Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Top-up) BSc(Hons)

Start date

20 September 2021

Duration

1 year full-time

Places available (subject to change)

About the course

Completing your Pharmaceutical Chemistry BSc(Hons) degree with us gives you the to develop a specialism in pharmaceutics. Throughout this final year you’ll be building up your knowledge and getting to practise the skills that are sought after by a wide range of industries.

You’ll get to grips with the subject areas through lectures, tutorials, focused seminars and hands-on practicals in modern science labs. Guided by teaching staff who are all educated to doctoral level in their respective areas of expertise.
You’ll be able to develop your logical reasoning skills and establish an imaginative approach to solving problems..
In your final year, you’ll delve deeper into the complexities of drug action and drug design. You’ll also complete a research project, giving you the chance to make an impact in your area of particular interest or perhaps focus on topics you might wish to pursue in your future career in industry or academia. Wherever you’d like your career path to take you, taking your first steps with us could give you a great start.

Course detail

Core modules

Analytical Science 3

In this module the basic description of separation science provided earlier in the course will be expanded and extended. Recent developments in the subject will be discussed in terms of basic chromatographic theory. The application of separation methods to the identification and quantification of drugs and their metabolites in toxicological samples will be discussed. The metabolism of drugs, in so far as this process impinges upon the analytical methodology employed in toxicological analysis, together with the effects of sample type and their storage will be highlighted.

Chemical Therapeutics

In this module, chemotherapy and examples of drug action will be studied highlighting the chemical and biological principles required to understand the underlying principles and to enable you to design new potential drugs.

Molecular Targets and Drug Design

This module will cover the molecular and cellular targets of medicines and will focus on the biological macromolecules that they interact with. Key classes of biological macromolecules will be covered including: proteins (enzymes and receptors); nuclei acids (DNA, RNA and their biosynthetic machinery). The main focus of the lectures and tutorials will be to provide a comprehensive analysis of the general principles of drug action for students with a chemical and biological background. It is of interest to those wanting to learn about drug design and the molecular mechanisms by which drugs act.

Pharmaceutics 3

This module gives you the opportunity to extend your understanding of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics, and your knowledge of all the different dosage forms not covered in years 1 and 2. Different delivery methods, routes of delivery and formulation type will be individually reviewed including oral and aerosol formulations. Formulation approaches to targeting the different routes of delivery (buccal, colon, rectal, nasal, ophthalmic, pulmonary and transdermal) will also be covered. Assessment is by coursework (including laboratory reports) and an exam.

Optional modules

if your first language is not English you must take the following module

and choose one from

Organic Chemistry 3

This module draws together the basic concepts of synthesis and reaction mechanisms in the context of providing methods for designing suitable synthetic routes to target compounds and also extends the range of reaction types to include pericyclic reactions. The module introduces contemporary preparative methods for the synthesis of organic compounds. Further aspects relating to designing a synthesis and the connection between design and retrosynthetic principles are covered. The selectivity of reactions and the concepts of regio-, chemo-, stereo- and enantioselectivity are developed as are the rules governing pericyclic reactions. The reaction mechanism component draws together concepts in both physical and mechanistic organic chemistry. This section provides techniques that can be used to differentiate between mechanistic types. The use of product analysis, activation parameters, linear free energy relationships and isotope effects to determine reaction mechanisms are described.

Chemistry Project - Experimental Design

A chemically-based independent research programme. Supervisors will outline the aims of the project and direct you to the most recent literature. Before undertaking experimentation, you'll be expected to undertake a comprehensive review of the literature related to your project. You'll have the opportunity to plan your project in light of the current state of the field of research. You'll be given advice from your supervisor on research methods. Your projects will involve advanced laboratory and instrumental techniques. It will be open ended and you'll be expected to review progress regularly and modify research plans accordingly. You'll then be required to present your results in a thesis and in a talk at the end of your project

If your first language is English you will be taking

Organic Chemistry 3

Chemistry Project - Experimental Design

Teaching excellence

Huddersfield is a TEF gold-rated institution delivering consistently outstanding teaching and learning of the highest quality found in the UK (Teaching Excellence Framework, 2017).
We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (HEA, 2017).
Here at Huddersfield, you’ll be taught by some of the best lecturers in the UK. The University is joint-first in the UK for the proportion of professionally-qualified teaching staff (HESA 2021).
We are joint-second in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 17 since 2008 (2020 data).
All our permanent teaching staff* have, or are completing, doctorates. This expertise, together with our teaching credentials, means that students here learn from knowledgeable and well-qualified teachers and academics who are at the forefront of their subject area.

*Permanent staff, after probation: some recently appointed colleagues will only obtain recognition in the months after their arrival in Huddersfield, once they have started teaching; research degrees applies to those on contracts of more than half-time.

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, we offer the Global Professional Award alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities that we know employers are looking for. The Award is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (Level 5) meaning you’ll graduate from the University of Huddersfield with an internationally recognised and respected set of qualities alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees

The taught modules bring together some of the aspects of advance pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry to enable you to understand present day drug design, activity and delivery.Option modules allow you to gain deeper knowledge of organic chemistry or to undertake a major research project.

Entry requirements

The admissions process will be in conjunction with other courses of the Chemical Sciences suite.

Applications for this course are considered on a case-by-case basis but typical entry requirements for the Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Top-up) BSc(Hons) are:

You hold an HND or Diploma of Higher Education in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science or a related subject with an overall average of at least 60%.
You have passed at 240 credit, including at least 120 credits at level 5 or equivalent, in a Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science or similar degree. All modules should be passed as at least 40% and the overall average should be at least 60%.

International entry will normally proceed through formal progression agreements with overseas partner institutions.

Information for the partner institutions: For entry, the student should have been performing at a 1st class level (exact qualifying grades to be determined through liaison with departmental admissions tutors, International Office and partner institution) in their prior undergraduate studies where credit equivalent to Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) or Higher National Diploma (HND) (equivalent of 120 F-level and 120 I-level credits) and they will be at least 18 years of age by 31st December of the year of entry.

Transfers from other institutions will be considered on an individual basis.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, iGCSE English at grade B, or equivalent will be considered acceptable. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Professional links and accreditations

This course is accredited by the [Royal Society of Chemistry| http://www.rsc.org/Education/courses-and-careers/accredited-courses]

This accreditation is reviewed on a regular basis.

Career support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

So while you’re here (and even after you graduate) the Careers and Employability Service offer professional help, support and guidance, including industry-supported workshops, careers fairs and one-to-one guidance sessions. Find out more about the service.

Professional links and accreditations
Career support

This course is accredited by the [Royal Society of Chemistry| http://www.rsc.org/Education/courses-and-careers/accredited-courses]

This accreditation is reviewed on a regular basis.

Career support

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

If you are an international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

If you are an international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.