Pharmacology and Physiology with Foundation BSc (Hons)

Our degree courses with foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.<br/><br/>The foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules from areas closely related to your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course.<br/><br/>On successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Pharmacology and Physiology BSc Honours degree.<br/><br/>Pharmacology and physiology are two closely related disciplines. Pharmacology is the study of drug action and how medicines may modify disease states. Physiology is concerned with how the body and its systems are controlled, and in the changes that lead to disease states (pathophysiology).<br/><br/>This course will provide you with a sound understanding of the biological action of drugs and other biomolecules at the whole-body, tissue, cellular and sub-cellular levels, and their uses as medicines for the treatment of disease. It provides an ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or other areas of biomedical research, academia, the Scientific Civil Service and healthcare provision.<br/><br/>Opportunities exist for you to enhance your practical and related transferable skills within our research laboratories. Teaching is informed by high-quality research in relevant cognate areas, within the department.<br/><br/>In addition, new students will benefit from our use of the APOLLO Patient Care Simulator platform, as an exciting novel teaching tool.<br/><br/>The Pharmacology and Physiology BSc will enable you to acquire a broad understanding of the normal and abnormal physiological function, including the biology of representative disease states.<br/><br/>Youll become proficient in explaining and applying information about the mode of therapeutic action, undesirable and toxic effects, absorption, distribution and elimination of exemplar drugs. Youll also develop the problem-solving skills and research strategies necessary to evaluate, critically appraise and systematically review pharmacology and physiology.<br/><br/>The learning and teaching strategies include a mixture of formal contact – such as large and small group lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, laboratory practical sessions and demonstrations – as well as independent work and online support activities.

The University of Westminster is a global university in London with a supportive and welcoming community of over 20,000 students from over 160 countries. <br/><br/>Students receive tailored support through personal tutors, mentoring from industry professionals and access to Zone29 - a nine-storey hub for enterprise and career success offering placements, events and one-to-one advice. You can also look forward to opportunities for UK and international travel and free perks like breakfast, gym membership and a wide range of student clubs to support your wellbeing. <br/><br/>Westminster was ranked number 1 in the UK for work-based learning (Forage UK University and Educator Awards 2023) and shortlisted for Best Entrepreneurial Initiative at the London Higher Awards in 2024. They were awarded TEF Silver in the 2023 teaching excellence framework. They have been rated Silver for Student Experience and Student Outcomes, indicating a very high standard in these areas.