Course Description Document

Course Title	Pharmacology and Drug Discovery (2025-26)
Course Code	9088
Award Title	Master in Science (MSci)
Awarding Body	University of Southampton
Teaching Institution	University of Southampton
Regulated by	Office for Students
Accreditation	None
Regulations	The Regulations of the University can be found on the University's Governance Webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/governance/regulations-policies
Location of study	Southampton
Length of the course	4 Years
Tuition Fees	Fees for students can be located by the student fees page. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-fees/index.page

Course Overview

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with receptors, cells, tissues and whole animals and based on a good understanding of basic physiology and biochemistry. Graduates in pharmacology are in considerable demand in a variety of areas of employment. In Southampton you will undertake a balanced programme where you will gain the relevant skills and knowledge required for a career in this subject area.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes, coursework and projects. In Part 3 you will undertake a Bioscience Business project, which will give you a good understanding of the processes involved in bringing a new drug to the market. In Part 4 you will undertake an independent laboratory project. Throughout the programme you will undertake independent reading both to supplement and consolidate the taught material and to broaden your knowledge and understanding of pharmacology.
The programme is intended to provide a stepping-stone to further study at PhD level in academic or clinical groups, and to research career opportunities in the pharmaceutical and medical-device industries. Complementary to research career pathways, the programme also provides a strong foundation for roles in education and management.

Aims of the Course

1.a stimulating, informed environment through a wide range of interesting and contemporary courses with flexibility and choice, but allowing you to focus increasingly as you progress from part to part;
2.a sound scientific knowledge base in pharmacology to FHEQ level 7, (which is more focussed in Parts 2 to 4 of the programme) and in biochemistry and physiology to at least FHEQ Level 5 (i.e. Parts 1 and 2 of the programme) enabling you to describe and comment on specific aspects of current research in pharmacology;
3.an appreciation of the limits of knowledge of pharmacological processes;
4.training in pharmacological laboratory skills;
5.an opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills (information and communication technology, team working, written and oral communication, time management, planning, data collection and presentation);
6.opportunities to develop your skills of critical thinking and to show that you can pursue independent study;
7.an opportunity to undertake an independent project on a pharmacologically-related topic;
8.an education and training suitable for a wide variety of careers and that will prepare you for higher degrees and careers in pharmacological and biochemical research – or graduate entry to medicine;
9.the capability of life-long learning, study and enquiry.

Course Structure

The tables below provide a list of the modules that make up your course.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits: you can take a combination of core and compulsory modules enabling you to cover key subject knowledge. Some courses have option modules which enable you to develop your own interests.

Each level of your programme requires a certain number of credits. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of core modules at a given level and this is also influenced by the requirements of the regulatory requirements for professionally accredited courses. Some courses also have pre and co-requisites, and these are included in individual module information.

Your learning will be led by the latest research, and modules can change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. You can always find the most up-to-date information about your modules and who is teaching them via the information on our webpages and, post enrolment, via the Faculty hub.

If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, it may not be offered. If an option module will not be run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

The core and compulsory modules available on your course are as follows:

