Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science BSc (Hons)

Developed by a pharmacy team, the Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science degree provides a unique balance between the chemistry and engineering components of pharmaceutical and cosmetic product design and manufacture.

DMU Open Day Saturday 6 July 2019, book your place.

Overview
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
More about your DMU
Contact us

Overview

This is an intensive and comprehensive course that provides you with specialised and advanced 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.

Reasons to study Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science at DMU:

100% of our Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science graduates from summer 2017 are in work or further study after graduating
According to the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) 2016-17 report [above the sector average of 94.6%]
More than 100 years’ teaching experience in the Leicester School of Pharmacy
renowned for academic expertise, development training and world-leading research
Unique in the UK
and one of only a few worldwide to combine pharmaceutics with a cosmetics element
Placement opportunities in global organisations including Unilever
enabling you to apply theoretical knowledge to practice
Graduates employed in internationally recognised companies

including GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Boots
Gain international expeience through our #DMUglobal programme
which has enabled students to visit a Chinese Pharmaceutical manufacturing company to observe global pharmaceutical manufacture in action and to support refugees in Berlin
DMU has achieved Gold, the highest ranking possible under the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Indicating the outstanding learning and teaching on offer at DMU. [Office for Students, 2017]
The TEF Panel judged that De Montfort University delivers “consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.” [Office for Students, 2017]

Scholarships:
At DMU, we are committed to helping our graduates enhance their careers and personal development through further study.

Vice-Chancellor’s Sports Scholarship
Find out more about the Vice-Chancellor's Sports Scholarships worth up to £6,000.

More courses like this:

Biomedical Science BSc (Hons)

Forensic Science BSc (Hons)

Pharmacy MPharm (Hons)

UK/EU
International

Key facts for UK/EU students

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: B204

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

Location: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding: For 2019/20 tuition fees will be £9,250

Find out more about tuition fees and available funding.

Our dedicated #DMUglobal High Flyers Award offers ambitious students a discount of up to £1,000 towards a #DMUglobal opportunity (terms and conditions apply).

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

Key facts for international students

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: B204

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

Location: De Montfort University Leicester UK.

Fees and funding: For 2019/20 tuition fees will be £13,750

How to apply: International students can apply to study at DMU directly using the DMU Online Portal.

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information or call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

Entry criteria

GCSEs

Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including Maths and English Language

Plus one of the following:

A levels

A minimum of 104 points from at least two A levels including Chemistry and one other science subject at grade C or above, from: Biology, Human Biology, Physics, Statistics, Maths/Further Maths, or Psychology

BTEC

BTEC National Diploma - Applied Science Distinction/Merit/Merit
BTEC Extended Diploma - Applied Science Distinction/Merit/Merit

International Baccalaureate

24+ with 6 higher level points in Chemistry and another science (preferably Biology)

Access course

Pass in the QAA Science Access to HE with 15 level 3 credits in Chemistry at Merit and 15 Level 3 credits in a second Science at Merit. English Language and Maths GCSE at grade C/4 or higher required as separate qualifications. Equivalency not accepted within the Access qualification.

Interview required: No

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

English language requirements:

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning (CELL), is available both before and during the course.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information.

UCAS Tariff changes

Students applying for courses starting in September 2019 will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff. Find out more.

Structure and assessment

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 (Physical Analytical and Organic)
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.

Pharmaceutical Formulation
Chemical Analysis, Quality and Stability
Cosmetic Products
Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Product Development
Applied Pharmacology
Industrial Placement Year (Optional)

Third Year

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

Click here for more detailed module information

Note: All modules are subject to change in order to keep content current

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, with approximately 15 hours of face-to-face contact time 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

Teaching contact hours

Contact hours in a typical week will depend to some extent on the optional modules you choose to study. However, typically you will have 15 contact hours of teaching and this will break down as:

Personal tutorial/small group teaching: approx. 1 hour of tutorials (7 in final year), or later, project supervision each week

Medium group teaching: approx. 5 hours of practical classes, workshops or seminars each week

Large group teaching: approx. 9 hours of lectures each week

Personal study: approx. 17 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using hand-outs, online activities, etc.

This course has 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.

Facilities and features

Health and Life Sciences

facilities

Investment of £12 million in Health and Life Sciences has developed our first-class teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

Library

We have 1,500 study places and 650 computer workstations across four sites on campus.

During term time the main Kimberlin Library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving access to more than half a million publications and a wide range of DVDs, as well as e-resources and thousands of electronic journals. Award-winning staff are on hand to help and there is a café for study breaks.

We offer a range of workshops, drop-ins and one-to-one sessions, plus our Just Ask service provides email or telephone support.

Learning zones

Our comfortable and well-equipped study areas provide a range of environments to suit your needs.

Originally set up in our main Kimberlin Library, the learning zones proved so popular that more were created in the Eric Wood building and Greenhouse. These flexible spaces are ideal whether you are working as a group, practising a presentation or working quietly on your own.

They feature workstations with power supplies for laptops, plus bookable syndicate rooms with interactive whiteboards and DVD players. Eduroam wi-fi is available across all campus locations.

Opportunities and careers

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, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Pfizer, Catalent and Boots.

You may also choose to progress onto one of our postgraduate courses such as:

98.4% of all Health and Life Sciences postgraduates are in employment or further study within six months of completing their course, and earning an average salary of more than £42,398

#DMUglobal

International experiences can help you differentiate yourself in an increasingly competitive graduate jobs market. We offer fantastic opportunities throughout Europe and further afield which will help you gain invaluable educational, work-related and cultural experiences through our #DMUglobal and Erasmus schemes.

Recent global experiences have included summer schools in Turkey, Japan and South Korea, giving students the opportunity to learn alongside students from around the world, study unique modules and explore the cities of Istanbul, Fukuoka and Seoul.

DMU Open Days

Our next Open Day takes place on Saturday 6 July 2019, book your place today.

Book now

Order a prospectus

This will give you a clearer idea of what it's like to live and study at DMU and a snapshot of the courses we offer, correct at the time of going to press.

Order now

How to apply

We welcome applications from UK and international students with a wide range of qualifications and experience. We are happy to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you might have.

Find out more