Pharmacology (with foundation year) BSc (Hons)

You’ll develop core bioscience and study skills during your foundation year using an active and collaborative approach to your learning. This builds your confidence before you move onto BSc (Hons) Pharmacology in Year Two. You’ll learn the science of drugs and how they have an impact on living systems and help to fight and control disease. Through guest lectures and practical classes that mimic assays performed in the pharmaceutical industry, you’ll develop a deep understanding of the drug discovery process.

As well as giving you loads of practical experience, you’ll get an extra qualification recognised by industry and backed by the UK Government to address the shortage of pharmacological expertise.

If you change your mind at the end of your foundation year you can transfer onto one of our other BSc Bioscience courses at NTU.

Why study Pharmacology at NTU?

Develop your portfolio

While at NTU you’ll create a skills portfolio in which you’ll showcase evidence of techniques and skills you’ve mastered. This portfolio allows you to document the development of your skills throughout your degree. They are a valuable tool when you graduate too, as they can be used to show future employers you are ready to work in a professional pharmacology environment.

Research informed teaching

Our research is tackling real-world issues – and the people working on this research will be teaching you. During your final year research project you’ll get to work closely with a research-active member of staff. Your project will focus on a specific area within their research, so you’ll gain valuable experience. For example, Dr Zahraa Al-Ahmady has been working using nanoparticles to deliver vital drugs to the brains of stroke patients.

During your final year research project, you’ll work closely with a member of staff, either on an aspect of their research or in their general area. You may be asked to help develop a new idea that can be incorporated into future research or help with our teaching. You’ll be working on real-world problems and gaining valuable experience at the same time.

Get industry experience

Through group work and the Introduction to Pharmacology module, you’ll start designing your own experiments and trying things out. Developing problem-solving skills by testing and learning are valuable graduate-level skills and we make sure you get this experience right from the start of your degree. The course has been designed to comply with the British Pharmacological Society guidelines so you’ll be developing the right skills and learning the theory needed to work in the pharmaceutical industry or in pharmacology research.

We’ve also embedded employability skills in your degree course, so you are not only learning theory and skills, but you know where to find your dream job and how to apply for it.

Take a work placement

Placements tell future employers you know how to do it as well as why. Our industry connections as well as the support you'll get from our Employability team all add up to a valuable work placement experience.

In Year Three, you’ll be encouraged to take a year-long placement overseas, or in the UK. You'll be supported throughout your placement year and will write a reflective report and diary during your placement. When you successfully complete your placement, you will be eligible to receive an additional award of a Diploma in Professional Practice.

Meet our staff

Whether your interest is working in research or in the industry we have experienced teaching and technical staff who have close links with the pharmaceutical industry. This means you are learning the most relevant theory and techniques and their contacts help you find great placement opportunities and guest speakers. We also bring in guest lecturers (many of which are NTU Pharmacology graduates) to provide an industry perspective. They’ll be teaching you the latest thinking in pharmacology.

In your final year, you’ll work on an individual research project. You’ll work closely with a member of staff and your project will be linked to their research area. This means you’ll be getting a real experience of research in practice which will look great on your CV.