Why choose the School of Life Sciences
This course is aligned to the areas of need identified by the British Pharmacological Society including clinical pharmacology, public health science and healthcare policy.
We work with leading employers including Glaxo Smith Kline, Pharmaron and Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Our Student Skills Lab scheme offers additional, hands-on practice of lab work, testing and trying out techniques for real-world applications.
About the course
On this degree, you develop a range of skills in pharmacology and health sciences, with laboratory work and real-world application enabling you to put those skills into practice. You start by building a firm foundation in areas including chemistry, microbiology, anatomy and cell biology. You then progress to subjects at the forefront of modern research such as immunology, pharmacogenetics and toxicology, giving you a complete perspective on the entire drug discovery and development process from ‘invention’, through the clinical phases, to the drug reaching patients.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Contemporary STEM building with high-tech labs and vibrant study spaces, providing you with a supportive and welcoming learning environment
- Cell culture lab and specialised analytical science suite
- HPLC, FTIR and GC-MS machines, alongside facilities for qPCR and protein purification, allowing you to carry out cutting-edge pharma and biotech experiments
Industry links
Our Life Sciences Liaison Board works with industry professionals across the pharma-biotech, health and food sectors, including Glaxo Smith Kline, Pharmaron, NHS, Life Science Group and Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Our collaboration within the sector help you establish links and gain valuable work experience.
Student experience
Our academics are involved in real-world research, leading the way in areas such as obesity, cancer pathways, medicines development and global food security.
Our academic staff’s active involvement in the field ensure you keep up to date with emerging practices and the latest pharmacological developments.
Our staff’s research and professional expertise feeds directly back into their teaching, creating a vibrant, practical-oriented learning environment.
We have strong links within the clinical and industrial sectors, making sure our courses are aligned to industry needs and offer you the opportunity for work experience.
Take part in masterclasses by a range of experts including Rothamsted Research; MSD Merck; Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; and the UK Health Security Agency.
Learn from field trips to leading industry settings such as MSD Merck.
Expand your network of professional contacts through our annual STEM Careers Expo.
Gain additional lab-work experience via the Student Skills Lab scheme where you can try out techniques for real-world applications, under the guidance of recent graduates.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Year 1
Microbiology and biochemistry – Study the diversity of micro-organisms using techniques such as light microscopy, histological preparation and chromatography. Human anatomy and physiology – Explore the interconnected nature of the body’s systems. Cell biology – Examine the structure and organisation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using microscopy. Molecular genetics – Develop your understanding of molecular genetics, with a focus on cell division and genetic inheritance. Skills in pharmaceutical sciences – Build a range of key study skills including analysis, presentation of data and basic lab techniques. Chemistry – Gain a foundation in areas such as atomic structure, and interaction between molecules and thermodynamics.
Year 2
Pharmacology – Study how drugs act at a molecular, cellular and physiological level and their role in alleviating human diseases. Skills in science – Build confidence in key skills like experimental design, lab safety, data analysis, finding sources and writing proposals. Human metabolism – Explore how metabolic pathways work together to meet the body’s needs. Drug development – How drugs are developed from early ‘hits’, through leads, to final, clinically useful products. Medical physiology – Learn about body systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, neurology and gastrointestinal. Immunology – Understand the importance of the immune system and its role in protecting against pathogens and diseases. Clinical pharmacology and public health – Assess the impact of modern drugs on public health and society in general.
Year 3
Pharmacogenetics – Explore human genome sequencing and its role in creating bespoke drug therapies tailored to individual patient medical needs. Translational medicine – Be able to evaluate which advances in clinical research have the best chance of translating into improved health care. Toxicology – Gain an overview of clinical toxicology, drug metabolism, adverse drug reaction and the importance of pharmaceutical testing. Pharmacology of disease – Investigate the way drugs work at a molecular and cellular level to treat a range of conditions. Drug dispensing and healthcare policy – Understand how medicines are safely handled, prescribed, dispensed and administered. Drug delivery – Study the pros and cons of the different ways in which drugs are administered (for example, pills, creams and injections). Pharmacology in health science research project – Plan, design and complete a piece of research in an area of interest relevant to the course.
Assessment is integral in all units to check that you have met the threshold standards expected of all graduates. They are also linked to learning designed to develop key subject-specific and transferable skills for future employment. The requirements of each assessment will be detailed in a formal assessment brief document and discussed in teaching sessions. Units with single assessments will be supported by formative development. The assessment tasks will include:
- End of unit examination (unseen written examinations)
- Problem-based learning based on case studies with poster presentation of findings
- Laboratory notebook and laboratory reports
- Literature review
- Business proposal
- Oral presentation.
Students are actively supported through their assessments both directly in subject specific areas by tutors and by working with the Study Hub to provide targeted workshops to support academic skills development. The focal areas include an introduction to academic integrity developing good academic practice scientific writing use of statistics and communication of science to diverse audiences including presentation skills also aligned to assessment requirements.
Throughout course delivery workshops and tutorials are used to support the development of academic skills alongside the learning and the assessment process. All in-course assessments are supported by timetabled interactive tutorial sessions with formative assessment tasks as appropriate. In addition assessments that are based around practical work will involve a briefing before and a session after the laboratory work to explain further the expectations of the assessment and support specific tasks such as data analysis.
Examinations are supported by timetabled revision sessions and by workshop sessions covering examples of past examinations and the expectations of examination questions at each level. To assist our learners assignment briefs a uniform set of information and a consistent set of assessment criteria across the course.
At the start of each level students are given introductory session(s) that set out the expectations for each year. For entry points several sessions are used to provide guidance and support to students joining the University. These provide details of support for the development of academic skills and learning from the School the Study Hub and initiatives such as peer-assisted learning (PASS scheme).
For students progressing between levels introductory sessions are also provided to ensure the students are aware of the change in expectations of learning and assessment. This will flag areas such as expectations for increased selfdirected learning critical thinking and analysis that are expected as students go through the learning process.
A key aim for the school is the integration of transferable skills within learning and assessment to enhance employability. Our courses build awareness of business applications of knowledge with assessments that develop practical ideas and employability. This is supported by the University Careers and Employability service throughout the course.
Careers
After graduation, you may progress into diverse careers related to sciences including in academic or commercial research and development or management and policy-related roles in local and national government agencies.
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2026/27 is £9,790 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2026/27 is £9,790 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2026/27 is £9,790 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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