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Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 20 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
University Park Campus
More about University of Nottingham

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Learn about the discovery and design of medicines on a course that equips you with the scientific depth, practical skills and interdisciplinary mindset needed to shape the future of healthcare.

On our BSc Pharmaceutical Sciences, you’ll study the core science of drug discovery, the formulation of medicines and the diseases for which they are designed – developing your understanding of how drugs and medicines work and why they’re used. You’ll also explore current and potential future advancements in the field, as well as pharmaceutical regulations and business aspects of drug discovery.

We’ll prepare you for a career where you can develop new drugs and medicines to transform people’s lives – whether that’s in industry or academia.

Throughout your first two years, you’ll bring together the core sciences that make up pharmaceutical sciences – chemistry, pharmaceutics and biosciences.

Chemistry will help you to learn about:

  • drug design and discovery using organic chemistry

  • using analytical techniques and physical chemistry to determine the purity and properties of drugs and medicines

Pharmaceutics will cover the science of designing and formulating medicines. 
 
While Biosciences includes:

  • understanding disease and drug action through biology and pharmacology

  • the design of complex biological drugs

In your third year, we’ll focus on current and possible future advances in drug discovery and pharmaceutical innovation – ensuring you keep up to date with cutting-edge developments in the field. You’ll also learn about pharmaceutical processes, intellectual property, licensing and regulatory affairs in a national and global context. This means you’ll build not only your scientific knowledge but also your understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.

Increasingly, you’ll be able to focus on areas of pharmaceutical science that match your interests and career ambitions. You’ll undertake a substantial research project, where you can put all the knowledge you’ve gained into practice.

Throughout your studies, our dedicated Faculty of Science careers team will be on hand to support you. Our previous graduates have gone on to work for top employers such as AstraZeneca, GSK, Nutrivitality, Merck Group and Pharmaron.

Why choose this course?

Course highlights

  • Gain extensive, practical lab experience throughout the course

  • Learn from our active research staff, who can share with expertise and the latest research developments with you

  • Opportunities to study abroad or even complete your research project overseas

    Proven Results

  • We’re ranked 12th in the world and 5th in the UK for pharmacy and pharmacology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

  • The average starting salary for pharmaceutical sciences undergraduates within 15 months of graduation was £31,126 (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2021/22-2022/23).

Modules

Course Modules

For detailed information about the modules you will study, please visit the course page

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/Pharmaceutical-Sciences-BSc-Hons.html

Assessment method

For detailed information about the course assessment methods please visit the course page: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/Pharmaceutical-Sciences-BSc-Hons.html

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • University Park Campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 20 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
B313
Institution code:
N84
Campus name:
University Park Campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Nottingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
B313
Institution code:
N84
Campus name:
University Park Campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
ABB

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.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
ABBBB

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

Access to HE Diploma
Distinction: 24 Merit: 21

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

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

Considered on a case-by-case basis.

Extended Project
Not accepted

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 30

including HL6 and HL5 in Chemistry and a second science

or 665 in 3 HL certificates including Chemistry and a second science

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
A-B

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

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended 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 potentially one of Biology, Physics or Maths/Further Maths depending on the BTEC content.

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

Applicants to this course may be eligible for our Additional Qualifications Offer Reduction Scheme. If you achieve a grade A in an EPQ, Core Maths*, IB Extended Essay or additional AS level qualification* then you will receive a one grade reduced offer for this course.

Please note that if you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer or receive an alternative offer based on taking four A levels, your additional qualification will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.

  • Additional eligibility requirements apply. View further details on this scheme.
    https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/applying/entry-requirements.html

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.56.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element) English language requirements As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English. Check our English language policies and equivalencies for further details. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/international-applicants/english-language.aspx For presessional English or one-year foundation courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cele/presessional/index.aspx If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

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

International entry requirements

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Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU & InternationalTBC
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050*

* 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/202627/index.aspx

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