Why study this course with LJMU?
- A degree leading to a higher than average salary
- Graduates highly sought after in the UK's fastest growing manufacturing industries
- Option to undertake a 12-month industrial placement (placement is not guaranteed)
- Support from a personal tutor for the duration of your course
- Wide range of career opportunities in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnological, food, healthcare, cosmetics and related industries
- 100% of students surveyed said the teaching staff on this course were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)
- 100% of students surveyed said this course was intellectually stimulating (NSS 2024)
- International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more
About your course
Completing the BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science degree programme at Liverpool John Moores University will help ensure you enjoy excellent career prospects and enhanced earning potential in a variety of sectors after you graduate.
On this degree programme you will learn about the physical and chemical properties of pharmaceutically and cosmetically relevant molecules, how they are formulated into delivery systems and their interaction with the human body. The aim of the course is to provide you with knowledge and understanding of core subject matter and first-hand experience of relevant laboratory techniques to enable you to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries or progress to further study. The programme has been designed to give you a solid foundation in the subjects that underpin Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science and then to explore how research and development procedures are applied in the industry.
The course will not only give you technological know-how, but also the transferable key skills to give you that competitive edge when it comes to climbing the career ladder. We encourage you take advantage of the opportunity to complete a one year placement after level 5 as it will give direct experience of working in the industry, helping you identify career options and adding real value to your CV after graduation.
The course will not only give you technological know-how, but also the transferable and change management skills to give you that competitive edge when it comes to climbing the career ladder.
Course modules
What you will study on this degree
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Core modules
Optional modules
Core modules
Your Learning Experience
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Teaching is mainly via lectures, but you will also attend workshops, seminars, laboratory sessions and tutorials. You will be able to find the content of lectures on Canvas (our virtual learning environment), while workshops provide a forum for discussing the material covered with fellow students. Practical laboratory work is highly valued as this is where you get a chance to practise your data skills, as well as planning, research methodology and analysis.
Work-related learning
Work-related learning is a vital element of your studies, as it will give you that extra competitive edge when you come to negotiate your way around the graduate job market. For this reason, we encourage you opt to undertake an industrial placement after your second year. Although this is not compulsory, it will boost your job prospects and give you a chance to put into practice skills and knowledge you have acquired in the first two years.
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
There will be times during your course when you need guidance and advice related to your academic studies or more personal matters. For this reason you will be allocated a personal tutor for the duration of your course and take part in small tutorial groups where you can discuss course material in a more informal setting.
Individual support is also particularly valuable when you work independently on your third year research project so you will be allocated a supervisor who will discuss aspects of your work in one-to-one tutorials.
The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has a Disability Support Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, including assignments (on and offline), case studies, project work, presentations, exams and peer assessment. If you do a sandwich year you will be required to put together a portfolio to record your work-based learning.
You will have the chance to discuss your core skills performance at personal development planning sessions with a personal tutor and sometimes with a Faculty of Science skills support officer. They will judge your graduate skills development with the same rigour as your academic work.
Where you will study
What you can expect from your School
You will study at the Byrom Street site in the university's City Campus in the heart of Liverpool. Our state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching spaces will ensure you enjoy a first-class study environment. The Avril Robarts library is within easy walking distance and here you'll find all the information you need to support your studies.
Course tutors
Dr Raida Al Kassas
- Programme Leader
I teach the students to recognise the relevance of the topic in the context to which they can relate. I particularly enjoy mentoring students, celebrating their success and seeing the results of my hard work with them
I teach the students to recognise the relevance of the topic in the context to which they can relate. I particularly enjoy mentoring students, celebrating their success and seeing the results of my hard work with them
Dr Al Kassas has a PhD in Nanotechnology, Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems, obtained from Queens University, Belfast. She previously worked as an Associate Professor in Pharmaceutics at King Saud University and Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutics and Nanotechnology at the University of Auckland. Dr Al Kassas is a member of LJMU's Formulation and Drug Delivery research group. Her area of research is focused upon improving the safety and efficacy of medicines using nanotechnology. She has successfully established a research programme in the use of nanoparticles for incorporation of bioactive small and macromolecules, such as DNA, siRNA, antigens and proteins for immunization and the treatment of cancer. Dr Al Kassas has also conducted research into ocular drug delivery using advanced pharmaceutical formulations.
-
Interim Head of Subject Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
-
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer
I had the opportunity to do a work placement at BASF in Germany. This experience has given me the confidence and knowledge to go on and do a PhD
Career paths
Successful graduates can enjoy above average salaries in this fast growing sector
As a group, the chemical, pharmaceutical and allied industries form the UK's largest manufacturing industry, growing more than five times faster than any industry in the last ten years. It is manufacturing's number one exporter, with an annual trade surplus of just under 5 billion. It spends over 2 billion a year on new capital investment.
This degree programme is the ideal platform from which to launch your career as it is designed to meet the high demand for highly skilled and technology literate people to help these industries continue to be innovative and compete on a global scale.
As a Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science graduate, you can expect a career in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnological, food, healthcare, cosmetics and related industries, in fields such as information science, formulation, quality assurance, quality control, regulatory affairs, clinical trials, product registration, research and development, production control, production management and marketing.
Graduates can also choose to continue their studies at LJMU by undertaking one of the many postgraduate masters courses available, such as MSc Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery, MSc Industrial Biotechnology or MSc Cosmetic Science.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.
Tuition fees and funding
- Home full-time per year:
- £9,535
- Placement year:
- £1,905
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: BCC-BBB (104-120)
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
Qualification requirements
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
Your university life
From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.
Related Links
Talk to our students
Connect with a current LJMU student for advice and guidance on university life, courses and more.
See what our students are saying
At LJMU we want you to know you're making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:
Related Links
News and views
Browse through the latest news and stories from the university
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.