University of Hertfordshire - BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science

University of Hertfordshire

BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science

Want to get hands-on? You’re in the right place. Because at Hertfordshire, that’s exactly what you’ll do. We teach pharmaceutical science in small, supportive groups, based in real labs, equipped with outstanding industry technology. Every step of the way you’ll build the skills today’s employers really need. We know, because we asked them. In fact, we designed our entire course in collaboration with the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. 

Our inventive, inspiring teaching team has an outstanding reputation and a strong research ethos, pouring their internationally acclaimed discoveries straight into your learning. So, whether you want to design new drugs, bring brilliant discoveries into the real world or champion patient safety, you’ll be studying as part of a vibrant, supportive scientific community. 

In your first couple of years you can take advantage of peer-to-peer mentoring from final-year students, and throughout the course you’ll get the chance to go to eye-opening events and gain career insights from visiting experts and inspiring alumni. Fancy some phenomenal transferrable skills? You’ll get those too – from making presentations and working with others, to brilliantly managing your time. 

Your first year gives you a solid grounding in pharmaceutical science. You’ll find your feet in the lab and the library – learning experimental techniques, getting to grips with powerful data and analytical tools. Together, we’ll explore human physiology and biology, biology and biochemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry and the fundamentals of analytical chemistry. Together, these subjects will help you understand how to make medicines, how they work in the body and how to ensure they’re safe. 

In your second year, you’ll put that learning into practice. It’s your chance to explore drug discovery and formulation, make medicines and natural products and design advanced treatments using artificial intelligence. You’ll also study lab practices, how to make sure drugs are safe and viable, and how they metabolise in people’s bodies. 

By the end of the year, you’ll have the scientific know-how, lab skills and analytical abilities to secure a powerful placement year. This option is a great way to pack your CV with practical experience and insights before coming back for your final year with us.  

Study abroad/work placement option: Recent students have taken placements in research institutions, healthcare companies, agrochemical organisations, environmental agencies, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Like to join them? We’ll help you find a great opportunity. Want to study abroad instead? We can open exciting doors, all over the world, with recent students going to the US, Mexico and Spain.  

You’ll spend the first 12 weeks of your final year in the lab full time, working on a real-life research problem that will help you hone your lab and research skills. Finally, you’ll spend your last semester studying a simulated regulatory science module, examining how medicines are translated from the laboratory to the clinic and specialising in either medicine design or formulation development. 

Entry Requirements

UCAS pointsA LevelBTEC
112-120

BBC-BBB: Including 2 science GCE A Levels (or equivalent) one of which must be a grade C in either biology or chemistry (acceptable A levels are Human Biology, Psychology, Geography, Maths, Physics,  ICT and Sports Studies).Pass required in A level science practical.

DMM-DDM: BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science with a minimum DMM profile. Profile to include a minimum of 12 chemistry-titled units at merit or above

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language, 4/C in Mathematics and 4/C in Double Science or two Single Science grades at 4/C.

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

Career Prospects

This BSc Pharmaceutical Science course has been designed with input from potential employers such as the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory bodies to provide students with highly marketable knowledge and skills for a variety of different career options.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have a huge amount of lab experience, strong transferable skills and the ability to research and document your discoveries. It’s a winning formula that helps our graduates land great jobs. 

For example, you could work in formulation science, analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry or regulatory affairs. Or move into food and drink, cosmetics, agrochemicals, biotechnology or research. And if you want to keep studying? Stick around. We’ve got a whole range of exciting taught MScs, an MSC by research and PhD programmes.

Graduates of the course will be fully equipped to enter the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors in a variety of disciplines, including formulation science, analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry and regulatory affairs. The course will also provide a platform for postgraduate study for those students interested in pursuing higher degrees such as MSc and PhD.

Course Details

Degree programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5 and 6.  These correspond to your first, second and third/final year of study.  Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each.    

Year 1

Human physiology with pharmacology
Fundamentals of analytical chemistry
Foundations of pharmaceutical chemistry
Biology and biochemistry

Year 2

Dosage, form, design and manufacture
Pharmacology
Advanced analytical techniques and quality assurance
Methods in drug design

Year 3

Applied and integrated pharmacological science
Project 60 credits compulsory
Pharmaceutical industry practice

Optional modules
Year abroad: bioscience
Sandwich placement; bioscience
Topics in medicine design
Advances in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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