Course summary

Endorsed by the British Pharmacological Society and designed in collaboration with industry leaders, this course is the only undergraduate course in the UK dedicated to clinical pharmacology. Clinical pharmacology takes a deep dive into how we develop drugs, the processes of clinical trials and the impact of drugs on the human body. The curriculum of this course is based around seven core modules which run alongside each other throughout the course: -Fundamentals of science -Pharmacokinetics -Pharmacodynamics -Drug development and clinical trials -Drugs in healthcare -Data and statistics -Skills portfolio. In Year 1, students are introduced to a broad spectrum of concepts across these seven modules. The second semester of Year 1 focuses on key drug targets, including inflammatory, infectious, cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Theoretical learning is accompanied by clinical and laboratory practicals, workshops and data analysis. In Year 2, students develop knowledge and skills around clinical trials design, data handling and pharmacokinetics. Weekly careers workshops help students to learn about all the options available upon completing the course. Students also undertake a practical research project that will provide experience of clinical or laboratory-based research. Students then spend six weeks on work placement, gaining valuable experience in industry. At the end of Year 2 students can also choose to take a ‘professional year’, applying for a placement in industry to develop experience and enhance their CV. In Year 3, students will look at latest advances and ‘hot topics’, including new therapeutic approaches to disease and cutting-edge drug developments, such as biological drugs, nanotechnology and gene therapy. Year 3 includes a written research project, where students get the chance to write a scientific review with support from a team of expert tutors.