- UCAS course code
- B140
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Early clearing information
This course is available through clearing for home and international applicants
If you already have your exam results, meet the entry requirements, and are not holding an offer from a university or college, then you may be able to apply to this course.
Contact the admissions team
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Neuroscience
Duration: 3 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: B140 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
- Typical A-level offer: AAA-AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB-ABC including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: ABB-ABC including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36-35 points overall with 6, 6, 6 to 6, 6, 5 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £34,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Additional expenses
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Course unit details:
Drugs: From Molecules to Man
| Unit code | BIOL10822 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 1 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
To introduce the major concepts underpinning pharmacology. To describe the main molecular mechanisms of action of some important classes of drugs acting on the cardiorespiratory system and relate these mechanisms to their cellular, tissue, organ and whole animal effects.
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Systems | BIOL10811 | Co-Requisite | Recommended |
Aims
To introduce the major concepts underpinning pharmacology. To describe the main molecular mechanisms of action of some important classes of drugs acting on the cardiorespiratory system and relate these mechanisms to their cellular, tissue, organ and whole animal effects.
Learning outcomes
To understand: the molecular targets for drugs and examples of drugs acting at several target types; the basic concepts of drug receptor interactions; the importance of drug structure in their ability to interact with their targets; the mechanisms of the major drug classes used to treat hypertension, angina, cardiac failure, cardiac dysrhythmias and asthma.
Syllabus
Introduction to pharmacology: History and scope of pharmacology. How drugs are discovered.
Introduction to drug targets: Structure, function and cellular location of ligand-gated channels, voltage gated channels, enzymes, nuclear hormone receptors, transporters and pumps, G-protein coupled receptors.
Nature of drug receptor interactions: Agonists, antagonists and partial agonists, efficacy, drug structures, pharmacophores and selectivity. Concentration-response relationships. Gaddum equation.
Drugs acting on the cardiovascular/respiratory systems: Antihypertensive drugs, antidysrhythmic drugs, drugs used to treat angina, acute coronary syndromes and cardiac failure, lipid lowering drugs, drug used to treat and prevent thrombosis, stroke and “brain killers”, drugs used to treat asthma.
Special topics in pharmacology: Students will study at least two “STIPs” from the following choices: cholinergic toxins; drug discovery and development; pharmacokinetics; biologic drugs.
Teaching and learning methods
Core taught material: 33 hours
Students will be expected to complete 1 eLearning module per week, containing approximately 1 hour of pre-recorded video content or equivalent, and a short, online MCQ quiz (not timed but approximately 20 minutes in length).
Each week there will also be 1 hour of live-lecture content that builds on the eLearning module and a 1 hour face-to-face active learning session.
STIP eLearning modules 4 hours
Students will need to complete at least two special topics eLearning modules, which will each contain approximately two hours of pre-recorded video content or equivalent. The STIP modules will be assessed by online multiple choice questions at the end of the semester. If students choose to study more than two STIP modules, their two best marks will contribute to their overall unit mark. STIP topics are not included in the unit examination.
Independent study hours 63 hours
Independent study includes optional, formative activities within the eLearning modules.
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Data handling ePBL.
- Group/team working
- Students will work in small groups in the active learning sessions.
- Problem solving
- Data handling ePBL.
- Other
- Handling complex data, time management.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Other | 30% |
| Written exam | 70% |
70% awarded for a one hour examination, which will consist of 50 MCQs in the semester 2 examination period
20% for completion of active learning tasks
5% for completion of eLearning modules test
5% awarded for online MCQ tests based on the STIP modules
Feedback methods
Formative feedback will be provided via automated eLearning module responses; post-examination guidance (if requested).
Recommended reading
Ritter et al., Rang & Dale's Pharmacology (10th Edition) 2024 Elsevier Available as an eBook via JRUL website.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 1 |
| Lectures | 33 |
| Seminars | 2 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 64 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Richard Prince | Unit coordinator |