Pharmaceutical Science MPharmSci (Hons)
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award
Our commitment to high quality teaching has been recognised with a TEF Gold rating. The University has received an overall rating of Gold, as well as securing a Gold award in the framework's two new student experience and student outcomes categories.
Why choose this course?
Do you see yourself as a research scientist? Working at the cutting edge of discovering, designing and developing new drugs for clinical purposes? If so, this four-year course is ideal.
You'll explore the sources of medicine, how medicines work, how they can be formulated (such as via tablet, cream or inhaler), administered, analysed and tested.
The course shares its first two years with the Pharmaceutical Science BSc (Hons) programme and provides a wide understanding of all aspects of the pharmaceutical industry. In Year 3 you'll deepen your knowledge of natural product chemistry. You'll develop skills for testing and evaluating the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical products. In Year 4 you'll develop skills in experiment design, critical analysis, problem-solving and laboratory work.
We have recently updated our modules to enhance student-centred teaching and align course content with industry needs, helping you become a future-proof graduate.
| Attendance | UCAS code | Year of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 4 years full time | B204 | 2025 |
Please note: Teaching on this course may take place on more than one KU campus.
| Main Location | Penrhyn Road |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- You'll gain extensive practical experience in new laboratories after a £6.8 million investment.
- Modules on this course have been accredited by the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APS)
- You'll take advanced postgraduate-level modules in the manufacture and clinical trials of medicines and topics in drug design, discovery and development.
What you will study
Year 1
Year 2
Optional professional placement year
Year 3
Year 4
Years 1 and 2 are shared with the Pharmaceutical Science BSc (Hons) course. They introduce biology, chemistry and physiology for pharmaceutical science.
Core modules
Academic Skills for Molecular Sciences
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. It 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 you to work on tasks to develop your graduate attributes.
Chemical Foundations: From Atoms to Pharmaceuticals
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 will revisit chemistry topics taught at A-level and build 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.
Introduction to Biosciences and Pharmaceutics
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.
Pharmaceutical Concepts, Analysis and Ethics
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.
Year 2 places emphasis on organic and medicinal chemistry and develops practical skills, especially in pharmaceutical analysis – important in relation to the actions and characterisation of drugs. You will also study the effect of drugs in living systems and the principles of the immune system. There will be an introduction to micro-organisms in relation to human disease, their control and safe working practices. You will explore organic and medicinal chemistry applied to the design and synthesis of drug molecules. Year 2 also focuses on the experimental aspects of pharmaceutical science, developing skills for conducting independent laboratory investigations.
Core modules
Analytical Techniques for Molecular Science
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 in being able to identify the best approaches used to prepare samples, collect results and analyse data, whether it is quantitative or qualitative in various scenarios. You will build your knowledge, practical skills and interpretation skills whilst implementing the analytical process model using scenario-based learning.
Organic and Medicinal Chemistry with Global Medicine and Personalised Healthcare
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.
Pharmacology, Formulation and Pharmaceutics
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.
Practical and Research Skills in Pharmaceutical Science
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.
An optional professional placement year between Years 2 and 3 provides the opportunity to gain experience of how pharmaceutical science is applied in an industrial situation.
Year 3 shares some modules with our Pharmaceutical Science BSc (Hons) degree. You will deepen your knowledge base in natural product chemistry, develop and enhance your analytical skills – crucial for the testing and evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical products.
Core modules
Advanced Analytical Techniques and Applications
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.
Advanced Drug Delivery and Formulation in Pharmaceutical Science
30 credits
This module introduces you to various aspects of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry relevant to your future career and aims to cover a wide range of topics including drug delivery, polymers and biomaterials. You will also explore operational aspects of the industry such as patents, intellectual property, legislation and licences, health and safety, and quality assurance.
You will be introduced to macromolecules and biomaterials as part of such drug delivery systems, by going through each step from synthesis, and properties to final product. You will be involved in a team project to develop and bring a new product to the market to enhance your employability and entrepreneurial skills, working with students from other disciplines across the University.
You will work on authentic case studies to develop your problem-solving skills to real world challenges aligned to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 3, 9 and 10. The Future Skills learning outcomes will be delivered in this module.
Advanced Organic and Natural Products Chemistry
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.
Drug Development: Bench to Bedside
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.
In Year 4, you will spend half your time working on your research project, enhancing your skills in experiment design, critical analysis, problem solving and laboratory work. Your project also provides an opportunity to display initiative and creativity. In addition, you will take advanced masters-level modules in the manufacture and clinical trials of medicines and topics in drug design, discovery and development.
Core modules
Design, Discovery and Development of Pharmaceuticals
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.
Manufacture and Clinical Trials of Medicines
30 credits
This module introduces you 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.
Project
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.
Future Skills
Knowledge to give you the edge
Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing 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, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.
At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
It may also include placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences and field trips.
What our students say
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry.
The School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry offers an outstanding and diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, forensic science, pharmacy, pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences, and sport science and nutrition.
We've invested heavily in the development of new facilities including laboratories for teaching and research to provide students with access to ultra-modern equipment in a wide range of teaching facilities.
Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Facilities
There is a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including:
- the £9.8 million Eadweard Muybridge building with state-of the art laboratories;
- specialist equipment, such as:
- gas and liquid chromatography;
- electron and confocal microscopy;
- a range of spectrometers, including mass spectrometers, infrared spectrometers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers;
- nuclear science equipment;
- thermal analysis;
- x-ray diffractometers; and
- electrochemical analysis;
- computing laboratories and a team of IT technicians to offer assistance.
Course fees and funding
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
After you graduate
Pharmaceutical science is a growth area with good job prospects. Graduates work in areas such as research, development, regulatory affairs and pharmaceutical analysis. They also frequently progress to study PhDs.
What our graduates say
Key information set
The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
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. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