Part I
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL1027	The Human Genome and Disease 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
BIOL1025	Fundamentals of Cell Biology and Physiology 2025-26	15	Compulsory
BIOL1026	Chemistry of Life 2025-26	15	Compulsory
BIOL1024	Fundamentals of Biochemistry 2025-26	15	Compulsory
BIOL1030	How to Think Like a Scientist 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
Part II
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL2010	Flow of Genetic Information 2026-27	7.5	Compulsory
BIOL2012	Exploring Proteins: Structure and Function 2026-27	7.5	Compulsory
BIOL2058	Pharmacology 2026-27	7.5	Core
BIOL2051	Principles of Neuroscience 2026-27	7.5	Compulsory
BIOL2048	Principles of Pharmacology 2026-27	7.5	Core
Part II Optional You must choose between 7.5 and 22.5 ECTS from the available options below.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL2059	Neuroscience 2026-27	7.5	Optional
BIOL2045	Vertebrate Development 2026-27	7.5	Optional
BIOL2022	Immunology, Infection and Inflammation 2026-27	7.5	Optional
BIOL2053	Applied and Environmental Biochemistry 2026-27	7.5	Optional
BIOL2013	Bioinformatics 2026-27	7.5	Optional
BIOL2044	Medical Microbiology 2026-27	7.5	Optional
BIOL2056	Cell Biology 2026-27	7.5	Optional
UOSM2031	Engineering Replacement Body Parts 2026-27	7.5	Optional
BIOL2053	Applied and Environmental Biochemistry 2026-27	7.5	Optional
Part III
Part III Independent Study Modules
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL3075	Science Communication 2027-28	15	Optional/Core
BIOL3059	Bioscience Education 2027-28	15	Optional/Core
BIOL3069	In-Silico Research Project 2027-28	15	Optional/Core
BIOL3058	Bioscience Business 2027-28	15	Optional/Core
BIOL3034	Laboratory Research Project 2027-28	15	Optional/Core
Part III Compulsory
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL3027	Selective Toxicity 2027-28	7.5	Compulsory
BIOL3018	Molecular Pharmacology 2027-28	7.5	Compulsory
BIOL3025	Pharmacology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders 2027-28	7.5	Compulsory
Part III Optional You must take at least THREE of the following 7.5 ECTS modules. A complete list of BIOL modules can be found at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/biosci/undergraduate/modules.page. We strongly encourage you to discuss your module choice with your tutor before pursuing such options. Note: In selecting modules for Parts 3 and 4 you may not take modules at FHEQ Level 7 if the FHEQ Level 6 version of the module has already been taken.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL3014	Molecular Cell Biology 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3048	Neurodegenerative Disease 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3021	Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3037	Immunology 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3022	Cell Signalling in Health and Disease 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3063	Bioinformatics and Systems Biology 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3076	Microbiomes and Health 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3057	Biofilms and Microbial Communities 2027-28	7.5	Optional
BIOL3052	Biomedical Technology 2027-28	7.5	Optional
Part IV
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL6105	Advanced Pharmacology 2028-29	15	Compulsory
BIOL6053	Current Research 2028-29	7.5	Compulsory
BIOL6013	Advanced Research Project 2028-29	30	Core
Part IV Optional One further module should be taken from the list below. Note: In selecting modules for Part IV, you may not take modules at FHEQ Level 7 if the FHEQ Level 6 version of the module has already been taken.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
BIOL6034	Systems Neuroscience 2028-29	7.5	Optional
BIOL6078	Structure and Function of the Nervous System 2028-29	7.5	Optional
BIOL6095	Skills in Molecular Bioscience 2028-29	7.5	Optional
BIOL6093	Skills in Structural Biology 2028-29	7.5	Optional
BIOL6097	Skills in Biological Optical Imaging 2028-29	7.5	Optional
BIOL6074	Bioinformatics and Systems Biology 2028-29	7.5	Optional
BIOL6045	Neurodegenerative Disease 2028-29	7.5	Optional

Learning and Teaching

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning, and assessment activity, with each ECTS credit taken equivalent to 20 hours of student effort. While your actual contact hours may depend on the option modules you select, the information available on our webpages give an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities.

When not attending lectures, seminars and other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and for other types of assessments and examinations.

Full information about contact hours is provided in individual module information.

Should you wish to revisit this following enrolment, these indications have been located in a permanent resource. This can be accessed at any time via the link below:

https://sotonac.sharepoint.com/teams/CourseSupplementaryInformation/SitePages/Study-Time.aspx

How we'll assess you

Summative assessment(s) usually take place at the end of each module, although some may have interim assessments throughout. Assessment methods might include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and projects for example. The marks from summative assessments count towards your module mark.

Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or formative assessment for which you receive feedback. Formative assessments are developmental and any results do not count towards your module mark, but they are an important part of your learning.

The information available on our website gives an indication of the assessment methods used on your course, at each level of your course.

Should you wish to revisit this following enrolment, these indications have been located in a permanent resource. This can be accessed at any time via the link below: https://sotonac.sharepoint.com/teams/CourseSupplementaryInformation/SitePages/Assessment.aspx

Staff involved in delivering the different elements of the course

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on your course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners, specialists with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers.

Postgraduate research students who have undertaken appropriate training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars if their research specialism is directly related to the topic of the module and may also be involved in practical classes, project work and field trips. All contributions will be carried out under the supervision of the module leader.

Fees

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Extra costs you may experience

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Depending on the nature of your course, you may be able to choose modules which may have additional costs, such as field studies, travel overseas or industrial placements which will change the overall cost of your course. Details of these costs can be found in module information.

Please also ensure you read the section on additional costs in the Fees, Charges and Expenses Regulations.

