BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Compounding Chemistry

Key Points

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Program description

BSc Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Compounds (CPC) is an interdisciplinary course that focuses on the chemistry and biology of the pharmaceutical industry and includes a five-month industrial placement.

The course is an excellent pathway to careers in the pharmaceutical industry and is accredited by the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Industry experts lecture on pharmaceutical technology, regulatory issues and industry in Ireland. Our placement scheme includes application and interview training. Interviews with companies will be arranged.

Core subjects include organic, analytical and pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology, supported by modules in physical and inorganic chemistry, physiology, mathematics and physics.

Senior research projects are written on pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmaceutical bioscience.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Analyze and solve problems related to pharmaceutical products.
  • Describe the fundamental chemistry and biology of pharmaceuticals.
  • Design experiments in chemistry and pharmaceutical biology.
  • Communicate with pharmaceutical scientists.
  • Engage with the pharmaceutical manufacturing process and appreciate the opportunities and challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry.

Why choose this course

 

The BSc Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Compounds (CPC) is the only course in Ireland that covers both the chemistry and biology underpinning the pharmaceutical industry.

In addition, CPC is the only undergraduate chemistry course that offers an organised placement scheme in the pharmaceutical industry. Feedback on placements from both students and companies is excellent.

CPC is the only course where industry experts present on key technical and economic aspects of the industry.

CPC is on the Teaching Council’s Auto-Qual list to be eligible to apply for PDE for teaching Biology and Chemistry.

Skills and career information

In this course, you will acquire skills in the synthesis and analysis of pharmaceuticals using chemical and biochemical technologies. The laboratory skills you will acquire include synthesis, chromatography (e.g. HPLC) and spectroscopy (e.g. NMR).

You will also learn presentation skills, such as document and poster preparation, oral presentation and interview skills. Problem-solving skills are developed in interactive group problem-solving sessions.

CPC is a pathway to careers in:

  • Support and development of pharmaceutical processes
  • Development of new processes
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Financial and human resources management 
  • Drug discovery research

The pharmaceutical industry in Ireland is a major employer of CPC graduates. Graduates from this course are also working in leading research and development sites outside Ireland.

Program Structure

       Core 

  • Cell, Biomlecules , Genetics and Evolution 
  • Introduction to biochemistry and the biological basis of disease.
  • Physiology and structure of plants and animals 
  • Microbiology in society 
  • Fundamentals of modern chemistry 1 
  • Fundamentals of modern chemistry 2a 
  • Calculus for Science I and II 
  • Physics for Biological and Chemical Sciences 
  • Biomolecules
  • Principles of metabolic pathways
  • Major group and transition element chemistry
  • Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
  • Energetics and Kinetics
  • States of matter
  • Structures and reactions of the main group compounds
  • Aromatics, Carbonyls and Alkenes
  • Spectroscopy
  • Structure, Bonding and Quantum Mechanics
  • Introduction to Molecular Biology
  • Physiology
  • Structural biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Synthesis, structure and reactivity of organic compounds
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Natural products and reaction mechanisms
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • Technology and pharmaceutical solids
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Chemotherapy and pharmacology of inflammation.

In addition, you will undertake an industrial placement between years 3 and 4 during the five month period from May to October.

  • Protein Science
  • Advanced Organic Synthesis, Biosynthesis and Reactivity
  • Organic Chemistry Physics
  • Advanced pharmaceutical chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry Drug Design and Development
  • Workplace
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Applied pharmacology and toxicology

Electives

  • Range of research projects

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirement 1 x H4, 1 x H5, 4 x O6/H7; Mathematics and laboratory science courses required.
  • In the case of international candidates, the foreign equivalent is required. In addition, a degree officially translated into English will be required.
  • IELTS 6.5, with no less than 6 in any component (or internationally recognised equivalent).

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