Programme Overview
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Analytical Science with Pharmaceutics and Drug Formulation is a four-year Level 8 degree designed to train scientists in the fundamental principles of drug development, chemical analysis, and formulation. Pharmaceutics focuses on turning active raw chemicals into safe, effective dosage forms (tablets, capsules, creams) for proper administration, while analytical science determines product quality, drug content, and long-term stability. Ideal for problem-solvers who enjoy hands-on laboratory experimentation, the programme prepares graduates to innovate new medicines, troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, and ensure pharmaceutical integrity.
Practical Learning & Flexible Exit Awards
Laboratory work is a central pillar of the degree, emphasizing real-world formulation development, product stress-testing, and stability evaluation across chemical, physical, and microbiological parameters. In the final year, students complete a hands-on laboratory research project, designing novel pharmaceutical formulations and analysing them using advanced spectroscopic and chromatographic instruments. The degree offers built-in academic flexibility with two embedded exit awards:
- Higher Certificate in Science in Applied Chemistry (NFQ Level 6): Available upon completion of Year 2.
- Bachelor of Science in Analytical Science (NFQ Level 7): Available upon completion of Year 3.
Coursework
The four-year curriculum combines theoretical lectures with extensive practical laboratory training:
- Pharmaceutics & Drug Formulation: Designing and preparing diverse dosage forms, optimizing delivery mechanisms, and conducting stability evaluations.
- Analytical Chemistry & Assay: Determining active drug content, investigating chemical behaviors, and mastering spectroscopic (UV-Vis, FTIR) and chromatographic (HPLC, GC) techniques.
- Product Stress Testing & Integrity: Evaluating chemical, physical, and microbiological stability under varying environmental conditions.
- Quality & Regulatory Science: Applying quality control, trouble-shooting production issues, and adhering to strict pharmaceutical standards.
Career Opportunities
Graduates gain a specialized scientific qualification that prepares them for high-demand analytical and formulation roles across the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and chemical industries:
- Analytical Chemist & Quality Control (QC) Analyst
- Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist
- Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
- Research & Development (R&D) Scientist
- Product Stability Testing Specialist
- Postgraduate Study (Master's and PhD degrees in Pharmaceutical or Analytical Sciences)
Upon completion of the four-year degree, graduates possess the advanced laboratory expertise, analytical problem-solving skills, and formulation knowledge needed to launch a successful scientific career in the global pharmaceutical industry.
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fundamental Biology (M) | Animal and Human Biology (M) |
| Chemistry 1 (M) | Chemistry 2 (M) |
| Laboratory Science (M) | Quantitative Methods 2 (M) |
| Quantitative Methods 1 (M) | Physics 2 (M) |
| Physics 1 (M) | Current Concepts in Science (E) |
| Current Concepts in Brewing and Distilling Science (E) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 2
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
| Analytical Inorganic Chemistry 1 (M) | Analytical Inorganic Chemistry 2 (M) |
| Organic and Physical Chemistry 1 (M) | Organic and Physical Chemistry 2 (M) |
| Instrumentation (M) | Biomolecules (M) |
| Quantitative Methods and Quality Control 1 (M) | Pharmaceutical Science (M) |
| Quantitative Methods and Quality Control 2 (M) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 3
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
|---|---|
| Physical Chemistry (M) | Analytical Project and Workplace Planning (M) |
| Spectrochemical Methods (M) | Environmental Science (M) |
| Quality Management, Experimental Design and Data Analysis (M) | Pharmaceutical Processing and Process Analytical Technologies (M) |
| Sampling and Separation Science 1 (M) | Microbiology for Pharmaceuticals (M) |
| Sampling and Separation Science 2 (M) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 4
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Formulation (M) | Advanced Data Analysis and Modelling (M) |
| Drug Stability (M) | Regulatory Affairs for Pharmaceutics (M) |
| Assay Development (M) | Research Project in Pharmaceutics (M) |
| Work Placement Pharmaceutics (M) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
What are the minimum entry requirements?
- 2 subjects: H5
- 4 subjects: O6/H7
- English or Irish O6/H7
- Mathematics O6/H7
What follow-on study opportunities are available?
Graduates of the 8 can progress to MSc and PhD courses at SETU Carlow, or at third-level institutions and research centres.
What exemptions will I receive?
-Notes
-What will I be able to do when I finish the course?
- Primary and secondary pharmaceutical production
- Pharmaceutical product development and manufacture
- Quality control in high-volume mass-market manufacturing plant
- Cleanroom and water-treatment facilities
Stories
Course Leader
Dr. Ariane Perez-Gavilan
Lecturer, Programme Director for Pharmaceutics and Drug Formulation -
Email: [email protected]
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