Pharmacy with Biopharmaceutics MPharm (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Pharmacy, pharmaceutical science and chemistry
- Undergraduate
If you know you have potential but want support before starting a degree in Pharmacy or a pharmacy-related degree, then this course could be perfect for you.
This course is closed for 2025 entry.
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Learn from experts in pharmacy-related subjects and drug development
In 2022, our two hi-tech pharmacy simulation suites were opened at Kingston University by healthcare pioneer Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu. The simulation suites consist of a mock hospital ward, pharmacy dispensing suite and GP surgery, and are equipped with the latest technology including patient simulator manikins that students can administer drugs to and monitor their pulse and breathing. These suites enable students to learn in a safe environment that simulates real-life healthcare settings.
The hospital ward features six beds with drug cabinets and curtains, a nurse's station and equipment that can be used to assess students' bedside manner and debrief them on best practice. The ward also leads into a pharmacy dispensing suite where students can practice prescribing the correct medication, and the right quantity, for certain illnesses. The GP suite has six cubicles for students to simulate seeing patients within a surgery environment, with desks and pedestals. Three of the bays have couches and the other three have chairs for patients to be examined.
Central to your learning is our pharmacy practice laboratory, designed to allow you to experience what it is like in a real pharmacy and finesse your skills before you start working in the health service. Based at our Penrhyn Road campus, the centre includes:
- 40 medicine-dispensing stations
- a pharmacy counter
- a consulting area
- computers connected to the Pharmacy Manager System (used in many local pharmacies).
You will practise your people skills and diagnostic skills through role plays, taking it in turns to play the patient. Other role plays include advising doctors (usually played by experienced tutors) on how to deal with prescribing errors and clinical problems. When dispensing prescriptions you will have to make all the same checks that you would make in a real pharmacy, including:
- analysing prescriptions to check they have been filled in correctly by doctors
- checking clinical issues such as how one medicine might interact with another
- advising pretend patients on how to take their prescriptions.
Pharmacy at Kingston University
Pharmacy students are creating a safer world for tomorrow with the skills they are gaining as part of their course. Hear how the simulations they are participating in help them prepare for their future careers.
Why choose this course
This course studies the main areas of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical and chemical sciences. Over the first two years, you'll take the same modules as students of Pharmacy MPharm Year 1, while building your foundation in chemistry and mathematics. You will also explore other relevant subjects such as pharmacology, physiology and drug development. In your third year, you will join Level 5 of the Pharmacy MPharm programme.
This course has recently been updated in line with the General Pharmaceutical Council's standards for initial education and training for pharmacists, which enables pharmacy graduates to prescribe at the point of registration.
To join Level 5 Pharmacy MPharm, you need to pass all modules at each level. In addition, you need to pass a calculations test and OSCE, complete your placement, and provide a satisfactory DBS check and health check.
Accreditation
The Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree is fully accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Course content
Year 1
In Year 1, you will study core modules that cover each of the main subject areas in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical and chemical sciences. Your studies and professional development will be supported by an academic skills module.
Modules
30 credits
This module provides some fundamental learning and academic skills, covering maths, study skills and academic writing. You will also be introduced to the use of e-portfolio completion as part of work-based placements. This module will also introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with the Navigate programme including the three Navigate workshops. You will be further supported by themed personal tutor meetings to enable you to work on your e-portfolio to develop and demonstrate your graduate attributes.
30 credits
This module introduces you to key concepts in pharmaceutical formulations and use of medicines. It provides you with fundamental knowledge of physico-chemical principles and techniques used in the design and production of various pharmaceutical dosage forms with links to the route of delivery into the body. The module will also introduce the basics of quality control and quality assurance of pharmaceutical products.
30 credits
This module provides you with a knowledge of the fundamentals of atomic theory and an understanding of ionic and covalent bonding in chemistry. It offers an understanding of nomenclature, stereochemistry, and organic functional group chemistry at a level appropriate to subsequent modules. Concepts in physical and physical organic chemistry are introduced. The module is also intended to develop ideas in chemistry with application to pharmaceutical sciences.
