Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery (with a year in industry) BSc (Hons)

Drug discovery and biological chemistry bring together chemistry, pharmacology and biology. It uses techniques from molecular and chemical biology to find new treatments for diseases.

Our Drug Discovery Unit brings together lab-focused academic research and industry-scale drug development to create new drugs to fight infections and other diseases.

We are also ranked in the top 50 for pharmacy and pharmacology in the QS World University Rankings 2022.

Our course curriculum is shaped by the work of our world-leading researchers to make sure you’re learning the latest advances. This will also help you gain an understanding of the fundamentals of the field.

This course also allows you to spend a year working in industry, for example, in a commercial laboratory. This allows you to gain real-world skills and improve your CV. It also presents you with the opportunity to network and build relationships. These are all things that could have a positive impact on your career.

Throughout your degree, you can pick modules that appeal most to you, highlighting to employers where your interests lie.

Your first two years of study will explore core concepts such as:

• genetics
• cell biology
• biological organisation
• molecular mechanisms and processes

You will develop practical skills, including laboratory skills, data analysis, and experiment design. This will prepare you for designing and carrying out projects later in your course.

You’ll then focus on more detailed aspects of biological chemistry and drug discovery at Levels 3 and 4. You will also take part in a semester long research project based around one chosen area of the current world-class research in Life Sciences.

The year in industry will occur between Levels 3 and 4. We will support you to find a suitable placement, however, if a placement is not found, you will have the opportunity to transfer to the standard four year course.