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Chemistry, Pharmacology and Drug Discovery at UEA
Find out more about studying Chemistry, Pharmacology and Drug Discovery at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBSc (Hons) Pharmacology and Drug Discovery with Foundation Year
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- 8B21
- Typical Offer
- CCC
- Contextual Offer
- CDD
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Course Options
Other Start Dates
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100%
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022-23Course Overview
Why BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery with Foundation Year at UEA?
Join a degree shaped by world‑leading research in discovering the medicines of the future. You’ll learn from experts working at the forefront of tackling major global health challenges — from cancer, inflammation and age-related disorders to infectious diseases.
Why choose UEA?
- ASPIRE: Build an authentic skills portfolio ready to take to employers
- Norwich Research Park: Study in a centre of world-leading biomedical research expertise
- Inclusive teaching: Develop your skills in our state-of-the-art teaching facilities
What is BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery with Foundation Year?
Pharmacology and Drug Discovery is one of the only BSc of its type in the UK, innovative in its multidisciplinary approach bringing together the scientific disciplines of biology and chemistry, focused on human disease and medications. The foundation year is designed to prepare you for success on our degree programme. You’ll study major diseases and the science behind the drugs used to treat them. You’ll also learn the skills to develop pharmaceuticals of the future.
On this research-focused course, you’ll learn about the process of designing and synthesizing new drugs and gain hands‑on experience with the tools and approaches behind modern drug innovation, how diseases work and how to uncover new therapeutic targets. You’ll also learn about designing experiments, conducting your own original research, and how to publish and present your research findings including data presentation and scientific writing.
Designed to prepare you for a career at the forefront of pharmaceutical research, we embed technical STEM skills alongside employability skills through authentic assessment with real world evaluation. You may also pursue other careers such as scientific communication, forensic analysis, regulatory affairs or science teaching.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With our BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery with a Foundation Year degree, you could develop a career as a:
- Research Scientist: This could be within a university or the pharmaceutical industry – the most common next-step our Pharmacology and Drug Discovery students take is studying for a master's or PhD
- Scientific Writer: This could be working for a scientific journal or content provision for social media platforms
- Toxicologist: A critical part of the drug development pipeline bringing new drugs to market
- Clinical Trials Associate: Essential role in the drug discovery pipeline as new drugs come closer to being released and benefitting patients
- University Lecturer or Science Teacher: Use your expertise to teach the next generation of scientists
Career Support
By graduation, you won’t just be knowledgeable, you’ll be a skilled scientific researcher ready to discover the medicines of the future. You’ll have an evidence based practical and skills portfolio that demonstrates to employers exactly who you are, the skills you’ve mastered, and the impact you’re ready to make in whichever career direction you choose to take. There are embedded visits throughout the course for example to a large pharmaceutical company, a contract research organisation, research institutes and academic research labs.
UEA’s Career Central is also there to support you throughout your studies and up to three years after graduation.
After the Course
You’ll graduate ready to pursue a career in drug discovery, within academia, the health sector or industry. The largest proportion of our graduates go onto master's or PhD programmes, including moving into a master's by Research project within our research labs.
You could also choose a broader life science career, for example in quality assurance or production of healthcare products, forensic analysis, regulatory affairs of pharmaceutical products or scientific publishing.
For entrepreneurial students who want to turn their ideas into a business in the future, the UEA Enterprise Centre actively supports students providing mentorship, workshops and events, as well as potential funding. There are also dedicated facilities in the Norwich Research Park, with state-of-the-art labs and office spaces right on our doorstep.
Study and Modules
Structure
The foundation year is designed to prepare you for success on our BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery programme. This year-long course will provide you with all the necessary skills in chemistry, biology and mathematics to excel in your studies. A bespoke module also introduces you to topics in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery to prepare you for the full degree programme.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your first year, you’ll gain a solid base for understanding drug development. You’ll be introduced to fundamental principles underpinning medicinal chemistry, including organic chemistry. In pharmacology modules you’ll learn about cellular drug targets as well as the systems controlling body function – the nervous system and the endocrine system. You'll begin to apply your pharmacology knowledge to the diseases of the endocrine system such as diabetes.
In addition to the essential knowledge, from day one you'll begin to build an authentic skills portfolio setting you up for a successful scientific career. Practical knowledge and laboratory skills will be gained in laboratory classes each week. Written and oral presentations, note taking, report writing, and other core skills will be developed. Guest lecturers will help put these skills into context.