The delivery is by lectures, with materials delivered through Canvas with supporting workshop sessions.
30 credits
This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of cell biology particularly with reference to the human physiology and pathological micro-organisms affecting it. On completing the module, you will have the background required to understand biological and physiological processes at basic level, including how the different body systems work, their main functions, the implications of infections on these processes and the choice of therapeutics.
Year 2
In Year 2 you will explore two dedicated pharmacy modules about law, ethics and patient wellbeing. The other modules will delve into drug development and how drugs work on the body. You will also gain practical first-hand experience in simulation settings and valuable work experience on placement. We will provide your placement opportunities.
Modules
0 credits
The Academic and Professional Skills Portfolio is designed to develop reflective learning and professionalism as well as assessing the competence and decision-making skills, in various clinical and legal elements of professional practice, of the students who are future pharmacists.
All activities need to be satisfactorily completed (including calculation test and OSCE) for you to complete Level 5 and to be allowed to progress to the MPharm programme.
30 credits
This module introduces you to the principles of the role of a professional pharmacist and the various responsibilities in providing healthcare. You will explore the principles of health, wellbeing and prescribing attributes. You will gain the knowledge to enable you to respond to symptoms, recognise adverse drug reactions and other interactions. You will also develop communication skills and learn about health promotion.
30 credits
This module gives an overview of the fundamentals of cell and human physiology. Emphasis is placed on understanding the basic structure and functions of cells, organelles and biomolecules and how these interact with each other to form tissues, organs and organ systems.
You will be introduced to the structure and functions of organ systems in health and selected disease states; the control of homeostasis and the rationale for the use of laboratory investigations and diagnostic tests to diagnose and monitor selected diseases. You will also gain an insight into the pharmacological and non-pharmacological basis of treatment and management of selected cases of altered health to promote healthy living in a patient-centred manner.
30 credits
This module introduces subject content that underlies industrial-related areas to provide employment in drugs development and pharmaceutical industry sectors. It incorporates elements of pharmacokinetics, drugs development and manufacturing, and pharmaceutical analysis.
You will be equipped with the basic knowledge of pharmacokinetics concepts and parameters and relate drug physicochemical properties and formulation-related factors to bioavailability and pharmacokinetics profile.
The module also gives you an overview of the pre-clinical phases of drug development process with a special focus on the pharmacokinetics and formulation development stages, followed by topics involved in scaled-up production and manufacturing.
30 credits
This module reflects the key professional regulations, law and obligations required to become a pharmacist, as dictated by the governing professional body and government legislation. You will be introduced to legal, ethical and inclusive practices related to pharmacy, that are required to go into practice. You will gain the skills that you will need for professional practice such as analysing prescriptions, dispensing relevant products and completing the relevant records. It also ensures you can interpret and apply law and ethics using problem solving, and professional judgement.
Year 3
Year 3 places more emphasis on the role of hospital, community and industrial pharmacists. You will integrate science with practice, learning through case studies how chemistry, pharmacology and pharmaceutics affect clinical practice. You will also learn about conditions that affect the central nervous system, such as depression and those that affect the cardiovascular system such as atrial fibrillation.
Modules
0 credits
This module is designed to develop your reflective learning, goal setting, and professionalism as well as assessing the competence and decision-making skills, in various clinical and legal elements of professional practice you will need as a future pharmacist.
This module will also introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with Explore supported by a designated tutor.
All activities need to be satisfactorily completed (including calculation test and OSCE) for you to complete Level 5 and to be allowed to progress to the MPharm programme.
30 credits
This module will further develop diagnostic and consultation skills. It will introduce you to varied consultation models to manage a structured and inclusive consultation. Through simulated and experiential learning opportunities, you will learn how to assimilate and evaluate resources, pathology data, guidance and patient factors to make diagnostic and prescribing decisions. The module includes a portfolio of clinical and physical skills assessments and basic first aid. You will have placement opportunities to practise your consultation, clinical assessment skills and work within a team. You will evidence your skills and competencies gained by completing an e-portfolio. This module will also introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with Explore supported by a designated tutor.
