Year One * Foundation Chemistry * Foundation Physical Science * Learning, Communication and Employability in Science * Foundation Biology * Foundations of Mathematics * Foundation Statistics * Human Anatomy and Physiology Year Two * Organic Chemistry * Physical Chemistry * Fundamental Inorganic Chemistry * Laboratory Safety and Practice * Pharmaceuticals: A Global Industry * Analytical Methods for Chemical Sciences * Introduction to Microbiology * Biological Chemistry Year Three * Synthetic Organic Chemistry * Spectroscopy * Analytical Chemistry * Heterocyclic Chemistry and Intro to Drug Design * Bioinorganic Chemistry * Endocrinology, Metabolism and Homeostasis Year Four * Advanced Organic Chemistry * Advanced Analytical Chemistry * Toxicology * Advanced Drug Design and Formulation * Quality Control and Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry * Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology In the second year, you can expect to undertake a number of modules that will cover all facets of fundamental chemistry to provide you with a strong grounding that will prove invaluable during the rest of your degree and working life. To begin to understand the biological action of drugs and their impact, you will also be introduced to fundamental human biology and biochemistry. All of these will be underpinned by a practical component, such that even from this early stage you will be gaining hands-on experience using equipment in our state-of-the-art laboratories. Finally, you will be introduced to the industry itself, its setting on a UK and global scale, the roles of scientists in the sector, the big players and their major products, and various other topics such that you will be able to talk with confidence about the sector. The third and fourth years will continually challenge you to expand your knowledge and practical skills. The emphasis of the course becomes highly focused on chemical synthesis, drug design, drug action and, most importantly, chemical analysis in the second year. Meanwhile, highly industry specific topics such as drug design and formulations, toxicology, pharmacology, and laboratory management are tackled in the third year, in addition to gaining advanced skills in chemical synthesis and analysis, and the use of industry standard apparatus and equipment.

This course provides you with the scientific background and industry knowledge that will make you highly marketable to employers in the pharmaceutical sector. Being one of the largest employers of scientists in the UK, jobs for scientists within the sector are quite varied. While approx. 48% are employed just in research and development, scientists may also find themselves in roles that may range from a purely lab-based position, to marketing, patent filing, quality assurance/regulation, or even as a sales representative.