows a detailed insight into the natural world through laboratory sessions
Industry focused curriculum is enriched by industry expert input through external lectures, visits and mentoring
The University has over 100 years of expertise in teaching science

You will be encouraged to apply for an optional 1-year placement working with multinationals such as GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Sanofi-Aventis or in a local laboratory
We are a University that is nationally recognised for supporting learners particularly from non-traditional backgrounds and many students come to us with no formal qualifications but with valuable work experience
This unique course makes extensive use of the new advanced technology within the laboratory infrastructure within our Sciences Complex

Course structure

Teaching methods include laboratory practical work, tutorials, lectures, seminars, group work and e-learning. We encourage you to develop independent study skills.

Assessments help provide feedback and consolidation as well as counting towards your degree. Assessment methods include laboratory reports, presentations, research essays and examinations.

This course shares a common first year with BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and BSc (Hons) Medicinal Chemistry, which allows you to easily change course at the end of the first year should one of these routes appeal to you.

Depending on availability of places and subject to interview, you may be able to apply to transfer to our MPharm Pharmacy course following successful completion of the foundation year of the Biopharmaceutical Sciences Integrated Foundation Degree. You must aim to achieve 70% in the foundation year, and any offer will be subject to the discretion of the Pharmacy admissions tutor.

Foundation Year

The Integrated Foundation Year for Pharmaceutical Sciences includes five modules:

Essential Study Skills (20 credits)
Practical Numeracy Skills (20 credits)
Foundations of Science (40 credits)
Foundation Project (20 credits)
Chemistry for Pharmaceutical Science (20 credits)

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Introduction to Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry (20 credits)
Introduction to Cell Biology and Biochemistry (20 credits)
Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (20 credits)
Introduction to Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Regulation (20 credits)
Research and Practical Skills in Biopharmaceutical Science (40 credits)

Year 2 (national level 5):

Further Research and Practical Skills in Biopharmaceutical Science (40 credits)
Organic Chemistry (20 credits)
Genetics and Molecular Biology (20 credits)
Further Analytical Sciences (20 credits)
Pharmaceutical Manufacture (20 credits)

Year 3

Optional year on placement in the Pharmaceutical industry

Final year (national level 6)

Advanced Chemistry (20 credits)
Advanced Biotechnology and Biochemistry (20 credits)
Advanced Analytical Chemistry (20 credits)
Advanced Formulation Chemistry (20 credits)
Research Project (40 credits)

Based in the Sciences Complex, the Analytical Lab has high-end analytical equipment, including UV, Fluorescence, Infrared and Atomic Absorption Spectrometers, as well as specialist equipment such as Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometers and Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer, which enable analysis of complex mixtures.
Analytical Lab
Analytical Lab 360
We’ve got thousands of books and e-books on pharmaceutical and biomedical science, with many more titles available through the inter-library loan service. We also subscribe to a comprehensive range of print and electronic journals so you can access the most reliable and up-to-date academic and industry articles.
Some of the most important sources for your studies include:
- Embase: A complex database covering drug research, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, toxicology, clinical and experimental human medicine, health policy and management, public health, occupational health, environmental health, drug dependence and abuse, psychiatry, forensic medicine and biomedical engineering/instrumentation
- PsycARTICLES: Includes information about the psychological aspects of medicine, psychiatry, nursing, sociology, pharmacology and physiology
- PubMed: Contains life science journals, online books and abstracts that cover fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine and health care
- Science Direct: Offers more than 2,000 full-text journals published by Elsevier
- Web of Science: Covers a broad range of science areas
Library Services - sciences
Multi-Functional Lab 360
The Sciences Complex is based on our City Campus. It has benefited from multi-million pound investment in modern facilities in recent years and continues to develop as our health sciences offer grows.

It is the central hub for many of our health and sciences courses and is made up of a variety of teaching and learning spaces, including labs, problem-based learning classrooms and facilities that encourage interprofessional learning. A lot of academic staff offices are based here, with an open-door policy in place.
The Sciences Complex
Map and directions

Facilities

This course is based in the Sciences Complex at our City Campus, which boasts excellent laboratories and cutting-edge equipment thanks to multi-million pound investments.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree. This enables us to consider making you an offer if you are perhaps a mature student who has been out of education for a period of time, or you have gained significant knowledge and skills through employment rather than traditional education.

Eligible entry qualifications:

1. Normally a minimum of three Level 2 qualifications (NVQ, GCSE or equivalent), including Maths and English at grade C or above** and a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A or AS Levels, T Levels, BTEC certificates/diplomas, access courses or equivalent)
OR
2. Demonstrable evidence of appropriate knowledge and skills acquired from at least three years of post-school work experience.

If you are unsure of whether you think you might be suitable for the course, please contact us!

** If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above. Equivalent alternative qualifications are also accepted, such as Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have not achieved a grade C in Maths and English we may be able to work with you to ensure that you are able to gain these in the first year of the course, depending on your experience.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is £9,250 if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

If you are a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Please note, this course is not available to international students.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

Biopharmaceutical Science graduates have excellent employment rates as industrially-relevant practical skills are at the heart of the course.

Examples of companies that have employed our graduates include pharmaceutical multinationals such as Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Onyx Scientific, Astra Zeneca, and NHS laboratories. Our graduates have also pursued further study with a masters, PhD or teacher training.

Placements

The employability of Sunderland graduates reflects our mix of academic rigour and practical skills. To enhance this mix, we encourage you to apply to undertake a 48-week placement between your second and final year. It effectively becomes a third year of a four-year course.

They are an excellent opportunity to put your learning into practice and understand the context for your new knowledge. The contacts made during placements can also be valuable for future job offers. Examples of companies that have offered placements to Sunderland students include Sterling Pharma, Lianhetech and GlaxoSmithKline.

Guest speakers

We have well-established links with a number of pharmaceutical multinationals and NHS Trusts. Through these links, we organise a course of guest speakers who discuss the cutting edge of pharmaceutical research and development.

The course helps you relate academic theory to current trends and issues. It’s all part of broadening your learning so that you’re prepared not just for exams but for life.

Meet the students

The nature of the course is unique and is focused on industry-specific content.

Jack Bannister

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing.

Page last updated: 07 February 2023

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.

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Biopharmaceutical Science with Integrated Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

Overview

Why us?

Course structure

Foundation Year

Year 1 (national level 4):

Year 2 (national level 5):

Year 3

Final year (national level 6)

Facilities

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Career ready

Placements

Guest speakers

Meet the students

Jack Bannister

Meet the team — BSc (Hons) Biopharmaceutical Science with Integrated Foundation Year

Related courses

Contact

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