Pharmaceutical Science
Entry requirements
A level
Total of 60 credits (45 credits at Level 3 and 15 credits at Level 2) from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in a relevant subject with passes in Level 2 Maths and Communications. QAA accredited course required.
UCAS Tariff
A minimum of 112 points from A levels including a C in Chemistry, or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification eg BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Progression Diploma or Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Why study this course?**
Our vocationally oriented degree course combines biology and chemistry to examine drug design, targets and delivery. You’ll learn how drugs affect the human body through theoretical teaching, lab work and optional work placements, and will be taught by a number of research-active staff who have close links with the industry.
**More about this course**
If you’ve ever wondered how new medicines are invented, this could be the course for you. You’ll follow the entire process of rational drug design, from identifying biological targets that link to diseases to optimising lead compounds that recognise these targets.
You’ll also learn about the parameters that affect the delivery of drugs to specific sites in the body, in order to gain a better understanding of how drugs can be administered to deliver maximum results with minimum side effects.
In your first year, you’ll gain a solid grounding in the fundamentals of chemistry and related biological subjects. As the course progresses, you’ll cover these topics at a greater depth, as well as having the opportunity to specialise in subjects that interest you.
The practical elements of this course will be undertaken in our £30 million Science Centre, which is equipped with over 280 workstations and state-of-the-art specialist laboratories. You’ll also get the chance to undertake a work placement in your third year, where you’ll gain valuable, real-world experience.
**What our students say**
"The Pharmaceutical Science course was the perfect choice for me. I am passionate about chemistry and can’t wait to start formulating, but need to understand the biological implications. This course gives me the opportunity to do all of these things. I have found the course challenging and thoroughly interesting. After only a year I feel I have learned so much – I’m looking forward to Year 2!"
Mignon Cristofoli, Year 1 student
"I find the Pharmaceutical Science degree very informative and enjoyable, especially in the second year as we actually get to learn about the pharmaceutical industry. Working in the biggest laboratory in the UK is a great experience and many skills can be obtained. The lectures are always interesting and the lecturers are always helpful."
Nelushna Manmatharajah, Year 2 student
"I started my time at London Met in 2012 with a foundation year. I was not really sure which path I would take, but four years on I'm happy to call myself a pharmaceutical scientist! I am extremely grateful for the chance to have met and worked with some incredibly talented and passionate teachers!"
Elina Zalite, Year 3 student
Modules
The modules listed below are subject to change. Please see the university webpage for the most up-to-date full module details:
First year modules:
Introduction to Laboratory Skills (core, 15 credits);
General Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Cell Biology (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits);
Fundamental Chemical Concepts (core, 15 credits);
Introduction to Organic Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits);
Laboratory Techniques with Data Handling (core, 15 credits);
Key Principles in Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
Second year modules:
Organic Unsaturated Molecules (core, 15 credits);
Principles of Pharmacodynamics (core, 15 credits);
Quantitative Analysis (core, 15 credits);
Coordination and Solution Chemistry of d and f block Complexes (option, 15 credits)
Metabolism (option, 15 credits);
Molecular biology (option, 15 credits);
Spectroscopic Methods (core, 15 credits);
Organic Ring Systems (core, 15 credits);
Principles of Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Delivery (core, 15 credits);
Solid State and Organometallic Chemistry (option, 15 credits);
Human Immunity (option, 15 credits);
Microbiology (option, 15 credits)
Third year modules:
Formulation and Quality Assurance of Solutions, Suspensions and Emulsions (core, 15 credits);
Research Project (core, 30 credits);
Advanced Organic Chemistry (alternative core, 15 credits);
Natural Products (alternative core, 15 credits);
Systems Pharmacology (option, 15 credits);
Advanced Inorganic Techniques (option, 15 credits);
Work Placement (for Live Sciences) (option, 15 credits);
Sandwich Placement (option, 15 credits);
Medicinal Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Formulations and Quality Assurance of Solids and Semi-solids (core, 15 credits);
Neuropharmacology (option, 15 credits);
Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (option, 15 credits);
Advanced Bioanalytical Science (option 15 credits)
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through written coursework, progress tests, practical reports, presentations, exams and an extensive research report based on an investigative project undertaken in the final year.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Chemistry
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Chemistry
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Chemistry graduates are in demand from a wide range of industries, from the food, oil, chemicals and pharmaceuticals to consultancy, technical analysis and teaching. They're also prized by business and finance employers for their research and data handling skills — anywhere there is research and data to be explained, you can find chemistry grads. If you want a career in research, you need a doctorate, so start planning now if you fancy one of these exciting and challenging jobs - but good students can usually get grants to take a doctorate, so don't worry about the financing if you think you have what it takes. The recession wasn’t too kind to chemists, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry (one of the key employers for chemists), but things are getting back to normal for this flexible group and it's one of the few degrees that is bucking the current trend and increasing graduate numbers.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Chemistry
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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