Course Structure
Overview
The MPharm degree is structured into two courses each year, with option modules and a project in the third and fourth years.
The first year covers core concepts in chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and pharmacy practice. Beginning in the second year, you study the science that underpins the delivery of drug molecules to their sites of action in the body
the discovery, synthesis and analysis of drugs, which includes those obtained from plants or by genetic technology, and the mechanisms of action of drugs, which includes the study of physiology, cell biology and biochemistry.
You take two specialist options, either in the second semester of Year 3 or the first semester of Year 4. The options normally offered are in the disciplines of biochemistry, chemistry, drug delivery, microbiology, natural products, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacy practice and toxicology.
All students undertake a research project under the supervision of a member of academic staff. Students present their results at a poster session or seminar.
You will take the following courses:
Year | Dates | Course |
|---|---|---|
One | October to January | Course A: |
February to June | Course B: | |
Two | October to January | Course C: |
February to June | Course D: | |
Three | October to January | Course E: |
February to June | Course F1: | |
Four | October to January | Course F2: This means that all students have the same experience. |
February to June | Course G: |
You also study the social and behavioural concepts of pharmacy practice and are trained in its skills, including the roles and responsibilities of the pharmacist in the provision of health care, prescription interpretation, dispensing and clinical pharmacy, and the law and ethics of pharmacy.
Study Abroad for a Semester
You may apply to spend three months during the spring of your third year at one of our European partner universities. Placements in hospital, university or research labs in the UK, USA or another country are also possible. Each year about 40 students go abroad. More information about student placements and exchanges can be found here.
Teaching and Learning
Timetable
A typical weekly timetable includes 5-6 hours of lectures, 10-15 hours of practicals and 1-2 hours of seminars or tutorials. Classes start at 9.00 am and finish at 5.00 pm every day except Wednesdays, when they finish at 12 noon to allow a free afternoon for sports and other pursuits.
A typical timetable for the Spring term of the first year looks like this:
Monday | 9.00 to 10.00 | Techniques of drug analysis tutorial (every 2nd week) |
3.30 to 5.00 | Interpretation of prescriptions tutorial (every 2nd week) | |
Tuesday | 9.00 to 12.00 | Techniques of drug analysis practical |
Wednesday | 11.00 to 12.00 | Pharmaceutics lecture |
12.00 to 1.00 | Ethics & law lecture | |
Thursday | 9.00 to 10.00 | Molecular action of drugs lecture |
10.00 to 11.00 | Techniques of drug analysis lecture | |
1.00 to 5.00 | Compounding of medicines practical (every 2nd week) | |
Friday | 9.00 to 10.00 | Techniques of drug analysis lecture |
10.00 to 11.00 | Molecular action of drugs lecture | |
2.00 to 5.00 | Molecular action of drugs practical |
Academic Tutor Scheme
At the start of their first year, all students are assigned to an academic tutor. Academic tutors meet their small groups of students (usually numbering no more than 5 or 6 students) fortnightly at first and then tapering off to monthly or termly. In these small group tutorials, you will work on your literacy skills. Your academic tutor also serves as your personal tutor throughout your four years at the School.
Self-directed learning
The School subscribes to the principle that all students should take responsibility for their own learning and many course work assignments put the onus on you to search the literature on a topic and present your findings.
Some parts of the course use a problem-based approach where you are given a case study to work on in a small group with the help of your tutor counsellor. For example, you may be given a case study dealing with a diabetic patient with renal failure. Your small group will first discuss the case, asking questions such as:
- what exactly is renal failure?
- why is renal failure present?
- should treatment be confined to drugs or will transplantation be necessary?
- what additional drugs will be needed if a kidney transplant is performed?
- what are the ethics involved?
You will then divide up the work to be done, with several of you concentrating on the effects of the renal failure while the rest of the group looks at the issue of diabetes. Your search for background information will take you to our library and other nearby science libraries. You will make use of our teaching collection, a special collection of books and other source materials which can be borrowed from the library for part of the day or overnight. You may then want to type up your course work in the Computer Unit.
Coursework and Examinations
Your performance is assessed by both coursework and examinations. Exams are held at the end of each course, usually in early February and in early to mid June. Resit examinations are held in early September, with overseas students able to take them by special arrangement at the British Council in their home country.
Marks from all years of the course, except the first year, count towards the final honours classification. Course work contributes about 30% and examinations about 70% to your final mark.