Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science

Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science - BSc (Hons)

Pharmaceutical and cosmetic science at Keele explores exciting new formulation developments in fast-moving consumer markets. Our BSc will enable you to understand the underlying physical and biological sciences and learn how to apply them to the development, formulation, manufacture and marketing of cosmetic products, whilst also considering the key contexts of sustainability and globalisation.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2024 entry see here - for 2023 entry see here

Course type

Single Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

Pharmacy and Bioengineering

UCAS code

B204

Duration of study

3 years

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Why study Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science at Keele University?

Develop the multi-disciplinary and problem-solving skills the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries are actively looking for in graduates

Be part of the well-established School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering

Study a curriculum designed with employability at the heart of the programme

Opportunities to learn a language

The School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering has a diverse group of staff, including some who have directly worked in the pharmaceutical industry.

Course overview

The cosmetics industry is a huge, multi-national undertaking that is underpinned by world-leading expertise in the physical and physiological sciences. Studying Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science at Keele enables you to develop your understanding of the underpinning science base in formulation and cosmetic science.

Course Content

You will explore the multifaceted nature of the cosmetic industry, and apply your knowledge to real-world requirements including: addressing formulation challenges, and considering the international regulatory and legal frameworks within an industry increasingly focussed on sustainability.

You will cover the key aspects of cosmetic product formulation development, manufacture, regulation and marketing, and discover how the underpinning sciences fit into global business and legal and regulatory frameworks. This includes elements of regulatory approval and the role of the formulation scientist within the industry team that takes a new product from concept to market.

Our carefully designed curriculum ensures you develop the required subject-specific knowledge to seek employment after your degree. The key themes of this BSc will enable you to:

Understand the core principles of the cosmetic sciences as they are applied to the development, manufacture and marketing of cosmetics and related products
Enhance your awareness of the core underpinning sciences related to the cosmetic sciences, such as chemistry, biological sciences, toxicology and formulation science
Increase your knowledge of the role of legislation in a range of territories in marketing safe and effective cosmetic products, supported by substantive claims
Describe key issues in supply chain management and apply them to the sustainable development of cosmetic products
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the research in cosmetic science and apply this to emerging challenges in specific research areas
Communicate effectively the key scientific, marketing, safety and sustainability issues underpinning cosmetic product development.

Enhancing your skills

In addition to the subject specific knowledge that you will gain throughout the programme, you will be supported to develop a suite of skills pertinent to the cosmetic and related industries.

You will be able to confidently construct complex arguments to problem solve, and will develop your ability to critically analyse contrasting theories within contemporary practice. You will become confident in gathering and evaluating data sets to propose solutions and make reasoned decisions.

Student Support

We provide you with a supportive educational environment and at the beginning of the programme, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will provide academic advice and guidance.

Our Faculty Student Experience and Support team offer guidance and advice and gives one to one support to students within the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering.

Related courses

Pharmaceutical Science

Next Steps

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer. If you are looking for the 2023 schemes please see here.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

A LEVEL REQUIREMENTS

BBC
To include Biology or Chemistry at grade B or above.
Subjects not included: Dual award Applied Science, Critical Thinking, General Studies, Maths and Further Maths in combination. Media Studies only accepted with both Chemistry and Biology.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Mathematics at C (or 4) and
English Language or Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

DMM in Applied Science (all routes - Applied, Biomedical, Analytical & Forensic, Physical Science).
You must have taken certain Science units. Please contact Admissions for advice.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

H5, H5, H4 or 29 points overall. Must include H5 in Chemistry or Biology.

ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction. 30 Level 3 credits are required in Biology and/or Chemistry. Please contact Admissions for advice.

T-LEVELS

Merit overall and a grade B in core component in the following subjects:

Health
Healthcare Science
Science

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Next Steps

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Additional information

A LEVEL REQUIREMENTS

BBC
To include Biology or Chemistry at grade B or above.
Subjects not included: Dual award Applied Science, Critical Thinking, General Studies, Maths and Further Maths in combination. Media Studies only accepted with both Chemistry and Biology.

GCSE REQUIREMENTS

Mathematics at C (or 4) and
English Language or Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

DMM in Applied Science (all routes - Applied, Biomedical, Analytical & Forensic, Physical Science).
You must have taken certain Science units. Please contact Admissions for advice.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

H5, H5, H4 or 29 points overall. Must include H5 in Chemistry or Biology.

ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction. 30 Level 3 credits are required in Biology and/or Chemistry. Please contact Admissions for advice.

T-LEVELS

Merit overall and a grade B in core component in the following subjects:

Health
Healthcare Science
Science

English Language Requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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Modules

Modules for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Compulsory Modules

Human Anatomy and Physiology
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science
Introduction to Cosmetic Science

Optional Modules

Management in Context
Marketing Principles
Global Business Environment
Introduction to Formulation Science
Introduction to International Business
Multinational Enterprise Business Perspective

Compulsory Modules

Fundamental Formulation Science (Cosmetic Science)
Cosmetic Product Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Applied Formulation Science (Cosmetic Science)

Optional Modules

Organisational Behaviour
Operations and Quality Management

Compulsory Modules

Sustainability And Supply Chain Management In The Cosmetics Industry
Regulatory Pharmacology and Toxicology (Cosmetics)
Cosmetic Science Research Project
Advanced Formulation Science (Cosmetic Science)
Cosmetic Claims

Optional Modules

Current Developments in Pharmaceutical Science II
Current Developments in Pharmaceutical Science

Next Steps

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

COURSE CONTENT

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

This Foundation Year is a is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science degree. For example, in the Foundations of Chemistry for Science module you will begin to develop laboratory skills and techniques, together with your ability to accurately report experiment results and manipulate, analyse and present scientific data which will provide you with a good grounding for Year One of your degree. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

On this Foundation Year, we will advance your knowledge of human biology and chemistry, giving you a solid grasp of body systems, science and lab work. You'll develop safe, professional laboratory skills and get to know the mathematical techniques and quantitative methods used across health science-related and social care programmes. Using problem-based learning, you will learn how to apply some of the most commonly used mathematical techniques in applied health sciences, converting data to the information used to support decision making in healthcare settings.

Throughout the programme, you will develop subject-specific and broad based skills that will be invaluable in your academic career and beyond. You can find out more about our Foundation Year, Including Information on learning, teaching and assessment methods and further opportunities available to you by visiting our homepage.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

SEMESTER ONE MODULES

FYO-00237	Foundations of Human Biology for Health	15 credits
FYO-00189	Foundations of Chemistry for Science	15 credits
FYO-00213	Foundations of Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Health Students	15 credits
FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits

SEMESTER TWO MODULES

FYO-00239	Advancing Human Biology for Health	30 credits
FYO-00191	Advancing Chemistry for Science	30 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications	Additional GCSE requirements
A-levels: At least 64 UCAS points from at least 1 A Level/Level 3 qualification	GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or IELTS 6.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests) AND GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above
Access to Higher Education Diploma: Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 64 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 L3 credits at Merit
BTEC: MPP

PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS

To progress to Year 1, you will be required to achieve an average of 40% from the Semester 1 modules, plus a 55% average from the remaining 60 credits to give a total of 120 credits.

HOW TO APPLY

UCAS APPLICATIONS

Visit UCAS for applications. You should apply for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science with Foundation Year

UCAS code: B205

DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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