On top of this, you’ll develop your professional skills, including how to write an eye-catching cover letter and CV.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll continue to apply your knowledge to individual systems of the body. You’ll explore topics such as cancer, infectious disease and immunology, plus the diseases and medicines of the cardiovascular and gastro-intestinal systems. You’ll also develop your knowledge and understanding of organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry - and put these principles into the context of the disease topics you’re learning about. The practical component supports your learning including molecular pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and drug delivery practical classes to give you hands-on experience of techniques used in current pharmaceutical research. This will include a “bench-to-bedside” project, developing and testing a novel drug. A visit to the labs of a large pharmaceutical company gives real-world relevance. The skill component will advance your scientific writing and communication skills including outreach and engagement with public, alongside bioinformatics and computational modelling.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your third year, you’ll apply knowledge gained in years one and two to a final year project, working with a research-active faculty member. Your project will focus on pharmacology, drug design or delivery in one of many areas, including the major contemporary challenges of cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases.
In addition to your final research project, you’ll have the opportunity to select further modules depending on your interests – delve into more advanced pharmacology and medicinal chemistry topics at the current cutting edge of our knowledge. You could also take the opportunity to develop your entrepreneurial skills. This year you'll also gain understanding of further areas of the drug discovery pipeline, including toxicology and clinical trials. This is contextualized by visiting the labs of a contract research organization and external lecturers with real-world experience of drug development.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
After completion of your foundation year, teaching and learning on the Pharmacology and Drug Discovery programme is constructively aligned to support your personal and scientific skill development alongside core knowledge. Across the course we use a range of teaching methods, including lectures, tutorials, workshops and weekly practical classes.
Your lab classes across the programme will focus on skill development, with reflective blogs and skills sign offs to support your learning. The sessions will be supervised by your lecturers and postgraduate student demonstrators, who’ll ensure the safe execution of the experiments and provide continual feedback on your skill development.
In year one, you'll have lectures that are supported by tutorials or workshops where you'll apply the knowledge from lectures. There are practical sessions each week, building essential skills in chemistry and pharmacology labs and core skills development including presentation skills and teamwork.
In year two, there is a familiar mix of lectures, tutorials and workshops as well as laboratory classes. You'll work up to designing your own experiments and will complete a “Bench-to-Bedside” project where you'll make a molecule and test it for pharmacological activity.
In year three, you’ll team up with a faculty member actively involved in research for your big project. In optional modules, you can explore more advanced pharmacology and medicinal chemistry topics including research-led topics that are taught by researchers in those fields.
Assessment
A combination of assessment methods is designed to best reflect each module and what we hope you’ll gain from it. Once the foundation year is completed, there is an approximately 50:50 combination of coursework and exams across years 1-3 of the course. Before the actual assessments, you'll have practice sessions (called formative assessments) where you won't get grades but can learn and improve. You'll also receive feedback on your work to help you get better.
With continuous low stakes assessment, you can track your progress in topic areas to feed forward into main assessments.
Innovative approaches are used such as the ASPIRE framework – an authentic skills-based portfolio with real world evaluation. We assess your skill development through Observed, Structured Practical examinations (OSPE) aligned to your weekly lab classes, alongside reflective blog and employability skills.
In year one, you'll have a mixture of assessments, including skills based OSPE, presentation and teamworking, CV, referencing, data handling and analysis, AI, report writing and exams.
In year two, you'll have a mixture of assessments including skills-based OSPE, lab reports, AI, literature reviews and exams.
In year three, your optional modules will be assessed similarly to your modules in your first and second years. Your project is the main assessment element in year three and will be assessed through a combination of written dissertation, performance and presentation assessment. Formative assessment will provide feedback opportunities.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK fee-paying students. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
CCC
Contextual offer: CDD
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMM
Contextual offer: MMP
Access to HE DiplomaPass the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
28 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
6 subjects at H4
Scottish Highers
BBCCC
Scottish Advanced Highers
DDD
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
Progression from a Foundation Year may also be dependent on meeting the prerequisite module requirements of the course you wish to progress to. Please note subsequent changes to study or course can affect your tuition fee liability and the amount you are required to pay.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £10,050
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International Students: £29,300
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started. (opens in a new window)
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: