BSc Pharmacology (For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

Programme overview

Entry requirements

• A-level: AAB, including Biology or Chemistry, plus another science or science-related subject (Science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, PE and physics OR Science-related subjects: geography, psychology, use of maths and statistics). Critical Thinking and General Studies excluded. Applicants taking a Science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.
• IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent English language qualification.

Programme specification

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2023. For students who entered the programme before September 2023, you can find the details of your programme: BSc Biomedical Sciences

Pharmacology is the scientific study of medicines and other drugs and is therefore essential to all medical disciplines and the treatment of disease. You’ll learn how drugs work in the body, how they are discovered and developed for human use, and how they can sometimes have unwanted effects.

Knowledge of this discipline and others in biomedical sciences is essential to provide solutions to the many health, wellbeing and other challenges facing humankind, for example prevention of disease, treatment of disease and healthy ageing.

Your Course

In the first year of your programme, you will be provided with a broad knowledge and understanding of the principal body systems, processes and functions in health and disease, and gain hands-on practical experience of the experimental approaches used to generate this knowledge in biomedical sciences but then focussing on pharmacology. The course will initially cover:

- Structure and function of physiological systems and how these can be disturbed by disease

- Underpinning molecular and cellular processes, structure and function of the nervous system including during development and pathological dysfunction

- Principles of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics including examples of drugs than can be used to treat and modify pathophysiology of various common diseases and conditions, as well as how drugs are discovered and developed in the modern pharmaceutical industry.

As you progress through your course, you will have the opportunity to discover and explore individual areas in more depth such as psychopharmacology, antiviral therapy, cancer therapy and molecular pharmacology for example. You will be part of an investigative-based inspirational and engaging learning experience, informed by cutting edge research undertaken in these areas at Leeds, delivered by the world leading academics undertaking this research.

You will gain an integrated knowledge of the human body and how it works in health and disease, alongside how drugs can be developed to treat many diseases using current pharmacological techniques and methodologies. You will be involved in active learning approaches including critical thinking, creative problem solving, team-working and mini-projects to progressively develop the key skills and attributes required by Pharmacology graduates. You will be assessed using many tasks or activities undertaken in the workplace.

Towards the end of your programme, you will undertake a capstone or culminating research project, where you lead the research alongside an academic mentor and this opportunity will bring together the knowledge, skills and attributes developed throughout your degree and apply it to a problem, which could be research based, industry linked, clinical or an alternative, creating a solution to this problem. An opportunity to show case your knowledge and skills to potential employers.

This course will help you develop skills relevant to the pharmaceutical industry that will in-turn help to address global challenges, such as tackling antibiotic resistance or discovering new drugs to treat Ebola and Covid-19; Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease; and diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Our World

Our focus is to train the next generation of thinkers, innovators and leaders, equipped to make a positive difference in a complex and ever-changing interconnected world, you will develop global cultural awareness, by exploring some of the grand challenges or UN Sustainable Development Goals facing humankind in partnership with students from different backgrounds, cultures or lived experiences within an incl usive learning environment. You will use your knowledge and skills to create solutions to local and global challenges, be able to explain the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion relevant to biomedical sciences, demonstrate ethical awareness and competencies and complete creative problem-solving activities.
Your Future

Our focus will be on making you workplace ready, equipped with the knowledge, skills and attributes required to succeed in whatever career you choose to go onto, able to contribute ethical solutions to the complex problems facing humankind. Throughout your studies, you will complete workplace tasks and activities undertaken in employment. Demonstrate the ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary team environments and contribute positively and flexibly to a team output. You will also be able to communicate scientific and other information to specific audiences and in relevant and varied formats. This will equip you with the necessary skills for employment or to go onto future studies relevant to your career of choice.

Year 1

(For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
BMSC1100T	Structure and Function (Anatomy and Physiology) of Human Body Systems (Teaching)	0	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
BMSC1200T	Biology of the Mind (Teaching)	0	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC1216T	Introduction to Pharmacology (Teaching)	0	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC1302	Team-Based Solutions for Local Challenges in Human Sciences	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BMSC1303	Practical application of Clinical, Laboratory and Field Skills for Human Sciences	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
BMSC1320A	Application of Knowledge (Assessment - BMS)	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
BMSC1322A	Evidence Based Reports (Assessment - BMS)	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
FOBS1135T	The Basis of Life (Teaching)	0	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Optional Modules

Basket 1: Candidates will be required to study 1-2 modules from the following list of optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MICR1202	The Microbial World	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR1220	Introduction to Immunology	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Basket 2: Candidates can study one module from the following list of optional modules if they have taken only one module from basket 1

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
FOOD1050	Elements of Human Nutrition	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Candidates can take 0-10 credits of Discovery modules

Year 2

(For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
BMSC2130	Advanced Concepts in Pharmacology	40
BMSC2238	Applied Concepts in Drug Development	20
BMSC2315	Team-based solutions to global challenges in human science	20		PFP
BMSC2341	Experimental Skills in Pharmacology	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates study 20 credits from the following list of optional /discovery modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
BIOL2210	Biological Membranes and Cell Signalling	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BIOL2212	Chemotherapy	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BLGY2201	Introduction to Bioinformatics	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC2243	Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine	10
FOBS2240	Skills in Communicating Research beyond the University	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MICR2221	Medical Immunology	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Candidates can take 0-10 credits of Discovery modules

Year 3

(For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
BMSC3391	Research Skills and Professional Development	20		PFP
BMSC3392	Capstone Research Project	40		PFP

Optional Modules

Basket 1: Candidates will be required to study 20-40 credits from the options below.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
BMSC3162	Research Topics in Pharmacology 1	20
BMSC3243	Research Topics in Pharmacology 2	20

Basket 2: Students can select 0-40 credits from the options below.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
BIOL3215	Cancer Biology	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
BMSC3152	Inherited Disorders	20
BMSC3153	Neurophysiology	20
BMSC3228	Animal Models in Discovery Biology & Drug Development	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Basket 3: Students can select 0-20 credits from the options below.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
FOOD3071	Diet and Cardiovascular Health	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
FOOD3340	Food and Cancer	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MEDM3221	Reproductive Medical Science	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students may also select 0-20 credits worth of Discovery modules.

Last updated: 08/05/2025 15:10:24

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