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Pharmaceutical Science with Integrated Foundation Year

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
City Campus

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.

How to apply

Apply by
14 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:
F101
Institution code:
S84
Campus name:
City Campus
Campus Code:
A

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
40 points

A minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A or AS Levels, BTEC certificates/diplomas, access courses or equivalent)

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Normally a minimum of three Level 2 qualifications (NVQ, GCSE or equivalent), including Math's and English Language at grade C or above.

If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above. Equivalent alternative qualifications are also accepted, such as Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number.

If you have not achieved a grade C in Math's and English Language, we may be able to work with you to ensure that you are able to gain these in the first year of the course, depending on your experience.

The Integrated Foundation Year is specially designed to support you where you have just missed the grades required for direct entry onto a three-year degree, or if you have relevant work experience and are now looking to broaden your subject knowledge but want more time to develop study skills before starting your degree.

Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree. This enables us to consider making you an offer if you are perhaps a mature student who has been out of education for a period of time, or you have gained significant knowledge and skills through employment rather than traditional education.

Eligible entry qualifications:

  1. Normally a minimum of three Level 2 qualifications (NVQ, GCSE or equivalent), including Math's and English langauge at grade C or above** and a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A or AS Levels, T Levels, BTEC certificates/diplomas, access courses or equivalent)
    OR
  2. Demonstrable evidence of appropriate knowledge and skills acquired from at least three years of post-school work experience.

** If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above. Equivalent alternative qualifications are also accepted, such as Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have not achieved a grade C in Math's and English language, we may be able to work with you to ensure that you are able to gain these in the first year of the course, depending on your experience.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

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

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

Please refer to our website for course tuition fees - https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/

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