Pharmacology BSc (Hons) with foundation year
Study level: UndergraduateOn our Pharmacology BSc (Hons) degree you will further your understanding of how our bodies function in both health and disease from molecules and cells to whole organ systems.
Course option
Year of entry
Location
CU Coventry (Coventry) and
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
4 years full-time
5 years sandwich
UCAS codes
BBDF
Start date
September 2024
November 2024
Course overview
Our degree with foundation year could be the stepping stone you need to achieve your goals. The foundation year aims to prepare you for degree-level study and is a great way to build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed on your degree course.
Foundation year
The foundation year course offers an introduction to your chosen subject and helps you develop the necessary skills for degree-level study. In addition, you will also explore key skills such as research methods, scientific fundamentals and promotion techniques.
Degree
Successful completion of this degree will equip you with the skills and knowledge to contribute to current and emerging challenges in the understanding of drug actions and reactions and the development of new drugs to help fight disease.
- Not only will your studies focus on the investigation of how drugs are developed and their effects on living systems, but your studies will also take on a multidisciplinary approach incorporating aspects of human physiology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, underpinned by chemical principles.
- Upon successful completion, you will have the skills and knowledge to meet the demand for suitably trained professionals within the global pharmaceutical industry to expedite the critical task of translating basic laboratory medical research into technology and drugs that can be used to diagnose and treat patients.
- It is anticipated that on successful completion of this course you could have employment opportunities in a range of industries including pharmaceutical research and development roles, clinical trials, drug regulation and sales and marketing.
Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 20225 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University RatingsTop 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
Foundation year
- Supports you to gain the academic skills required for degree-level study.
- Provides a grounding in key areas of biosciences.
Degree
- Hands-on experience for a wide range of laboratory techniques such as gene amplification using PCR, gene sequencing, cell culture, flow cytometry using real world applicable techniques and clinical simulations in our cutting edge Superlab4.
- Extensive industry links (e.g. Biocity) and opportunities to spend a year in industry in the UK or overseas as a placement student2; past students have worked at John Radcliffe Hospital and companies like Binding Site, and in countries as far afield as Canada, Spain and the Netherlands.
- Our experienced research active teaching team have worked within cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology, clinical toxicology, NHS pathology laboratories. Staff bring their professional and research expertise into their teaching through the use of contemporary clinical case studies as the basis for problem-based learning activities (staff may be subject to change).
- This course would be ideal for students who wish to pursue careers in integrative medical and pharmacological science or are interested in focusing on drug development.
- Following British Pharmacological Society (BPS) guidelines, this course is designed to give you a solid foundation in areas of biology that support an understanding of pharmacology.
Accreditation and professional recognition
The degree is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:
The Royal Society of Biology
This course has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for the 2024/25 intake. This means that when you graduate you may be eligible to apply for professional registration with the RSB and then as a Registered Scientist (RSci) with The Science Council to receive accreditation1 (additional costs may apply).
Our Award-winning Green Superlab
With space for over 250 students and packed full of industry-standard equipment, the Coventry University Superlab is an amazing place to learn, experiment and discover. Find out what we’re doing in our Superlab to make it greener and reduce our waste and carbon emissions.
What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
One of the best parts of my job as an academic is to observe how our students develop and gain confidence as scientists and go on to succeed in their chosen degree and career pathway.
Sadie Dean, Course Director for Pharmacology BSc (Hons), 2022
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.
Got higher grades? Have you considered direct entry to the degree without foundation year?
Fees and funding
2024/25 tuition fees.
Foundation year
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
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UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £7,950 | Not available |
International/EU | Not currently available*** | Not available |
Degree
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £9,250 per year | Not available |
International/EU | Not currently available*** | Not available |
Please note: UK (home) tuition fees for the degree course years will be charged at the current Coventry University UK (home) degree fee level. This was set at £9,250 for the 23/24 academic year.
If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
**This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
Our foundation years are taught at CU Coventry’s Mile Lane building, a short walk from the city centre. You’re part of the university from day one, so during your foundation year you’ll have access to the wider facilities at Coventry University. Once you successfully complete your foundation year, you'll transfer over to studying your chosen degree at Coventry University, where you'll be taught on campus in the relevant academic buildings.
Careers and opportunities
A large number of medical scientists are employed by companies in the pharmaceutical industry, where they are involved in discovering and developing drugs and carrying out clinical trials. Medical scientists may also work for contract research organisations (CROs) or academic departments within universities on research projects. There are also career options within government laboratories (including environmental agencies), charity-funded research organisations, such as the Medical Research Council (MRC), and with other research institutes.
This course is specifically designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required for a career in a range of sectors in a variety of roles in companies and organisations in both the UK and abroad. In addition to discipline specific theory and practical laboratory competence, you will also develop transferrable skills in digital fluency, numeracy, communication and teamwork.
The scientific knowledge and skills you acquire during the course can be a useful basis for a career in: teaching; technical and scientific writing (such as medical writing or writing for the media); clinical trials; drug registration, patenting or monitoring; medical publishing or other information services; regulatory affairs or sales and marketing.
Upon successful completion of your course, you will be equipped with the knowledge and hands on practical experience required from the scientific and pharmaceutical industries to maintain and advance their activities to meet the global challenges of health and disease. There is also a growing demand for highly skilled staff with the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, right across industry, in the health service, government establishments, research and educational institutions and our degree is designed to give you a wide range of key skills that will be attractive to such employers.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. We provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Our graduates have gone on to careers in drug discovery and development, clinical trials development and governance within the pharmaceutical industry and university and hospital departments. Recent examples include working as a regulatory strategist and trials manager for Pfizer, as an education administrator for Education for Health and as activities coordinator for the TLC group.
Further study
The course is an excellent foundation for further postgraduate studies leading to an MSc or PhD. We run a range or related taught MSc courses that allow our graduates to specialise in the area that they have a passion for and would like to pursue a career in. These courses also have a ‘with professional experience’ option, allowing students to apply for and complete an extended period of experience in a professional environment.
How to apply
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UK students
Full-time students applying to start in September 2024 can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
Part-time students should apply directly to the university.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
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International students
International codes:
How to apply
CHLSU251IFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
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Disclaimers
Study location
The Foundation Year study route will be delivered by CU, part of the Coventry University Group, for and on behalf of Coventry University.
If you choose to study at CU Coventry for your Foundation Year, then your learning will be based at CU Coventry. Mile Lane, Coventry. Subject to meeting requirements you will then transition to the relevant Coventry University subject faculty building for your progression degree.
Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.