Pharmaceutical Science Lancaster University

Spanning biology, chemistry and pharmacology, our Pharmaceutical Science BSc will provide you with a deep understanding of drug design from conception to market and use in a clinical setting.

The power to change lives

Pharmaceutical scientists can change lives by developing medicines and treatments for conditions from cancer to inherited disorders and infectious diseases.

On our Pharmaceutical Science BSc, you will study themes across the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and pharmacology to understand the principles of drug design, development, synthesis, function, characterisation, delivery and side effects.

You will also explore the wider societal and regulatory context of drug development and use, and how laboratory drugs are translated into viable consumer products.

You will be taught by our academics whose extensive pharmaceutical science research experience includes the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of various cancers; developing new chemistries for making drugs; and biomedical imaging agents to probe drug activity in cells.

This degree is ideal if you are looking for a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, offering you the scientific knowledge, practical lab skills and career-ready mindset to succeed. You will also build transferable skills and analytical training that will open up potential careers in other fields such as management, teaching, marketing and finance.

Your journey through pharmaceutical science

Our academics have carefully designed this course to provide you with a structured, progressive training in pharmaceutical science.

• In Year 1 you will lay the foundations of your knowledge that you will build upon through the following years of your degree. You’ll cover core themes including infection and immunity, cell structure and function, organic and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and pharmacology.

• In Year 2, you will gain a deeper understanding of biochemistry (how biological processes work on a molecular level), organic synthesis (how drugs are synthesised), and their action within the body (pharmacology), along with how we can probe and understand their actions and interactions.

• You will spend Year 3 applying your skills by undertaking a major research project. This provides an exciting opportunity for you to address a significant contemporary research problem as part of one of our research groups, alongside postgraduate students and postdoctoral staff. You will also study a series of advanced taught modules that introduce more specialised topics and further develop your skills and knowledge.

Students interested in a more in-depth, research-oriented degree in this area should consider our Pharmaceutical Science MSci, which involves a significant independent research project in fourth year. We also offer four-year study abroad and placement year options.

A hands-on course

You will develop your practical skills from the start of your studies in our modern, research-grade teaching laboratories.

As a pharmaceutical sciences student, you will benefit from our biomedical and life sciences labs and our chemistry labs and analytical facilities. They will be at the centre of your degree and are where you will put the knowledge you have acquired from lectures and tutorials into practice.

You will gain hands-on experience (depending upon your specialisation) of using equipment and facilities such as:

• our bioimaging facility

• protein purification and characterisation facilities

• cell sorters

• confocal microscopes

• flow cytometers

• PCR thermocyclers

• cell culture facilities

• advanced chemical synthesis techniques

• chemical characterisation, including infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass-spectrometry

• chemical separations, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

A levels

AAB. This should include Biology and Chemistry.

Access to HE Diploma

Considered on a case-by-case basis. Our typical entry requirement would be 36 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 9 Level 3 credits at Merit, but you would need to meet the subject requirements.

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDD, considered alongside A level Chemistry grade B, and to include sufficient Biology content. We require Distinctions in the majority of relevant science units.

BTEC in combination with A levels

Our typical entry requirement would be A level grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade AB plus BTEC at D. This would need to include A level Chemistry, and either A level Biology, or sufficient Biology content in the BTEC(s). We will typically assess this on a case-by-case basis.

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects including 6 in HL Biology and 6 in HL Chemistry

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Not accepted

GCSE requirements

Mathematics grade 5/B, English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.