University of Bradford
School of Pharmacy
Awarding and teaching institution:
Final award:
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Duration:
UCAS code:
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Programme accredited by:
Date produced:
University of Bradford
B.Sc. (Honours)
Pharmacological Science
1 year
N/A
Medicine, Biosciences (Pharmacology)
N/A
original: February 2002; updated September
2007
Bradford’s Intercalated BSc degree in Pharmacological Science offers an additional
year of study at Bradford to medical students at Leeds Medical School who have
successfully completed Phase 1 (the first three years, or exceptionally, the first four
years) of the undergraduate degree programme in medicine. Selecting this BSc
degree course will provide you with an opportunity for in depth study of directly
relevant pharmacology-based modules (including experimental pharmacology) plus a
substantive research project, which will serve to further enhance your generic
graduate skills.
The course will build upon your current understanding and interest in drug action and
will provide you with an insight into contemporary approaches to the investigation of
therapeutic targets in the areas of Neurological, Behavioural, Cardiovascular and
Endocrine Pharmacology. You will gain a sound understanding of the fundamental
principles of pharmacological investigation and an insight into the scientific research
that is required before a drug can be developed as a potential therapeutic agent.
The aims of the BSc in Pharmacological Science are consistent with the
recommendations of the General Medical Council for intercalated degrees and are to:
 enhance your developing research skills
 give you the opportunity to study in depth, via the research project, a selfselected area of particular interest
 provide you with awareness of pharmacological skills, training in
pharmacological techniques and their application in practice and research
 help you to acquire key skills appropriate to your wider work environment
and/or to further study.
Learning outcomes indicate what you should know and understand on graduation
and be able to do on successful completion of the programme. The outcomes for this
programme are consistent with those for a Bachelors degree with Honours (H level) as
designated by the Quality Assurance Agency in the Framework for Higher Education
Qualifications. When you have completed the intercalated BSc in Pharmacological
Science you will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding:
A1
Critically assess and appraise different experimental pharmacological
techniques
A2
Critically assess recent advances in behavioural pharmacology,
neuropharmacology, respiratory, cardiovascular and endocrine pharmacology
Discipline Specific Skills
B1
Conduct pharmacological research, using quantitative and qualitative
methodologies to gather and interpret data
B2
Use integrative skills to evaluate data obtained from animal experiments
and appreciate their role in developing novel pharmacological agents whilst being
aware of their limitations
B3
Effectively communicate, via oral and written presentations, your ability to
critically evaluate research literature relating to pharmacology
Personal Transferable or Skills:
C1
Manage time and tasks effectively as an individual and part of a team
C2
Retrieve, manage and manipulate information
C3
Communicate scientific information effectively
C4
Appraise and critically evaluate scientific information: ie recognise that
statements should be tested and that evidence is subject to assessment and
critical evaluation
C5
Set tasks and solve problems using independent and critical thinking
C6
Recognise and apply safe working practice in the laboratory
Curricula for the award
The course is 1 year full-time, modular and built around a core curriculum, providing
both breadth and depth of study. The modules allow in-depth work and the
achievement of higher-level competencies, such as a conceptual understanding that
enables you to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, an
appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge. The course outline
on the following page has considered your first 3 years of study and has been
designed to build upon your learning. The research project that you select (worth 60
credits overall) has been split asymmetrically between the first semester, which runs
from September to January and the second semester (February to June). You will
undertake your literature review and present your research protocol in the first
semester (worth 20 credits) and in the second semester you will complete the practical
research and write your dissertation (worth 40 credits). At present all the modules are
core but there are elements of self-selection in both the choice of research project and
the Special Study module.
Award
The class and division of the undergraduate Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science
that you are awarded is based on the overall weighted marks you receive.
For students on the BSc in Pharmacological Sciences, the award will be based on the
final stage only in line with the University’s Regulations for Import of Credit. The
classes and divisions of the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science are awarded on
the basis of the following minimum final overall weighted average marks:
70.0% or above:
60.0% or above:
50.0% or above:
Otherwise:
First Class Honours
Second Class Honours – First Division
Second Class Honours – Second Division
Third Class Honours
To be eligible for a classified Honours award, you must achieve at least 40% in a 100
credits and 35% in the other 20 credits.
Admission Requirements
Eligible students will have successfully completed a minimum of three years (Phase 1)
of their studies in medicine at Leeds Medical School, and will have achieved a
satisfactory mean mark (to be decided by the Intercalation Panel at the Medical
School). The University operates an Approved Prior Learning (APL) scheme that will
be applied to the first three years of your undergraduate course in medicine.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
The programme for the intercalated BSc in Pharmacological Science is designed to
increase your knowledge and skills in pharmacology, deepen your understanding and
encourage you to take greater responsibility for your own learning as you progress
through the course. The assessment strategy has been designed to examine the
outcomes set for the course taking into consideration the University’s guidelines on
assessment for undergraduate programmes.
The course focuses primarily on the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of
scientific principles and concepts along with the development of laboratory skills. The
teaching methods, which will be used, include both lectures and practical classes.
However, as a principal objective of the course is the development of higher level
cognitive skills of problem-solving, critical analysis and decision making, and
communication skills a more student-centred teaching style will be adopted as
appropriate. Accordingly there will be significant elements of small group learning
(tutorials, seminars, workshops) and individual learning (assignments, projects).
The programme will be assessed by coursework assessment and through formal
examination. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate increasing skills of analysis,
synthesis and critical appraisal through a wide variety of assessment strategies,
including essay style examinations, report writing, group work, critical appraisal and
dissertations. Coursework assessment will give you the opportunity to demonstrate
written communication skills and competence in the use of IT. Group exercises will
develop and assess team-working skills and presentations will develop and assess
oral communication skills.
From the outset, you will be expected to take greater responsibility for your own
learning. This is facilitated by group work and individual assignments and projects.
There are a number of key skills, which you will acquire through a varied range of
teaching and learning activities.
Student Support & Guidance
The University and the School of Pharmacy have a well-deserved reputation in this
area, acknowledged by our QAAHE subject review. The School of Pharmacy creates
a caring ethos in both academic and personal matters. When you commence your
studies you will be allocated a personal tutor who will assist you with any personal
problems and advise you on pastoral and academic issues. You will also be supported
in your studies by student handbooks and module study guides.
Further information
If you would like more information about the University of Bradford, please check the
undergraduate prospectus and or the University's web pages (the School of Pharmacy
can be found under the Life Sciences heading). More details about the course can be
obtained from the course leader Dr Jo Neill e-mail: j.c.neill@bradford.ac.uk or
secretary Mrs Daria Jones e-mail: d.jones@bradford.ac.uk
Course Outline
Stage 3
Unit
Credits Semester Unit title
code
BM6126D 20
1
Biochemical
and
Behavioural
Pharmacology
PH3002M 10
1
Introduction
to
Research
Pharmacology
PH3003M 10
1
Fundamentals
of
Pharmacology - A
Special Study Module
PH3300B 20, 40
1,2,
Research Project
linked
BM6127D 20
2
Cardiovascular
&
Endocrine
Pharmacology
'Pre-requisites'
from
Phase 1 at Leeds
Control & Movement (Year
2),
Individuals
&
Populations (Year 1)
Patient Evaluation (Year 2
& 3)
SSMs (Years 1, 2 & 3)
Successful completion of
Phase 1
Biomedical Science (Year
2), Patient Evaluation (Year
2 & 3)