Program Overview

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Physiology & Pharmacology

BSc (Hons)

Attendance

Full-time

Campus

Preston Campus

Start

September 2025

Duration

3 years

UCAS Code

BB12

Delivery

In-person

Overview

This degree is the perfect route if you want a career in the pharmaceutical industry, as you’ll study the human body in both normal and altered states, including the development of disease processes. You’ll have the flexibility to choose between two final degree routes dependent on your chosen career.

Why Study with Us

• 2nd in the North West for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide, Biomedical Science, 2025)
• 2nd in the North West for graduate prospects (on track) (Complete University Guide, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2025)
• Physiology and Pharmacology is ranked 1st in England for value-added (a measure of effective teaching) (Guardian University Guide 2021)
• You will be taught by GPhC registered working pharmacists, pharmacologists, medicinal chemists, biologists, biomedical scientists and pharmaceutics experts.
• 99% of students who studied Physiology and Pharmacology were in graduate level work or further study after graduating (Complete University Guide 2021)

What You'll Do

• This is a lab-based programme taught in modern facilities similar to those used in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Taught by internationally-recognised research-active scientists investigating various neuronal and psychiatric disorders and brain cancers, you’ll be exposed to data from key fields of research relevant to many current major medical problems.
• You’ll have the opportunity in your second year to study abroad and this includes European countries and the USA. You could also work as a paid summer intern in the labs.

Modules

Year 1

• Fundamentals of Biosciences
• Essential Skills in Biosciences
• Biosciences in Practice

Year 2

• Bioscience Practical Skills
• Molecules to Cells
• Physiology and Pharmacology

Year 3

• Research Project
• Drug Development
• Contemporary Topics in Physiology
• Neuropharmacology

Entry Requirements

• UCAS: 104-120 points at A2 including Chemistry or Biology at C. General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship & community Studies not accepted
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM - DDM in Applied Science. Please see UCAS for specific module requirements
• BTEC Diploma: DD in Applied Science. Please see UCAS for specific module requirements
• Pass Access Course: 104-120 UCAS points including 15 level 3 credits in Biology or Chemistry at Distinction
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass with 104 - 120 UCAS points from Higher Level subjects including Higher Level Biology or Chemistry at grade 5
• T Level Science or T Level Healthcare Science with an overall grade M
• IELTS: 6.0 with no component lower than 5.5
• GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent

Fees and Funding

• UK: £9,535 per year (2025/26)
• International: £17,325 per year (2025/26)

Scholarships and Bursaries

• Care Leaver Bursary
• Estranged student support
• Dependants Bursary
• Financial support package

Learning and Assessment

A three-year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits and each 20 credits (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study, which comprises of a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and independent study.

Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time will be detailed within your module descriptors, and will depend on your option choices.

Teaching on the course is made up of a diverse range of methods and styles including lectures, tutorials, seminars, computer-based learning, case studies and laboratory practicals. As well as the traditional methods of teaching, e-learning (based around a virtual learning environment) and problem-based learning techniques will be used. There will be a number of opportunities for you to develop individual and team working skills.

Assessments include written and practical as well as a wide-range of coursework and examinations, allowing a full range of skills to be developed.