The following course-related costs are not included in your fees:

Type	Details
Calculators	Where a calculator is required, all Casio Calculators are allowed but they must be Non-Programmable, Scientific models. More information is available in the Examination Regulations https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/assessment/assess-overview/exam-regulations.page
Stationery	You will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. Any specialist stationery items that you may need will be specified in the relevant module profile.
Textbooks	Where a module specifies essential texts, the Library will identify the optimal option(s) to support the module via the course Reading List. This may include e-books (ideally with unlimited concurrent usage) or a digitised chapter extract, supported by a limited number of print books (where available). You may request that the Library purchases additional print copies via 'suggest a book', borrow an additional copy via our inter-library-loans service or you may prefer to buy your own copies for high demand titles.
Printing	In most cases, written coursework such as essays and projects are submitted online. However it may be necessary to submit a hard copy of some projects, business projects and dissertations. The costs of printing a hard copy for submission of such work will be your responsibility. You will also have to cover the cost of photocopying. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/isolutions/students/printing.
Approved Calculators	Candidates may use calculators in the examination room only as specified by the University and as permitted by the rubric of individual examination papers. The University approved models are Casio FX-570 and Casio FX-85GT Plus. These may be purchased from any source and no longer need to carry the University logo.
Clothing	One laboratory coat and a pair of safety spectacles are provided at the start of the programme to each student. If these are lost the student must replace them at their own expense. The Students Union Shop stock these items. You will need to wear suitable clothing when attending fieldcourses, e.g. waterproofs, walking boots. You can purchase these from any source.
Equipment and Materials	All materials required for laboratory work are provided. Where necessary, suitable specialist safety equipment will be provided.
IT	Students are expected to provide their own portable data storage device. All software is provided. It is advisable that students provide their own laptop or personal computer, although shared facilities are available across the University campus.
Other	In some cases you'll be able to choose modules (which may have different costs associated with that module) which will change the overall cost of a programme to you. Details of such costs will be listed in the Module Profile. Please also ensure you read the section on additional costs in the University’s Fees, Charges and Expenses Regulations in Section IV of the University Calendar.
Parking costs (including on placements at hospitals)	There may be a requirement to undertake work at Southampton General Hospital (SGH), for example during a final year research project. Students may need to cover costs for transport to travel to SGH or for car parking.
Placements (including Study Abroad Programmes)	Students who choose to go on an industrial placement at the end of Part 2 or to spend a semester abroad can expect to cover costs for health and travel insurance, accommodation and living expenses; travel costs; visa costs. This will vary depending on which country you are travelling to.
Printing and Photocopying Costs	Coursework such as essays; projects; dissertations may be submitted on line. In the majority of cases, though, students will be asked to provide a printed copy. The University printing costs are currently: A4 - 5p per side (black and white) or 18p per side (colour) A3 - 8p per side (black and white) or 35p per side (colour) Please Note: Paper sizes not recognised by the printing devices will prompt you to select the size and then charge a minimum of 50p per black and white copy and a maximum of £1 per colour copy. You can pay for your printing by using the money loaders or by using print copy payment service by going to www.printcopypayments.soton.ac.uk Please remember that we are unable to refund any credit that has not been used by the end of your course, so please consider this when topping up your printing/copy account The University Print Centre also offers a printing and copying service as well as a dissertation/binding service. Current printing and copying costs can be found here. They also provide a large format printing service, e.g. Academic posters. Details of current costs can be found here.
Stationery	You will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc). Any specialist stationery items will be specified under the Additional Costs tab of the relevant module profile.
Textbooks	Where a module specifies core texts these should generally be available on the reserve list in the library. However due to demand, students may prefer to buy their own copies. These can be purchased from any source. Some modules suggest reading texts as optional background reading. The library may hold copies of such texts, or alternatively you may wish to purchase your own copies. Although not essential reading, you may benefit from the additional reading materials for the module.

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

You may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs.

If you are a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

Financial Support

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice regarding student finances. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course. You can find more information about financial support via our webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-support-fund/index.page

Academic support

The Student Support Hub is your first point of contact when it comes to seeking support. The team will answer your questions or concerns about your wellbeing, fees and funding, accommodation and visas. The team will help make sure you receive the support you need, guiding you to further support services where required. You can find more information about student support via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/index.page

One of the most important people you will meet while you are a student at Southampton is your Personal Academic Tutor, who will be allocated to you for your arrival at the University and who is normally a member of academic staff in your own or a closely related subject area. Your Personal Academic Tutor will offer one-to-one support and advice throughout your time at Southampton and will support you in your studies or with other issues you may have. You can find out more via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/academic-support-guidance/personal-tutor.page

Disclaimer

As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. As a result, this course may be revised during a student's period of registration; however, any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Please read our Disclaimer to see why, when and how changes may be made to a student's course.