Pharmaceutical Science

Pharmaceutical science is the discipline that bridges chemistry and biology in the service of developing, testing, and manufacturing the medicines on which modern healthcare depends. It covers the molecular foundations of how drugs interact with biological systems, the chemistry through which active pharmaceutical ingredients are synthesised and analysed, and the science of formulation, delivery, and quality assurance that determines how medicines reach patients and work safely and effectively. The field is one of the most important applied sciences in the modern world, sitting at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and clinical medicine.

This part-time programme at Teesside University covers the key principles of pharmaceutical science, beginning with the foundational chemistry of atoms, chemical bonding, and the forces between molecules, and building toward the chemical reactions and biological pathways that are central to the discipline. You will investigate the chemistry of carbon and why it is capable of forming the complex three-dimensional molecules that make life possible, studying crucial groups of biological molecules in detail, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. The part-time structure makes the programme accessible for those managing other commitments alongside their studies.

Pharmaceutical science graduates work in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical and analytical laboratories, regulatory agencies, quality assurance and control, drug formulation and development, and hospital pharmacy settings. The combination of chemical and biological knowledge the degree provides is directly applicable to the science that underpins drug development, testing, and manufacturing. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in pharmaceutical science, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, or clinical pharmacy, while others pursue professional training in pharmacy or related health professions.