Medicinal and Biological Chemistry including Foundation Year
Medicinal and biological chemistry are the foundations of modern medicine. This course is a truly multidisciplinary science.
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Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
FC18
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Start Date
September
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Location
Pontypridd
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Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,535*
International students
£16,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
You will study chemistry, toxicology, biology, physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology to understand the links between human disease and its prevention and treatment through drug design. To prepare you for the workplace this course involves a significant amount of simulated work-based learning.
DESIGNED FOR
This course is designed for students who want to undertake careers within the pharmaceutical / biotechnological sectors or Healthcare, working at the patient end of the industry without directly working with patients.
Career Paths
- Research Scientist – i.e. research and development in pharma/clinical/biomedical/biotech
- Laboratory Scientist/Technician – within NHS oh Pharma Industry
- Healthcare
- Analytical Scientist
- Education
Skills taught
- Laboratory Skills
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Skills
- Communication Skills
- Digital and IT Skills
- Project Management
Course Highlights
Module Overview
The course aims to provide students with a broad and balanced foundation of scientific knowledge in the areas of chemistry and biology, practical skills, and an industry awareness. It also equips students with transferable skills, such as;, critical thinking / problem solving skills, communication and academic research skills, all commensurate with an honours degree programme.
Foundation Year (Level 3) provides an excellent grounding in the areas of chemistry, biology, problem solving, and the key skills required to undertake your undergraduate degree in this subject area.
Foundations in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry
To introduce the fundamental concepts of inorganic and organic chemistry.
Foundations in Physical Chemistry
To introduce the factors that influence the structure, reactions and physical properties of the states of matter, and to study aspects that provide a further study of chemical phenomena and processes.
Scientific Data Literacy
The application and understanding of simple mathematical functions and tools, to appreciate the role of mathematics within the sciences.
Foundation Biology
Provides a basic knowledge of living things, and the processes which enable them to survive and reproduce.
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
Provides an introduction to the study of the human body.
Key Skills and Professional Development
Provides the key skills required to complete a science degree.
Year One (Level 4) provides a solid foundation for future study, ensuring that all students develop sound knowledge and hands-on practical skills in chemistry (organic/physical/inorganic) and biology (genetics/biomolecules/cell biology/anatomy).
Key Skills for Careers in the Sciences
This module is designed to develop and support the student’s application of course specific skills in the context of the chemical / pharmaceutical / life science sectors.
Chemical Concepts
This module introduces the fundamentals of physical and inorganic chemistry.
Organic Molecules, their Structure, Reactivity and Analysis
This module is designed to develop and support a student’s application of fundamental concepts in the areas of organic and analytical chemistry.
Diversity of Life
This module gives students a basic knowledge of living things, and the processes which enable them to survive and reproduce. It also introduces them to the evolutionary processes which lead to the modern diversity of the living world.
Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry
This module gives students a simple overview of the organisational structure and function of the human body.
Genetics and Evolution
This module introduces the principles and core concepts of genetics and the theory of evolution.
Year Two (Level 5) provides students with further theoretical/practical skills in synthesis/analytical chemistry and genetics/disease/cell pathology. Students apply theories/analytical skills to solve problems. They are also encouraged to plan investigations/evaluate data/reflect on outcomes.
Modern Techniques in Analysis and Identification
This module supports students to understand and gain practical skills using modern analytical techniques, including sample preparation, and data interpretation.
Synthetic Organic and Heterocyclic Chemistry
This module extends students’ knowledge in the area of synthetic transformation/heterocyclic chemistry and enables students to use retrosynthetic analysis and suitable synthetic strategies for the research and development of drugs and compounds of commercial value.
Bioinorganic Chemistry
This module builds and develops concepts surrounding the physical and electronic structure of coordination compounds in the context of bioinorganic systems. It provides a comprehensive introduction to biologically relevant inorganic compounds and their functions within natural systems including the role they play in the human body.
Cellular Pathology and Disease Processes
This module gives students the understanding of the pathological changes associated with disease processes, and the impact this has on cellular and organ structure and function.
Microorganisms and Disease
This module provides students with an understanding of the beneficial and harmful human interactions with a wide variety of microorganisms.
Human Molecular Genetics
This module aims to introduce students to molecular genetics and the genetic basis of intertied disorders. On successful completion of this module, students will understand the theoretical and practical applications of key molecular biology techniques used in the study of genetics and their importance in human genetic disorders.