30 credits
This module provides a foundation to understand the structure and function of the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system, including the effects of dysfunction on an individual's physical health and mental well-being. You will learn about common neurological, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal disorders, covering their symptoms, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and treatment side-effects. You will also cover central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract infections, focussing on common bacterial, viral, and fungal sources. You will explore drug development and individual variations to treatment of neurological, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal system disorders, including the development of specialist formulations used in the management of these conditions.
30 credits
This module describes the underlying mechanisms of common cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine disease and their treatments. You will learn about the aetiology of cardiovascular and respiratory disease and endocrine dysfunction. You will apply pharmacological, physiological, chemistry and pharmaceutical principles, and evidence-based medicine to effectively diagnose, prevent, delay or manage a disease.
30 credits
This module looks at key reactions for the synthesis of organic drug molecules including issues around the sustainable product of drugs. Your analytical techniques will be extended to include Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy with a particular focus on problem solving, formulation, the mechanistic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry and pharmaceutical analysis.
You will learn about the key importance of regulatory affairs associated with drug development, such as clinical trials, licensing and registration.
Year 4
Year 4 focuses on body systems and disease states. Examples of study include: the role of the liver in health and disease; cancer – its causes, the science behind its treatment and the clinical management of cancer patients; and diabetes – its public health impact and management. You will have opportunities to learn alongside other future healthcare professionals, and talk to patients about their conditions and treatment.
Modules
0 credits
This module is designed to develop your reflective learning, self-confidence and professionalism as well as assessing the competence and decision-making skills, in various clinical and legal elements of professional practice, for your role as a future pharmacist.
30 credits
This module will enhance your diagnostic and consultations skills including selection of appropriate assessments and examinations to confirm a diagnosis, treatment selection and ongoing monitoring. You will be introduced to clinical reasoning and shared decision models to enable you to conduct a person-centred consultation. Through simulated and experiential learning opportunities, you will learn how to assimilate and evaluate resources, pathology data and guidance to reach effective and safe prescribing decisions. Through case-based scenarios, you will learn how to manage medical complications and emergencies and patients with co-morbidities. You will evidence the skills and competencies you have gained by completing an e-portfolio.
30 credits
This module will develop your knowledge of the immune system in health and disease including the use of vaccines, management, prevention and control of infections and the rational use of anti-infective agents. You will explore cancer as a disease, including the management of common cancers and oncological emergencies. The mechanisms of action and practical applications of chemotherapy are described together with novel drug targeting and palliative care. You will also learn about blood cell disorders and their management.
30 credits
This module will examine the physiology and pathology of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, the chemistry of relevant drugs, formulations and structure-activity relationships. This includes the more complex elements of assessing, diagnosing and treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders and prescribing and optimising treatment for mental health.
30 credits
This module will deal with physiology and pathology of the eye and endocrine and reproductive systems and inflammatory processes and how they can be affected by, or cause disease. The chemistry of the drugs which affect the endocrine, the eye and reproductive systems and those used to treat inflammatory disease and their relevant structure activity relationships will be covered together with the various formulations used to ensure optimal drug delivery in these areas. You will use a series of patient centred case studies to link the scientific content and the application of pharmaceutical care to treat and manage patients, in a variety of settings from disease prevention, managing risks, disease identification, responding to symptoms in the community pharmacy, prescribing and dispensing, through to the management of hospitalised patients.
Year 5
A major element of Year 5 is the research-based project. You will develop your research skills. A problem-based approach is used for advanced teaching in areas such as pharmaceutical technology and biotechnology. Professional practice topics include advanced prescription analysis, risk management and drug interventions, as well as the wider role of the pharmacist in pharmaceutical care and public health. Students run themed health campaigns directly to the public and also virtually via social media. A total of 20 placement and inter-professional activity days, mostly in hospital or community pharmacies, are spread throughout the year to further develop your professional and leadership skills.
Modules
0 credits
This module will develop your reflective learning and professionalism as well as assessing the competence and decision-making skills, in various clinical and legal elements of professional practice needed for your role as a future pharmacist.
