Pharmaceutical Science MPharmSci (Hons)

30 credits

You will gain a thorough grounding in mathematical, presentation, reporting and IT skills to support your scientific progress. This module will help you develop effective learning strategies and provides the foundation for your personal and career development.  

This module will introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with Navigate. You will be supported by themed tutor meetings enabling students to work on tasks to develop their graduate attributes.

30 credits

Chemistry impacts many spheres of everyday life. From paints and coatings to smartphone’s electrochromic displays, small molecule drugs to the understanding of biochemical processes necessary for life.  

This module covers the fundamentals of chemistry and builds on them to ensure you become familiar with the core chemistry concepts necessary to the chemical, pharmaceutical and biochemical sciences. There is a key focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

30 credits

This module introduces you to the fundamental principles of the biochemical processes that occur within the cell, introducing you to eukaryotic cell structure, basic tissue types, microbial entities and organisms that include viruses, bacteria and fungi. It is designed to introduce cell biology, microbiology and pharmaceutics, particularly with reference to human physiology and the pathological microorganisms affecting it and the development of medicines.  

You will learn about the formulation of pharmacotherapies designed to address cell and organ dysfunction.

You will explore pre-formulation requirements, relevant physio-chemical principles and routes of administration and their involvement in the choice of dosage form and drug delivery systems.

30 credits

This module will give you an introduction to the pharmaceutical industry, providing you with essential knowledge and analytical skills crucial for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.  

Covering the industry's structure, market dynamics, regulatory environment, and ethical considerations, the module will equip you with a holistic understanding of how the pharmaceutical sector operates. You will gain an overview of drug development, from discovery and clinical trials to regulatory approval and market release, which includes the importance of regulatory bodies and the guidelines they set to ensure drug safety and efficacy.  

You will gain insights into pharmaceutical market trends, including the impact of patents, generic drug competition, ethics and the influence of emerging technologies on drug development and distribution. By the end of this module, you will have developed a robust understanding of the pharmaceutical industry's concepts and operations, honed your analytical skills, and cultivated a strong ethical framework to guide your future career in pharmaceutical science aligned with SDG 3 and 10.

30 credits

This module immerses you in the world of analytical science applied to problem solving in biochemistry, clinical chemistry, forensic analysis and pharmaceutical science applications. It develops critical thinking, helping you identify the best approaches to prepare samples, collect results and analyse data, whether it is quantitative or qualitative in various scenarios. You will build knowledge, practical skills and interpretation skills whilst implementing the analytical process model using scenario-based learning.

30 credits

The module develops understanding of both Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry introducing important principles, reactions, and mechanisms in organic chemical reactivity as well as basic mechanisms of drug action.  

You will build on concepts introduced in your first year, including carbanion reactivity of carbonyl compounds, the reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds, stereochemistry, asymmetric synthesis, and retrosynthesis.  

This module uses examples from a range of medicinal areas to illustrate these key processes as well as introducing drug design and the role this plays in the modern pharmaceutical industry. You will explore the evolving landscape of global medicine and the innovative approaches driving personalized healthcare. You will learn how global and personalized medicine intersect to improve patient outcomes. You will explore the socio-economic and cultural factors influencing healthcare delivery and the importance of ethical practices in the development of equitable healthcare solutions and scientific communication.

30 credits

This module gives an introduction to subject content that underlies many of the industrial and research areas that will provide employment for Pharmaceutical Science graduates. The module will incorporate elements of pharmacology, toxicology, immunology and pharmaceutics (including formulation science).  

You will receive a thorough grounding in the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion which underlies many of the pharmacological and toxicological effects of biological agents.  

You will learn how drug formulation affects the bioavailability of a drug and how the physiology of the human system affects these processes.

This module also provides an introduction to the area of immunology.  This is important as much of the recent developments in drug development and consequently employment opportunities for our graduates involve antibodies as therapeutic agents.  You will explore the major factors involved in the effective and safe delivery of therapeutic agents to human populations. This will include solid, semi-solid and liquid dosage forms.

