Course summary
The BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science course is grounded in core scientific disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry, as well as analytical sciences. As a future pharmaceutical scientist, you'll build a solid understanding of the science behind how medicines are discovered, developed, and manufactured.
As the course progresses, you'll explore key areas such as drug formulation and delivery, learning how medicines are designed to target specific systems in the body and how their physical and chemical properties influence their performance.
Pharmaceutical scientists play a central role in the development and manufacture of safe, effective medicines, ensuring they meet strict quality standards and regulatory requirements. You'll gain insight into Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), quality control, and the regulatory frameworks that govern medicine production and distribution.
Laboratory skills are embedded throughout the course, with hands-on practical sessions included in nearly every module. You’ll be trained to conduct experiments, analyse results, and interpret scientific data accurately and confidently. The curriculum includes real world case studies and strong industrial links to help contextualise your learning and develop your problem solving and decision making abilities.
A unique feature of the course is Sunderland Therapeutics, a mock pharmaceutical company created to simulate professional industry scenarios. Assessments are designed to reflect real world tasks, preparing you for a range of careers in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond. This course is also available as a four-year course with a full year spent on placement.
By the time you graduate, you'll have developed a strong scientific foundation and the practical, analytical, and regulatory knowledge essential for roles in pharmaceutical manufacturing, formulation science, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and other areas across the wider pharmaceutical and life science industries.
This course shares a common first year with BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, which allows you to easily change course at the end of the first year should you decide to choose that route.
Integrated Foundation Year
This course is also available with an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year is an extra year before starting your three-year undergraduate degree, designed to build your study skills and subject knowledge so you feel ready to succeed.
If you've narrowly missed the entry requirements for the standard three-year route, or have relevant work experience and want to broaden your subject knowledge and study skills before starting your degree, completing an Integrated Foundation Year could be for you. Please note, this route isn't available to international students.