60 credits
This module will incorporate the business and financial aspects of pharmacy. It will enable you to work within a team to demonstrate leadership and mentoring skills. Through simulated exercises, you will assess local public health needs, inequalities, priorities to recommend a service or run a campaign while understanding resources limitations, while considering risk management, risk mitigation and quality improvement. You will demonstrate effective consultation and prescribing skills, while considering resources and legal and ethical frameworks.
30 credits
This module is designed to integrate advanced clinical and scientific concepts as they relate to patient care. Using complex patient cases with multiple comorbidities as the basis for group discussions, you will learn how to apply your clinical skills and scientific knowledge to provide the most appropriate recommendations.
30 credits
You will undertake a substantial piece of original research, clinical audit or service evaluation that requires the collection of data and subsequent analysis of that data.
By completing a mini-research project, you will learn about the types and principles of research methods, methods used for literature reviews, study design methods, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and research ethics, and demonstrate your presentation skills.
What career opportunities does this course offer?
You'll graduate ready for the next steps towards becoming a pharmacist in the UK. This is a year's foundation training in an approved pharmaceutical establishment and passing the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration exam.
Through a pharmacy or chemistry degree you'll be well prepared for roles in community or hospital pharmacies, or in the pharmaceutical industry. Further study can lead to a career as a registered pharmacist or in drug/medicine research.
Types of jobs:
- Community pharmacist
- Hospital pharmacist
- GP practice pharmacist
- Pharmaceutical scientist
- Research and development
- Clinical trial coordinator
- Research scientist
Employers:
- Parallel Drug Imports
- Johnson & Johnson
- Procter & Gamble
- Braun Medical
- St George's Hospital
- EH Lilly
- NHS
Future Skills
Our Future Skills programme is embedded within all our undergraduate courses and throughout the whole Kingston experience. These skills will help you to become a future-proof graduate by equipping you with the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills. You’ll also understand how to demonstrate and articulate to employers how these future skills give you the edge.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars, small group tutorials and practical sessions.
It may also include placements, project work, workshops, conferences and field trips.
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for final assignments. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 33% scheduled learning and teaching and 2 placement days
- Year 2: 33% scheduled learning and teaching and 2 placement days
- Year 3: 40% scheduled learning and teaching and 15 placement days
- Year 4: 42% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 5: 38% scheduled learning and teaching and 20 placement days
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 39%; practical 24%; exams 37%
- Year 2: Coursework 39%; practical 17%; exams 44%
- Year 3: Coursework 44%; practical 19%; exams 37%
- Year 4: Coursework 30%; practical 31%; exams 39%
- Year 5: Coursework 55%; practical 40%, exams 5%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £10,050* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2027/28): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 2 (2028/29): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 3 (2029/30): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 4 (2030/31): | £To be confirmed |
| Year 5 (2031/32) | £To be confirmed |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK): Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
International students: Full-time taught international student fees are subject to an annual increase, which is published in advance for the full duration of your programme.
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,790* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2026/27): | £19,200 |
| Year 2 (2027/28): | £19,900 |
| Year 3 (2028/29): | £20,700 |
| Year 4 (2029/30): | £21,500 |
| Year 5 (2030/31) | £22,300 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK): Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
International students: Full-time taught international student fees are subject to an annual increase, which is published in advance for the full duration of your programme.
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £18,500 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £19,200 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £19,900 |
| Year 4 (2028/29): | £20,700 |
| Year 5 (2029/30): | £21,500 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
You should be aware that if you want to 'top-up' to an honours degree on completion of the foundation degree, the fee for the top-up year for home (UK) students is the standard undergraduate fee, currently £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year (this may increase for future years of study).
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
The University will pay for your application to be processed, but you’ll need to subscribe to the Update Service for £16 per year. This allows universities and potential employers to view any changes to your DBS.
Specific courses may require uniforms, specialty clothing, or specific equipment like lab coats and safety shoes. Kingston University will supply you with a lab coat and safety goggles at the start of the year.
Some courses may require professional memberships.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
