Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science BSc (Hons)

About the course

Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science degree trains you in the fundamentals of designing and manufacturing pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. It allows graduates to start a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

It has many unique characteristics, one of which is that it is the only course in the UK to specialise in both the science of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

This is one of the first pharmaceutical science degrees to be developed by a pharmacy team, giving it a balance between the chemistry and engineering components of pharmaceutical design and manufacture.

This is an intensive and comprehensive course that provides you with the specialised knowledge, skills and techniques required for the design, formulation, manufacture, quality assurance, regulatory activities and marketing of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

You will be introduced to the principles behind the formulation of medicines and will progress to techniques behind their preparation, testing and packaging. In year three you will be introduced to quality by design, product development, biopharmaceutics, quality assurance and project management.

Reasons why you should choose to study Pharmaceutical Cosmetic Science degree at DMU

• Unique within the UK as very few courses come close to delivering the breadth and detail of content
• Graduates work for internationally recognised companies including Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca plus many smaller companies
• Sandwich placements enable students to apply theoretical knowledge to industry working alongside experienced practitioners
• The curriculum is reviewed continuously to ensure graduates are equipped with advanced pharmaceutical and cosmetic skills

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Key facts

UCAS course code: B204

Duration: Three years full-time, four years sandwich (optional)

Institution code: D26

Entry and admission criteria

2013/2014 UCAS Points A minimum of 280 points GCSE

• At least 5 GCSEs at grade C or above including Maths and English Language. Plus one of the following:

Alevels

• Normally 280 UCAS Points including A Level Chemistry at Grade B, with one other science subject or equivalent

BTEC

• BTEC National Diploma - Science BTEC with Distinction/Merit/Merit. Must meet chemistry requirement.
• BTEC National Certificate - Only in combination with other accepted qualifications. Must meet chemistry requirement. Taken Applied Science, you will need to have an A2 Chemistry
• BTEC National Award - Only in combination with other accepted qualifications. Must meet chemistry requirement. Taken Applied Science, you will need to have an A2 Chemistry
• BTEC Extended Diploma (3 A2s): Science BTEC with Distinction/Merit/Merit. Must meet chemistry requirement. Taken Applied Science, you will need to have an A2 Chemistry
• BTEC Diploma (2 A2s): Science BTEC Distinction* Distinction*. Must meet chemistry requirement. Taken Applied Science, you will need to have an A2 Chemistry
• BTEC 90 credit Diploma: Only in combination with other accepted qualifications. Must meet chemistry requirement. Taken Applied Science, you will need to have an A2 Chemistry
• BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (1 A2): Only in combination with other accepted qualifications. Must meet chemistry requirement. Taken Applied Science, you will need to have an A2 Chemistry
• BTEC certificate (1 A1): Only in combination with other accepted qualifications. Must meet chemistry requirement. Taken Applied Science, you will need to have an A2 Chemistry

Interview required: No

Access course
Pass in Access to Science. English and Maths GCSE equivalency required, 12 level 2 credits in each subject.

International students:
If English is not your first language, we require an English language level of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

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Personal Statement selection criteria

• Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
• Information relevant to the course applied for
• Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence
• If relevant for the course - work and life experience

Teaching and assessment

The diversity of academic and research expertise will provide you with high quality and innovative teaching. Expertise and current projects include:

• Novel techniques in dry blood spot analysis

• The development of a skin cancer detection tool

• Development of an artificial pancreas

Teaching consists of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and face-to-face contact time, and will make up approximately 17 hours of study each week.

You will also be expected to achieve approximately 17 hours of self-directed study.

Assessment methods include:

• Unseen exams
• Computer-based assessments
• Practical reports

Course modules

First year

In the first year, you will study modules providing a scientific background. Formulation, through a comprehensive course in compounding, and process technology are also introduced.

• Compounding
• Formulation Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Processes and Technologies
• Basic Microbiology
• Professional and Quantitative Science Skills
• Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Second year

The second year provides an emphasis on integrated work in analytical chemistry, product development and formulation, applied pharmacology, applied microbiology, process technology and quality issues.

• Product Formulation
• Chemical Analysis, Quality and Stability
• Process Technology 2
• Applied Microbiology
• Product Development
• Applied Pharmacology
• Industrial Placement Year (Optional)

Third year

The third year applies skills in an optional industrial placement to the development and manufacture of products in the formulation laboratory, manufacturing department or related business area of a pharmaceutical or cosmetics company.

The final year involves deeper study of pharmaceutical and cosmetic product design, quality, manufacturing processes, materials science and advanced systems for drug delivery.

• Quality Assurance and Quality by Design Principles
• Project
• Development and Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Products
• Cosmetic Science
• Materials Science
• Elective modules

Industry links and professional accreditation

This course has recently undergone a successful review and continues to meet the challenges of the industry and the requirements of both students and employers in the 21st Century.

Over the years we have built a good relationship with employers through their employment of placement students and graduates.

Work experience and placements

We encourage you to take an optional industrial placement year following your second year. Placement opportunities are competitive but our placement unit is dedicated to placing you with a suitable company.

Placements offer enhanced employment opportunities with leading companies, including Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca as well as medium and smaller pharmaceutical and cosmetic businesses.

The experience that placements provide is highly sought after by employers, and in some instances students return to where they worked on placement upon successful completion of the course.

Graduate careers

Our graduates are employed in a wide range of careers, such as Pharmaceutical Scientists, Product Development Scientists, Laboratory Technicians, Quality Control Managers, and are employed by international companies like 3M, Catalent and Boots.

You can progress onto one of our postgraduate courses such as:

• MSc Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
• MSc Pharmaceutical Quality by Design
• MSc Advanced Biomedical Science

Fees and funding

UK/EU Full-time £9000 Part Time 2013/14 4 Year Course £5925 6 Year Course £3950 Per Module (15 Credits) £988 International
Full-time Band 1 £10,750 Band 2 £11,250

Learn more about fees and funding information|.

Scholarships

Learn more about our Undergraduate scholarships| and awards information.

Facilities

Substantive investments have been made in innovative teaching and learning facilities, including computer aided interactive teaching screens, modern laboratory facilities, and scanning electron and atomic force microscopes with a tandem mass spectrometer.