Year Three (Level 6) provides students with advanced theoretical knowledge/practical skills in synthesis/formulation/drug design and clinical biochemistry. Students also undertake a major research project. Students are prepared for the world of work through embedded employability related workshops such as CV/Science Futures Event/LinkedIn profile etc in the project module.
Professional Practice and Placement
Module provides students with the opportunity to complete a year long sandwich placement as part of the degree programme. This may include: Work placement undertaken with a public, private or voluntary sector employer, or Study abroad with a partner university.
Year Four of the sandwich programme (Level 6) provides students with advanced theoretical knowledge/practical skills in synthesis/formulation/drug design and clinical biochemistry. Students may be able to use their sandwich placement as the basis for their final year major research project. Students are prepared for the world of work through embedded employability related workshops such as CV/Science Futures Event/LinkedIn profile etc in the project module.
Major Project and Career Development
This module develops the student’s professional practice skills (e.g. investigation/research/work practise, planning, organisation, record keeping, critical assessment, oral/poster presentation and report writing, etc) by enabling the student to actively engage in a major scientific undertaking at a professional level. It also enables the students to practice professional graduate skills, such as health and safety awareness, critical reflection of skills development, target planning, collaborative skills, etc.
Advanced Organic Chemistry
This module provides the students with an in depth understanding of theory and applications of pericyclic reactions, asymmetric synthesis and transition metals in organic synthesis.
Advanced Drug Design and an Introduction to Formulation Science
This module provides an understanding of the processes that industry uses to design drug candidates and the molecular science behind safe/effective drug administration (targeted delivery). It also introduces students to the new topics of computer modelling and polymer chemistry set in the context of this module. Through this module, students develop appreciation of the practical difficulties in taking discoveries/syntheses from the laboratory scale to the bulk scale (scale up).
Toxicology
This module provides students with the basic principles describing the toxicological effects of substances.
Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology
This module provides an understanding of the role of different biochemical pathways in specific disease and metabolic disorders and to explain the role of laboratory techniques in the diagnosis of these disorders.
Course Highlights
Delivery and assessment
A blended learning and teaching approach is utilised to provide students with subject specific and key skills. Typically, modules consist of a mix of lectures, tutorials, workshops, and practical laboratory sessions.
Students are provided with numerous learning activities including; written coursework, project work, group work, laboratory/practical sessions (with group sizes tailored to the activity), problem solving sessions, self study assignments, oral and poster presentations. independent study, work related learning, on-line self assessments etc.
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Teaching staff
Teaching staff draw on research interests and scholarly activity to enhance lectures, laboratory work and develop final year projects. In general, final year projects are often of an applied science nature or involve the use of a range of synthetic techniques and analytical instrumentation in line with individual teaching staff research interests.
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Placements and work experience
Students are encouraged to undertake a work placement, either as their sandwich year or final year project, and those wishing to do so are supported by the University's Work Placement Team and the Careers Service.
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Facilities
Chemistry / analytical / biology facilities are on par with those found in industry. Students make full use of the laboratories during their studies and gain hands on experience using the extensive analytical equipment. Built to the latest standards of safety, our laboratories cater for moderate class sizes to ensure students receive a more personal practical experience.
The chemistry facilities include two large general instrument laboratories that house some of the more routinely used analytical equipment, as well as two specialised laboratories for performing nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy.
The newly refurbished biology laboratories include; newly built category II microbiology laboratories and facilities for handling of pathogenic organisms PCR and DNA analyzers and an extensive range of anatomical models for teaching of Anatomy and Physiology, as well as dedicated microscopy laboratories with access to electron microscopy.
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Why USW?
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Why USW?
Chemistry courses at USW are rated top 5 in the UK for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2023)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS Points: 48 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: DD, 48 tariff points to include a relevant Science subject but to exclude General Studies
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass or BTEC Diploma Pass Pass in a relevant subject
- Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma in Science with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points
Additional requirements include:
The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£9,535
per year*£16,200
per year*Additional Costs
Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of stationery, printing, or equipment during your foundation year. For costs after you progress to year 1 of your degree programme, please see the list below.
Students are encouraged to equip themselves with their own cotton laboratory coat and personal protective laboratory goggles, suitable for use in chemical and biological laboratories, although USW does provide these items.
Cost: Approximately £40
University Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Life at USW
Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.
How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time.)
Advanced entry
If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
International admissions
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.