30 credits

This module allows you to develop laboratory techniques and data interpretation skills through experiments that include organic synthesis, product characterisation and evaluation of various pharmaceutical formulations and dosage forms.  It also develops additional research skills such as literature searches, review writing and digital skills that will be developed through the use of chemistry specific software packages (Chemdraw, Scifinder). You will be given the opportunity to develop higher level graduate attributes that are important to improving your employability, such as planning, teamwork, and presentation skills.  In addition, the range of potential careers open to Pharmaceutical Science graduates will be covered in this module.

This module is designed to develop your graduate attributes. You will reflect on your existing areas of strength and identify areas for further development. The Future Skills Explore Learning Outcomes are delivered in this module.

30 credits

This module builds on the foundation gained in your second year, and increase your knowledge of spectroscopy so you will develop a more rigorous theoretical understanding. You will be trained in current advanced analytical techniques used in industry, exploring concepts of quality control, such as the application of chemometrics.

You will understand their importance using real world examples such as environmental UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) and how to suitably select sustainable analytical approaches (Climate Action, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), when applied to fragrance, forensic, chemical and pharmaceutical applications.

15 credits

This module provides an advanced overview of drug delivery and formulation within the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It explores modified and targeted dosage forms, biomaterials, polymers, and formulation design in the context of product stability, safety, and quality. You will develop a critical understanding of how drugs are designed, produced, and evaluated for clinical use, while examining the regulatory and operational aspects of the industry such as patents, quality assurance, and health and safety.

30 credits

You will learn all about the role and journey that natural products take in drug discovery as they play an important role in medicinal chemistry.  These include commonly used drugs such as Aspirin to potent pain relievers such as morphine and complex chemotherapy drugs like Taxol.

You will gain theoretical and practical skills in the isolation of drug-like molecules from nature, all the way through to the biosynthesis and synthesis as well as isolation from natural sources of some exciting naturally derived compounds.

30 credits

This module deals with the pharmacology involved in the treatment of various disease types, detailing the synthetic chemistry behind the development of drug molecules. You will gain an integrated understanding of the drug development process and the rationale for identifying targets within a disease. You will learn how to evaluate the impact of structural changes on the pharmacodynamic/kinetic profile of a drug from a pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic perspective.  

You will understand the rationale when deciding the purpose, design, manufacture, and in-process testing of more advanced pharmaceutical formulations to ensure patient acceptability and efficacy in clinical use. 

You will investigate the pathophysiology of a number of disease states associated with the cardiovascular and central nervous systems and how specific drugs address these pathologies.

The module also outlines the process for intellectual property protection and exploitation, toxicological events that might affect the body and the body’s immunological response to toxic insult or disease.

15 credits

This module gives you a dedicated opportunity to develop your Future Skills Graduate Attributes. 

At the start of the module, you will be supported to self-assess your current skills profile. You will determine which attributes and skills you need to develop to support your career ambitions. In this process, you will be supported by a dedicated career coach, helping you explore a range of options that includes self-employment/freelancing, starting your own business, higher level study, and other professional graduate-level opportunities. Throughout the module, you will be given opportunities to engage with external mentors, to support reflection and to develop a professional network.

You will undertake a tailored series of activities and projects, aligned to your goals, from a menu of development options. This could include short courses, enrichment activities and experiential learning options such as micro-placements. You will also be able to reflect on activities outside the University that develop your graduate attributes, such as work or volunteering.

30 credits

You will explore the synthetic chemistry behind the development of drug molecules and evaluates quantitatively the structure activity effects from pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic perspectives.

You will learn about advanced experimental techniques in spectroscopy, and chromatography will be discussed in the context of drug discovery and development. You will also cover intellectual property protection and risks of exploitation.

30 credits

This module introduces the student to the different phases and types of clinical trials and the associated legal, regulatory and ethical issues. This includes statistical data analyses and how to manage and review clinical trial data in relation to evidence-based medicine. The technology and application of the manufacture of various medicine formulations are discussed and the place of biotechnological products introduced. The module also covers elements of medicines regulation with particular reference to the UK and European Union. Regulations are dealt with both within a general framework and specific areas including manufacturing, dealing with specialist products, regulation in clinical use, and licensing.

60 credits

During your project module, you will gain the necessary conceptual and practical skills to conduct your research. You will also develop your communications skills to disseminate of the outcomes of your results and findings. Where possible, research should be published in a peer-reviewed journal.