Program Overview

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Pharmacology and Physiology with Foundation BSc Honours

Overview

Our degree courses with foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.

The foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules from areas closely related to your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course.

On successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Pharmacology and Physiology BSc Honours degree.

Pharmacology and physiology are two closely related disciplines. Pharmacology is the study of drug action and how medicines may modify disease states. Physiology is concerned with how the body and its systems are controlled, and in the changes that lead to disease states (pathophysiology).

This course will provide you with a sound understanding of the biological action of drugs and other biomolecules at the whole-body, tissue, cellular and sub-cellular levels, and their uses as medicines for the treatment of disease. It provides an ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or other areas of biomedical research, academia, the Scientific Civil Service and healthcare provision.

Opportunities exist for you to enhance your practical and related transferable skills within our research laboratories. Teaching is informed by high-quality research in relevant cognate areas, within the department.

In addition, new students will benefit from our use of the APOLLO Patient Care Simulator platform, as an exciting novel teaching tool.

The Pharmacology and Physiology BSc will enable you to acquire a broad understanding of the normal and abnormal physiological function, including the biology of representative disease states.

You'll become proficient in explaining and applying information about the mode of therapeutic action, undesirable and toxic effects, absorption, distribution and elimination of exemplar drugs. You'll also develop the problem-solving skills and research strategies necessary to evaluate, critically appraise and systematically review pharmacology and physiology.

The learning and teaching strategies include a mixture of formal contact – such as large and small group lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, laboratory practical sessions and demonstrations – as well as independent work and online support activities.

Top reasons to study with us

• Build a successful career – this course will give you the knowledge and skills for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or other areas of biomedical research
• Make the most of our facilities – develop your skills in our fully equipped laboratories, and benefit from our APOLLO Patient Care Simulator platform
• Learn from our expert teaching staff – teaching is informed by high-quality research, delivering the forefront of current and cutting-edge science to students

Course structure

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

• Foundation
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Placement Year
• Year 3

Subjects of study include:

• Biology
• Bioscience in Action
• Chemistry
• Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
• Introduction to Academic Practice
• Introduction to Physiology

Credit Level 3

Subjects of study include:

• Applications of Biological Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Biological Chemistry
• Cell Biology
• Fundamentals of Pharmacology
• Human Physiology
• Professional Development in Science (PRoDS)
• Science: History Philosophy and Practice

Credit Level 4

Subjects of study include:

• Bioinformatics
• Contemporary Global Challenges in Biology
• Experimental and Therapeutic Pharmacology
• Medical Physiology
• Metabolic Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Neuroscience
• Research Methods

Credit Level 5

Professional experience or study abroad year

Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in industry. Completing the placement year will lead to the final award Bachelor of Science with Honours – Pharmacology and Physiology with Professional Experience.

Alternatively, you can undertake a period of study abroad at one of Westminster’s partner institutions. Successful completion will lead to the final award Bachelor of Science with Honours – Pharmacology and Physiology with International Experience.

Subjects of study include:

• Advanced Physiology and Pharmacology
• Cancer Biology
• Drug Discovery: Bench to Bedside
• Final Year Project in Life Sciences
• Global Ethics
• Neuropharmacology
• Pharmaceutical Drug Design and Development

Credit Level 6

Foundation

Subjects of study include:

• Biology
• Bioscience in Action
• Chemistry
• Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
• Introduction to Academic Practice
• Introduction to Physiology

Credit Level 3

Year 1

Subjects of study include:

• Applications of Biological Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Biological Chemistry
• Cell Biology
• Fundamentals of Pharmacology
• Human Physiology
• Professional Development in Science (PRoDS)
• Science: History Philosophy and Practice

Credit Level 4

Year 2

Subjects of study include:

• Bioinformatics
• Contemporary Global Challenges in Biology
• Experimental and Therapeutic Pharmacology
• Medical Physiology
• Metabolic Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Neuroscience
• Research Methods

Credit Level 5

Placement Year

Professional experience or study abroad year

Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in industry. Completing the placement year will lead to the final award Bachelor of Science with Honours – Pharmacology and Physiology with Professional Experience.

Alternatively, you can undertake a period of study abroad at one of Westminster’s partner institutions. Successful completion will lead to the final award Bachelor of Science with Honours – Pharmacology and Physiology with International Experience.

Year 3

Subjects of study include:

• Advanced Physiology and Pharmacology
• Cancer Biology
• Drug Discovery: Bench to Bedside
• Final Year Project in Life Sciences
• Global Ethics
• Neuropharmacology
• Pharmaceutical Drug Design and Development

Credit Level 6

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). RSB accreditation recognises degree programmes that fully prepare bioscience graduates to address the needs of employers and is an indication that the programme delivers up-to-date knowledge in the right learning, support and teaching environments. At the time of publication, students on an RSB-accredited course are eligible for a free Student Affiliate membership for the duration of their studies. Once graduated from an accredited degree, they are entitled to a 50% discount on Associate membership of the RSB for two years.

Course Leaders

• Steve Davis - Course Leader for Foundation in Life Sciences
• Dr Bradley Elliott - Senior Lecturer in Physiology
• Dr Christopher Biggs - Senior Lecturer
• Dr Stephen Getting - Principal Lecturer

Why study this course?

• Student satisfaction - 96% of our students agreed with the statement "Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course".
• Professional accreditation - This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting in part the academic and experience requirement of membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).
• Forward-thinking learning - You'll study key bioscience and applied biomedical disciplines, with a particular focus on new and emerging technologies.

Entry Requirements

• UK
  • A Levels - DDE (64 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels - 64 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate - 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma - MPP
  • BTEC Diploma - MM
  • Access - 64 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
• International
  • International Baccalaureate - 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
  • We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster.

English language requirements

• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 5.5 overall, with a score of 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £9,535 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)
• Funding - As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.
• Scholarships - The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

Teaching and Assessment

• How you'll be taught - Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• How you'll be assessed - Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Supporting you

• Study support - workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors - support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team - provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities - volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Course Location

• Our Cavendish Campus offers our science and technology students a range of learning spaces that are both dynamic and inspiring.
• Located in central London, our Cavendish Campus is just a five-minute walk from Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.