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Pharmaceutical Sciences (with a Year in Industry)

Course details
  • MSci
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 22/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
University Park Campus

Course summary

Learn about the discovery and design of medicines at a world top 5 university for pharmacy and pharmacology*. Prepare for a career where you can develop new drugs and medicines to transform people's lives. Improve your employability with a year spent working in industry in an area related to pharmaceutical sciences.

You'll study the core sciences that make up pharmaceutical sciences throughout the first two years:

Chemistry

  • drug design and discovery using organic chemistry

  • analytical chemistry to study the structure and purity of drug molecules

Pharmaceutics

  • the science of designing and formulating medicines

  • understand the properties of drugs and medicines through physical chemistry

Biosciences

  • understand disease and drug action through biology and pharmacology

  • the design of complex biological drugs

You'll study diseases and some of the most commonly prescribed medicines. You'll also learn about regulations, patenting and business skills in a national and global context.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 and 2021.

Modules

Our teaching methods include lab sessions, lectures, tutorials, workshops, and problem classes.

In year one you will study fundamental areas of pharmaceutical sciences. This will introduce you to a wide range of topics and provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge. You'll learn about cardiovascular disease, drug structure, and the science of medicines.

In year two, you still study more advanced modules at a higher level of expertise. You will learn about the synthesis of complex drugs, advanced drug discovery and drug design.

In year three you will complete a research project in an area of pharmaceutical sciences of your choice. This will involve collecting, analysing, and interpreting your own data.

In year four, you will work with an industry partner on a placement year. This will involve a year-long research project that will be supported by the university and your placement company. This will give you the skills and experience needed to start your career in the industry.

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B23B
Institution code:
N84
Campus name:
University Park Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

Not accepted

A level

AAB
including Chemistry and at least one further science A level from Biology, Maths/Further Maths or Physics. The third subject can be chosen from a wide range of subjects, but General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives and Research are not accepted. A Pass in the practical element is required for science A levels if assessed separately.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered on a case-by-case basis.

Access to HE Diploma

D: 45 credits
including 15 credits in Chemistry (including organic chemistry) and 15 credits in at least one of Maths, Biology or Physics.

Scottish Higher

AABBB
This qualification is only acceptable when combined with Advanced Higher grades AA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered on a case-by-case basis.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

This qualification is only acceptable when combined with A levels including Chemistry and possible one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics depending on the BTEC content.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32 points
including HL6 and HL5 in Chemistry and a second science or 665 in 3 HL certificates including Chemistry and a second science

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

This qualification is only acceptable when combined with A level Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths/Further Maths.

Extended Project

Not accepted

European Baccalaureate - 80% overall including 8.5 and 8.0 from Chemistry and Mathematics in any order. Biology or Physics can be considered if the equivalent of GCSE Maths grade B is already achieved.

GCSE requirements - English grade C (numeric grade 4), Mathematics grade B (numeric grade 5)

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We consider applicants solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential – we use exam grades to prioritise applicants but look at a range of factors and aim to give everyone an equal opportunity to show their achievements.

We understand that background and personal circumstances can have an impact on academic performance at school or college. Applicants who are eligible under our contextual admissions policies may be considered for a reduced contextual offer.

Learn more on the University of Nottingham website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
EU£30750*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
International£30750*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

View undergraduate tuition fees for UK and international students: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/fees/tuitionfees/202526/undergraduate.aspx

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