Course summary

Our pharmaceutical sciences course is grounded in core scientific disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry, as well as analytical sciences. As a future pharmaceutical scientist, you'll build a solid understanding of the science behind how medicines are discovered, developed, and manufactured. As the course progresses, you'll explore key areas such as drug formulation and delivery, learning how medicines are designed to target specific systems in the body and how their physical and chemical properties influence their performance. Pharmaceutical Scientists play a central role in the development and manufacture of safe, effective medicines, ensuring they meet strict quality standards and regulatory requirements. You'll gain insight into Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), quality control, and the regulatory frameworks that govern medicine production and distribution. Laboratory skills are embedded throughout the course, with hands-on practical sessions included in nearly every module. You’ll be trained to conduct experiments, analyse results, and interpret scientific data accurately and confidently. The curriculum includes real world case studies and strong industrial links to help contextualise your learning and develop your problem solving and decision making abilities. A unique feature of the course is Sunderland Therapeutics, a mock pharmaceutical company created to simulate professional industry scenarios. Furthermore, assessments are designed to reflect real world tasks, preparing you for a range of careers in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond. By the time you graduate, you will have developed a strong scientific foundation and the practical, analytical, and regulatory knowledge essential for roles in pharmaceutical manufacturing, formulation science, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and other areas across the wider pharmaceutical and life science industries. Pursuing the MSci route offers a cost effective way to gain a master’s level qualification, with undergraduate tuition fees applying across all four years, making it more affordable than pursuing a separate MSc after a BSc. In the fourth year, you’ll explore your field in greater depth through cutting edge, research led modules designed to reflect the latest developments in the discipline. The MSci also places a strong emphasis on developing you as an independent scientist, with an extended research project that enhances your practical and analytical skills. This integrated degree can open doors to roles that require a master’s qualification and gives you a competitive edge in the job market by setting you apart from BSc-only graduates.