BSc (Hons) Pharmacology and Drug Discovery with Foundation Year
Course options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- Typical Offer
- CCC
- Contextual Offer
- CDD
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
How can we support an ageing population and fight the increasing number of cases of diseases such as cancer? How can we help one in four people suffering from mental health issues? These are just some of the challenges you’ll explore on our pharmacology and drug discovery degree. You’ll be able to apply your passion for chemistry and biology and put it to use for the good of human health, developing the life-changing medicines of the future. If you do not yet have the knowledge or grades required for our BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery program, our Foundation Year is designed to fill any gaps in your knowledge.
Study at the internationally renowned School of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Pharmacology, with world-class research in areas such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, antibiotic resistance and tissue engineering. Your instructors will be academic researchers, including pharmacologists, cell biologists, medicinal chemists, and pharmaceutical chemists. They specialize in pharmacology and drug discovery, and they'll teach you everything you need to know.
The course brings together scientific disciplines – biology, chemistry and physical sciences – focusing on disease and medications. Within integrated modules, you’ll study major diseases and the science behind the drugs used to treat them. We also include business studies to provide you with an understanding of management practice focused on the pharmaceutical industry, which are important skills in today’s corporate world. You’ll also learn about designing experiments and how to write reports in the form of scientific papers.
Our Pharmacology Drug Discovery programme is the only BSc of its type in the UK and is innovative in its multidisciplinary approach. You'll explore how drugs fight diseases and, along with drug discovery, you'll learn about the process of designing, synthesizing, and manufacturing new drugs. One of the most exciting parts of the course will be conducting your own original research in a project that you'll do individually. You'll work in a real research lab, which makes it even more special.
Our course is centred around research, which is crucial for Pharmacology Drug Discovery. It's designed to prepare you for a career at the forefront of pharmaceutical research. The course is designed to inform and inspire your journey to becoming a researcher in pharmaceutical sciences, healthcare, and toxicology. You may also pursue careers as analytical chemist, biomedical scientist, or medical sales representative.
Study and Modules
Structure
Our Foundation Year is designed to prepare you for success on our BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery programme. The year-long course will provide you with all the necessary skills in chemistry, biology, and mathematics to excel in your studies.
For the years of study beyond the Foundation Year, please see the BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery course pages.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)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
The Foundation Year provides a firm grounding in chemistry, biology, and mathematics and introduces you to key concepts of pharmacology and medicinal chemistry.
Assessment
Your foundation year results will not count towards your final degree classification, but they’re important if you wish to transfer to a different degree programme.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK students. Choose UK to see relevant information. 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 C or grade 4.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.
- 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.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
CCC
Contextual offer: CDD
Critical Thinking and General Studies not accepted.
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMM
Contextual offer: MMP
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: MMM
Diploma: MM plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: M plus CC at A level.
Critical Thinking and General Studies not accepted.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass including a C in the core of the T Level and a Pass in the Occupational Specialism. We accept all pathways
Foundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - BSc Pharmacology with a Foundation Year
- 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. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- 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: 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies 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.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
-
- 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.
- 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.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
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 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
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.
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:
Employability
After the Course
Once you successfully finish your Foundation Year you will go straight onto the BSc Pharmacology and Drug Discovery.
You’ll graduate from that ready to pursue a career in drug design or development within academia, the health sector or industry.
You could also choose a broader life science career, for example with a grant-funding body, charity, learned society or in academia, regulatory affairs or publishing.
We embed employability skills throughout the course, with sessions on developing CVs, interview techniques, presentation skills, teamwork, research and business skills.
For entrepreneurial students who want to turn their work into a business in the future, there are dedicated facilities in the Norwich Research Park, with state-of-the-art labs and office spaces right on our doorstep.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Research scientist in industry, research institute or university
- Healthcare scientist
- Analytical chemist
- Biomedical scientist
- Medical sales representative
- Toxicologist
Discover more on our Careers webpages.